An estimated 1,300-plus people in the province of Málaga live with trigeminal neuralgia. This neurological condition can cause extremely severe facial pain attacks, which sufferers describe as electric shocks or jolts of electricity. According to the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN), around 450 people are affected in the city of Málaga alone.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
by Marlon Gallego Bosbach
A rare disease involving extreme pain
Trigeminal neuralgia affects the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for, among other things, facial sensation. It is typically characterized by the sudden onset of very intense pain that usually lasts only a few seconds or minutes but can recur.
Often, a simple, everyday movement is enough to trigger an attack. These can include speaking, chewing, smiling, yawning, or brushing one’s teeth. For some sufferers, even a light touch on the face can trigger the pain.
In more than 90 percent of cases, the condition affects only one side of the face. The cheek and jaw are particularly frequently affected.
Often initially misdiagnosed
The often difficult diagnosis places an additional burden on those affected. According to the SEN, more than 40 percent of patients initially receive an incorrect diagnosis during their first visit to the doctor. The symptoms can be mistaken for dental problems, migraines, temporomandibular joint disorders, or inflammation, among other conditions.
Consequently, a considerable amount of time can elapse before the correct diagnosis is made. According to neurologists, the condition is often not correctly identified until at least a year has passed.
More than 35,000 people affected in Spain
It is not only Málaga that is affected. According to SEN estimates, more than 35,000 people in Spain are living with trigeminal neuralgia. Around 2,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.
The condition can significantly impair quality of life. Eating, speaking, or daily facial care can become a challenge. For some affected individuals, the recurring pain also leads to sleep problems, social withdrawal, and significant psychological distress.
Medications help many patients
Treatment typically begins with medication. According to the SEN, this allows approximately 80 to 85 percent of patients to become pain-free in the long term. However, for some affected individuals, medication is insufficient or causes severe side effects.
For these patients, other treatment options – including neurosurgical procedures – may be considered. At the Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, more than 100 patients receive ongoing care, particularly when pharmacological treatment is insufficiently effective.
International day raises awareness of the disease
Attention is drawn to the condition – particularly around International Trigeminal Neuralgia Day, observed today, October 7. The Spanish Society of Neurology is using the occasion to raise awareness about the disease and the challenges involved in diagnosing it.
For those affected, the condition often means living with the constant fear of the next pain attack. At the same time, the high number of patients demonstrates that, despite its relatively low level of public awareness, it is a significant neurological disorder.
