The key difference between glossopharyngeal neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia is that glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a type of neuralgia that results in pain in the posterior pharynx, tonsils, back of the tongue, middle ear, or under the angle of jaw due to the affected 9th and 10th cranial nerves, while trigeminal neuralgia is a type of neuralgia that results in severe paroxysmal, lancinating facial pain due to the affected 5th cranial nerve.
Neuralgia is a sharp, shocking, or severe pain that follows the path of a nerve. Neuralgia is usually caused due to irritation or damage to a nerve. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia are two different types of neuralgia.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
3. What is Trigeminal Neuralgia
4. Similarities – Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia and Trigeminal Neuralgia
5. Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia vs. Trigeminal Neuralgia in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia vs. Trigeminal Neuralgia
What is Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia?
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a type of neuralgia that results in pain in the posterior pharynx, tonsils, back of the tongue, middle ear, or under the angle of the jaw. It is a condition that arises from the involvement of the 9th and 10th cranial nerves. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is usually caused by a small blood vessel that presses on the nerves (9th and 10th cranial nerves) as they exit the brainstem. It is most commonly seen in people over the age of 40. The symptoms of glossopharyngeal neuralgia may include severe pain in areas connected to the ninth and tenth cranial nerves, including the nasopharynx, back of the nose, throat, back of the tongue, ear, tonsil area, larynx, and pain triggered by chewing, coughing, laughing, speaking, and swallowing. The complications of this condition include slow pulse, fainting when pain becomes severe, and the side effects of medications used to treat this condition.
Figure 01: Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia can be diagnosed through physical examination and MRI scan. Furthermore, treatment options for glossopharyngeal neuralgia may include medications for pain relief and surgeries such as microvascular decompression.
What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Trigeminal neuralgia is a type of neuralgia that results in severe paroxysmal, lancinating facial pain. It is due to the affected 5th cranial nerve. Trigeminal neuralgia affects people over the age of 50 more than people under the age of 40. About 1 to 2% of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) also have trigeminal neuralgia. Trigeminal neuralgia is usually caused by a blood vessel exerting pressure on the nerve (5th cranial nerve) near the brain stem.
Figure 02: Trigeminal Neuralgia
Moreover, the symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia may include numbness and tingling sensation, short bursts of severe pain, regular aches and pains in the cheek and jaw area, short-term stabbing or electrical type feeling, pain increasing while chewing or talking, and a burning sensation all over one side of the face. The complications involved in this condition include double vision, jaw weakness, loss of corneal reflex, troublesome numbness, anesthesia dolorosa (in rare cases), partial facial numbness, blurred vision, or chewing problems.
Trigeminal neuralgia can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, neurological examination, and MRI scan. Furthermore, treatment options for trigeminal neuralgia may include medications such as anticonvulsant drugs, tricyclic antidepressants, muscle relaxants, a botulinum toxin injection and surgeries, balloon compression, glycerol injection rhizotomy, microvascular decompression, stereotactic radiosurgery, complementary therapies like yoga, creative visualization, meditation, aromatherapy, low impact exercises and other therapies like acupuncture, chiropractic, supportive counseling or therapy, biofeedback, vitamin therapy, and nutritional therapy.
What are the Similarities Between Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia and Trigeminal Neuralgia?
- Glossopharyngeal neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia are two different types of neuralgia.
- Both occur due to affected cranial nerves by small blood vessels that press on the nerves.
- These conditions are characterized by severe pain, pain increasing with chewing or talking, and other complications.
- Both can be diagnosed through physical examination and MRI scan. They are treated through medications, specific surgeries, and therapies.
What is the Difference Between Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia and Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a type of neuralgia that results in pain in the posterior pharynx, tonsils, back of the tongue, middle ear, or under the angle of the jaw due to the affected 9th and 10th cranial nerves, while trigeminal neuralgia is a type of neuralgia that results in severe paroxysmal, lancinating facial pain due to the affected 5th cranial nerve. Thus, this is the key difference between glossopharyngeal neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia. Furthermore, glossopharyngeal neuralgia affects people over age 40. On the other hand, trigeminal neuralgia affects people over the age of 50 more than people under the age of 40.
The infographic below presents the differences between glossopharyngeal neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia vs Trigeminal Neuralgia
Neuralgia is a severe stabbing or burning pain in the body or face due to a damaged or irritated nerve. Neuralgia can occur without the presence of disease or due to various diseases. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia are two different types of neuralgia. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia results in pain in the posterior pharynx, tonsils, back of the tongue, middle ear, or under the angle of the jaw due to the compressed 9th and 10th cranial nerves. On the other hand, trigeminal neuralgia results in severe paroxysmal, lancinating facial pain due to the compressed 5th cranial nerve. So, this summarizes the difference between glossopharyngeal neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia.
Reference:
1. “Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia.” – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.
2. “Trigeminal Neuralgia.” Mayo Clinic.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Trauma to parotid duct” By Lesion – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Trigeminal Neuralgia” By BruceBlaus – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia