What causes trigeminal neuralgia?

The trigeminal nerve is a mixed nerve, and mixed nerve pain should be taken more seriously. There are many clinical explanations for trigeminal neuralgia, and there are mainly several theories. Trigeminal neuralgia may also have genetic causes. So what exactly causes trigeminal neuralgia?

(1) Vascular compression theory: Some scholars believe that 80% of primary trigeminal neuralgia is caused by arterial compression of the trigeminal nerve. Some people also suggest that because the bony top of the internal carotid artery is replaced by a thin layer of connective tissue, the ventral surface of the semilunar ganglion is in long-term close contact with the pulsating artery, causing compression and producing trigeminal neuralgia.

(2) Mechanical compression theory: Some scholars have proposed that trigeminal nerve disease is caused by compression of the trigeminal nerve root by the petrous ridge. Some people have found that trigeminal neuralgia often occurs in postmenopausal women, probably because of their osteoporosis, decalcification of the skull, and gradual sinking of the skull base. Basilar skull depression is the main factor causing trigeminal neuralgia.

(3) Ischemia theory: Trigeminal neuralgia is more common in middle-aged and elderly people over 50 years old, and is easily combined with atherosclerosis and cerebral ischemia. Therefore, some people have proposed that trigeminal neuralgia is caused by repeated ischemia of the nerve cells in the trigeminal ganglion.

(4) Central nervous system etiology: Some scholars explain trigeminal neuralgia as a thalamic syndrome, similar to an epileptic seizure. The lesion is not on the trigeminal nerve root, semilunar ganglion or peripheral branches, but is caused by thalamic-cortical dysfunction and abnormalities of the spinal trigeminal nucleus.

(5) Other theories: Some people believe that trigeminal neuralgia is caused by focal or viral infection, so they put forward the infection theory; others put forward the allergic reaction theory that because most patients have reduced gastric acid and protein indigestion, their histamine or histamine-like substances (protein-binding, etc.) are produced, which causes allergic edema of the trigeminal nerve and leads to trigeminal neuralgia. In addition, some people believe that trigeminal neuralgia has a familial tendency and speculate that it has a certain relationship with genetics.