2023-11-23 11:09:05
«Now I notice a certain pressure in the face area and then throughout the day I notice small electrical discharges, like punctures. Yesterday I had to stay in bed from 5 pm until this morning because I had a lot of pain in my eyes. a sensation as if needles were sticking into me». This is the confession of Belén Galán in the program ‘And now, Sonsoles’ on Antena 3the interview that has made many people aware of one of the most unknown and annoying diseases in Spain.
This is trigeminal neuralgia, better known as ‘petting disease’ for its characteristics. And those who suffer from it literally suffer simply from receiving the touch of a loved one, a kiss or a simple whisper.
Belén takes 15 pills a day for this, but not so long ago her life was totally normal. Suddenly, one day she began to notice a very strong, almost unbearable pain on one side of her face. She blamed it on a tooth that had recently been removed, but when her lip went numb and the pain wouldn’t go away, he went to the doctor: he thought it was a stroke. The doctors ruled him out and announced something he was not expecting: he had the dreaded trigeminal neuralgia.
According to National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), trigeminal neuralgia or ‘tic douloureux’, is a chronic pain condition that affects the nerve responsible for sensation in the face, including the mouth. It causes sudden episodes of severe pain in the face. The pain can be similar to an electric shock, dazzling (which appears and disappears quickly), pungent or sharp.
35,0000 affected in Spain
Trigeminal neuralgia is a disabling disease that can be a nightmare for those who suffer from it.
It is considered a rare disease, which affects around 35,000 people in Spain. It can present in two ways, depending on its pain and disabling capacity, but in either case it has similar characteristics: painful crises can be triggered by a light touch, such as a kiss, a caress, or issues as natural as wash face, shave, eat, drink, talk o brushing teeth.
“You enter such a level of pain that I have even hit my head against the wall,” Belén confessed to Sonsóles Ónega, who had to leave her job due to the disabling discomfort she suffered and is now fighting to have her full disability recognized.
«You go into such a level of pain that I have even hit my head against the wall»
Belen Galan
Affected by trigeminal neuralgia
Causes, symptoms and treatment of ‘petting disease’
Trigeminal neuralgia does not have a single cause. It may be due to a blood vessel that presses on the nerve and, due to wear and tear, damages the myelin sheath, the ‘skin’ of the nerve. It can also be a consequence of other ailments, making this neuralgia a secondary ailment. Diseases like multiple sclerosis o some tumors They usually cause this type of sequelae.
The symptoms of this disease, whatever its origin, are usually the same:
Sudden episodes of severe pain caused by stimuli to the face that would not normally be painful, which can happen several times a day.
Pain-free periods that can last months or years.
Localized pain on one side of the face, or on both sides if it is type 2 neuralgia.
If it is type 2, it may be less intense, but also more complicated to treat.
In severe cases, a persistent dull pain
Treatments for ‘stroking disease’ are usually medication to treat the symptoms or surgery in severe cases.
Anticonvulsants such as phenytoin, oxcarbazepine or carbamazepine, muscle relaxants like baclofen, antidepressants such as amitriptyline or nortriptyline or neurotoxinas such as injections of botulinum toxin type A (the popular botox) significantly help those who suffer from it.
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