Diagnostic Questions |
Here at OHSU's Department of Neurological Surgery we have
developed a helpful questionnaire for the diagnosis and treatment of
patients suffering from varies types of trigeminal neuralgia. |
1 ) Do you have facial pain?
YES NO
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2 ) Do you remember exactly where you were the moment your facial pain started?
YES NO
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3 ) When you have pain, is it predominantly in your face (i.e., forehead, eye, cheek, nose, upper/lower jaw, teeth, lips, etc)?
YES NO
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4 ) Do you have pain just on one side of your face?
YES NO
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5 ) When you have pain, is it predominantly deep in your ear?
YES NO
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6 ) When you have pain, is it predominantly in the back of your throat or tongue, near the area of your tonsil?
YES NO
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7 ) Is your pain either entirely or mostly brief (seconds to minutes) and unpredictable sensations (electrical, shocking, stabbing, shooting)?
YES NO
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8 ) Do you have any constant background facial pain (e.g., aching, burning, throbbing, stinging)?
YES NO
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9 ) Do you have constant background facial pain (aching, burning, throbbing, stinging) for more than half of your waking hours?
YES NO
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10 ) Do you have any constant facial numbness?
YES NO
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11 ) Can your pain start by something touching your face (for example, by eating, washing your face, shaving, brushing teeth, wind)?
YES NO
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12 ) Since your pain began have you ever experienced periods of weeks, months, or years, when you were pain-free? (This would not include periods after any pain-relieving surgery or while you were on medications for your pain.)
YES NO
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13 ) Have you ever taken Tegretol ® (carbamazepine), Neurontin ® (gabapentin), Lioresal ® (baclofen), Treleptal ® (oxcarbazepine), Topamax ® (topiramate), Zonegran ® (zonisamide), or any other anticonvulsant medication for your pain?
YES NO
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14 ) Did you ever experience any major reduction in facial pain (partial or complete) from taking any of the medications listed in Question 13, or any anticonvulsant medication?
YES NO
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15 ) Have you ever had trigeminal nerve surgery for your pain? (e.g., neurectomy, RF rhizotomy/gangliolysis, glycerol injection, balloon compression, rhizotomy, MVD, gamma knife)
YES NO
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16 ) Have you ever experienced any major reduction in facial pain (partial or complete) from trigeminal nerve surgery for your pain? (e.g., neurectomy, RF rhizotomy/gangliolysis, glycerol injection, balloon compression, rhizotomy, MVD, gamma knife)
YES NO
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17 ) Did your current pain start only after trigeminal nerve surgery (neurectomy, RF rhizotomy/gangliolysis, glycerol injection, balloon compression, rhizotomy, MVD, gamma knife)? (If this is a recurrence of your original pain after a successful trigeminal nerve surgery, answer "no")
YES NO
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18 ) Did your pain start after facial zoster or"shingles" rash (Herpes zoster - not to be confused with "fever blisters" around the mouth)?
YES NO
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19 ) Do you have multiple sclerosis?
YES NO
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20 ) Did your pain start after a facial injury?
YES NO
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21 ) Did your pain start only after facial surgery (oral surgery, ENT surgery, plastic surgery)?
YES NO
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22 ) When you place your index finger right in front of your ears on both sides at once and feel your jaw open and close; is this where you predominantly feel pain?
YES NO
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DISCLAIMER: Any medical or
surgical advice provided in this Web Site, even if intended to be
accurate to the best of our knowledge, should be discussed with your
medical or surgical practitioner. This website will serve to help
direct you (the patient) to appropriate informational resources, and
should not be considered a diagnosis. A diagnosis can only be given
by an appropriate and experienced physician, after interviewing and
examining you (the patient). Only your physician or surgeon knows
what is best for you. Always seek direct advice from your physician
before embarking on any treatment, medication or therapy.
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