Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia and Trigeminal Neuralgia
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia [6] and trigeminal neuralgia [7] are rare nerve conditions that can cause sudden, recurring, and excruciating pain around your tongue, ear canal, tonsils, jaw and side of your face.
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia typically causes discomfort in the tongue or back of the throat. It usually starts as you swallow and lasts for a few seconds to two minutes. Following the acute pain episode, you may experience pain in the affected location.
Trigeminal neuralgia typically manifests as face discomfort, though it can also occasionally occur in the mouth. Both chronic and gradual pain and abrupt, acute pain are possible. An episode might be triggered by touching, eating, or even just having the wind blow across your face.
Your doctor will most likely recommend neuropathic pain medications such as:
- carbamazepine (Tegretol) [8]
- gabapentin (Neurontin) [9]
- pregabalin (Lyrica) [10]