Causes of Trigeminal Neuralgia
In many cases, the exact cause of trigeminal neuralgia is unclear. Two common reasons include:
– Multiple sclerosis: a medical condition that affects the myelin sheath, the protective coating around your nerves.
– A tumor or swollen blood vessel increases pressure on the nerve and leads to malfunction.
Trigeminal neuralgia could also happen as a result of aging or growth that compresses your trigeminal nerve. Some people with a brain lesion or similar abnormalities can be at a higher risk as well. In other cases, facial trauma, stroke, or surgical injuries can be possible causes. It is estimated that the condition is more common in women than in men. More cases are also reported in those over 50 years old, but it could happen in people of all age groups. [3]
