Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition affecting the trigeminal nerve and causing severe facial pain. Estimates suggest it could affect up to 280,000 people in the United States. 

There are two forms of the conditions: typical and atypical trigeminal neuralgia. Typical trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by sudden shock-like pains on one side of the face and usually lasts for a few seconds or minutes. Atypical trigeminal neuralgia is often triggered by any touching of the face and is distinguishable from the typical form because it feels like a constant but less severe burning pain. 

Symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia include sporadic episodes of severe shooting pains, attacks of pain triggered by touching the face, chewing, speaking or brushing teeth, constant aching, pain affecting one side of the face, and pain focused in one spot which spreads out across the face. 

Treatment of trigeminal neuralgia normally involves medication and surgery. Drug classes commonly used to treat the condition include anticonvulsants, miscellaneous and other anti epileptic medications.