International Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day Date in the current year: October 7, 2024

Neuralgia is an umbrella term for a group of disorders characterized by pain in the distribution of one or more nerves. There are several types of neuralgia depending on the nerve or nerves affected: glossopharyngeal neuralgia, occipital neuralgia, postherpetic neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, and atypical trigeminal neuralgia.

Trigeminal neuralgia affects the trigeminal nerve that is responsible for sensation in the face and motor functions such as biting and chewing. It consists of three branches: the ophthalmic nerve responsible for sensation in the eye, upper face and anterior scalp; the maxillary nerve responsible for sensation in the mid-face; the mandibular nerve responsible for sensation in the lower face and motor functions.

Trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by severe and sudden pain in the area innervated by the trigeminal nerve. Episodes of the disease may be triggered even by mild stimulation of the face, which includes touching, speaking, or chewing; they usually affect on side of the face at a time. An episode can last for a couple of seconds to several minutes. As the disease progresses, pain attacks can become longer and more frequent. Atypical trigeminal neuralgia has slightly different symptoms; it is typically described as constant burning or aching pain and is often confused with migraine.

The exact cause of trigeminal neuralgia is unclear, but it is generally believed to be caused by loss of myelin (a protective structure surrounding nerve fiber), which, in turn, can result from a blood vessel pressing on the nerve, injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, or a tumor. It can occur at any age and affects people of all genders, but most cases develop in people aged 50 or older, and men are less commonly affected than women.

In 90% of cases, trigeminal neuralgia can be treated with anticonvulsant medications, i.e. drugs designed to treat seizures. Drug-resistant trigeminal neuralgia can be treated with a surgical procedure called microvascular decompression that relieves pressure from a blood vessel on the trigeminal nerve.

Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day was established in 2013 by TNnME (Trigeminal Neuralgia and Me), an online group founded by Toni Saunders to raise awareness of the disease and connect people affected by it. In 2017, a resolution in support of recognizing October 7 as National Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day was introduced to the US House of Representatives. Some sources claim that the resolution was passed, but in fact no action has been taken since it was referred to the Subcommittee of Health of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

However, the unofficial status of Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day doesn’t prevent people from around the world from observing it. The main goals of this awareness day are to educate people about trigeminal neuralgia and raise funds for patient organizations that support people affected by trigeminal neuralgia, their families and caregivers.