Neuralgia, or nerve pain, can be caused by number of different factors. Pressure on a nerve, infection, and nerve trauma are just a few of the things that can cause pain to travel along the length of a nerve path. Every organ and muscle in the body is affected by the function of nerves, which conduct signals to and from the brain.
The trigeminal nerve is the fifth of 12 cranial nerves--nerves that exit through the skull rather than the spinal column. The trigeminal nerve is the primary sensory connection between the face and the brain. It also controls the muscles involved with chewing. Its name, trigeminal, stems from its triple-branched structure, which supplies the upper eyelid, cheek and jaw.
Multiple sclerosis, a condition in which the myelin sheaths that protect nerves are damaged, can sometimes cause trigeminal neuralgia, according to MayoClinic.com The symptoms of this condition can include mild twinges, or severe shocks of pain, lasting up to several seconds in duration, which occur in areas that the nerve supplies.
Postherpetic Neuralgia
Shingles, a disease most commonly experienced by people over the age of 60, occurs when the dormant herpes zoster virus, which has remained in the nerve bundles located near the spine ever since an initial bout with chickenpox, suddenly reactivates. The virus travels down nerves along the ribcage, usually just on one side, causing burning pain.
In the journal, "Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology," W.H. Stalker states that herpes simplex, the virus associated with genital herpes, has been reported to cause neuralgia of the face.
Sciatica
The sciatic nerve is the body's longest nerve, according to MayoClinic.com. It exits from the lower spine and runs down the back of the buttocks and both legs. Neuralgia associated with the sciatic nerve can range from mild to excruciating, and can occur in one or both legs. Sciatica commonly results from pressure on the nerve, which could be caused by a herniated disc in the spine, a tumor, a muscle spasm, or narrowing of the spinal passageways in the lower back. Trauma from an accident or fall can also cause sciatica.
Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
The glossopharyngeal nerve is the ninth of the 12 cranial nerves. This nerve sends messages between the brain and the throat, tongue and salivary glands. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia can occur due to pressure from blood vessels, tumors or lesions, or from throat or oral infections. MedlinePlus explains that glossopharyngeal neuralgia is experienced as extreme pain in the nose, throat, tongue, ear and/or voice box.
