Cranial neuralgia is pain associated with the nerves of the head that provide sensation and control movement in the face, scalp, neck and throat.

Pain can arise in any of these areas, depending on the cranial nerves affected. Certain senses, such as taste, smell, vision or hearing, may become impaired due to damage or inflammation of the cranial nerves.

There are 12 sets of cranial nerves. Different types of cranial neuralgia may occur, depending on the nerves affected. For example, trigeminal neuralgia affects the largest nerve in the skull (trigeminal nerve) and is the most common type of cranial neuralgia. It causes sharp bursts of pain along one side of the face that may be triggered by touch.

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia involves the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves. This type of cranial neuralgia can affect the tongue, throat, neck and ears. Additional types of cranial neuralgia include occipital neuralgia, laryngeal neuralgia and nervus intermedius neuralgia.

Cranial neuralgia can have a variety of causes, including nerve compression and physical trauma. Certain conditions or infections may also cause cranial neuralgia, including diabetes, multiple sclerosis and Lyme disease. In some cases, the cause of cranial neuralgia remains unknown.

The primary symptom of cranial neuralgia is recurrent pain in the same area of the head. The severity of pain can vary greatly. The pain may fade, but is likely to return and it often occurs along the length of the affected cranial nerve. Depending on the type of neuralgia involved, the pain may be described in many ways, including sharp, burning or shock-like. In addition, some patients may also experience itching, numbness and muscle weakness.

To diagnose a patient’s cranial neuralgia, a physician must first rule out other possible causes of head or facial pain. This is likely to require blood tests and a neurological examination. The patient’s medical history will also be reviewed to identify potential triggers of pain. The patient may also require a dental examination to eliminate possible oral disorders that could be causing facial pain.