Yes, there is an increased risk of trigeminal neuralgia among people who have neck problems. So far, the exact reason for the relationship is not known, but researchers have some preliminary theories.
Some experts hypothesize that degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) may worsen symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia due to inflammation and compression of the trigeminal nerve in the spine.
A
Among the participants in the study, the people with trigeminal neuralgia were 12 times more likely to also have DCM than the participants who didn’t have the condition. This could be due to general pain hypersensitivity or inflammation spreading from the upper portion of the cervical spinal cord to the trigeminal nerve tract.
Other issues of misalignment in the spine can affect the function of the trigeminal nerve. The trigeminal nerve can be compressed by nearby blood vessels, tumors, or inflammation near the brainstem and along the nerve tract, which can cause severe pain.
But these changes do not always cause trigeminal neuralgia — many people who experience compression of the trigeminal nerve don’t experience trigeminal neuralgia symptoms.
There are three main types of trigeminal neuralgia, each caused by different issues in he body. These include:
- classical trigeminal neuralgia, caused by pressure on the trigeminal nerve
- secondary trigeminal neuralgia, caused by another medical condition
- idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia, when the cause of the symptoms is unknown
Secondary trigeminal neuralgia is due to damage, compression, or inflammation of the trigeminal nerve. Other medical conditions can cause this. Classical trigeminal neuralgia is also a subset of secondary neuralgia.
Medical conditions that can cause secondary trigeminal neuralgia include:
- a tumor
- a cyst
- arteriovenous malformation
- multiple sclerosis (MS)
- damage caused by surgery, including dental surgery
If you have any symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia or want to learn more about the condition, contact your doctor for more in-depth advice and assessment.