Types

• Different types of neuralgia include glossopharyngeal neuralgia (tongue, throat, ears), migraine neuralgia (headache), occipital neuralgia (headache), postherpetic neuralgia (skin) and trigeminal neuralgia (face).
  
  

Symptoms

• Symptoms include impaired use of the affected area, muscle weakness, numbness, increased sensitivity to the affected area and pain along the affected nerve path.
  
  

Causes

• Causes of neuralgia include abuse of illegal drugs, chemical irritation, infections (shingles, syphilis and Lyme disease), trauma, tooth decay and poor diet.
  
  

Treatments

• Neuralgia responds positively to anticonvulsant drugs (carbamazepine or phenytoin), painkillers (acetaminophen), topical painkillers and antidepressants.
  
  

Organizations

• Organizations concerned with neuralgia include the American Chronic Pain Association, National Chronic Pain Outreach Association and the Trigeminal Neuralgia/Tic Douloureux Association.