What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

• IPTN (Idiopathic Painful Trigeminal Neuropathy)

What is Idiopathic Painful Trigeminal Neuropathy? (Definition/Background Information)

• The trigeminal nerve, or cranial nerve 5, is a highly complex bundle of nerves with both sensory and motor function. It is responsible for varied facial sensations and jaw muscle actions such as biting and chewing. The trigeminal nerve has three main branches/divisions, namely the ophthalmic nerve, maxillary nerve, and mandibular nerve
• Painful trigeminal neuropathy may be described as continuous to near-continuous pain, typically felt on one side of the face, from involvement of one or more trigeminal nerve branches. The variable intensity pain appears as a stinging (pins and needles) pain or burning pain and is generally non-triggered. Unlike trigeminal neuralgia, brief episodes of severe pain is not a common occurrence in painful trigeminal neuropathy
• Idiopathic Painful Trigeminal Neuropathy (IPTN) is a form of painful trigeminal neuropathy of unknown cause that results in one-sided pain or pain involving both sides of the face and/or the mouth. There may be other accompanying signs and symptoms apart from the pain noted, due to nerve dysfunction (from nerve damage)

The criteria for diagnosis of Idiopathic Painful Trigeminal Neuropathy as outlined by the International Headache Society (IHS) is given below:

• Unilateral or bilateral facial pain in the distribution(s) of one or both trigeminal nerve(s) and fulfilling the criterion below
• Clinically evident positive (hyperalgesia, allodynia) and/or negative (hypoesthesia, hypalgesia) signs of trigeminal nerve dysfunction
• No cause has been identified
• Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis

(Source: International Headache Society Classification ICHD-3, London, United Kingdom)