Trigeminal Neuralgia: Symptoms
The primary symptom of Trigeminal Neuralgia is sudden, severe and stabbing pain experienced on one side of the face. Attacks generally last several seconds and may occur in succession one after the other, coming and going throughout the day and sometimes lasting for days, weeks, or months at a time, and then disappearing abruptly. The pain may provoke brief spasm of the facial muscles, producing wincing or a tic. For this reason, the disorder is also known as "tic douloureaux."

Simple activities such as shaving, washing the face, or chewing can trigger an episode. In fact, stimuli as mild as a light breeze may provoke pain in some patients.