Trigeminal neuralgia can be complex. We help you find relief.
Sharp, shock-like facial pain, often triggered by something as simple as chewing, talking, or a light touch, has a name: trigeminal neuralgia. We build a treatment plan around what’s actually driving your pain, working hand in hand with your medical care.
Override specializes in chronic pain. Our virtual care team looks at the physical, neurological, and emotional factors that can influence ongoing facial pain, then builds a personalized care plan around your needs, goals, and life, coordinating directly with your neurologist.
of appointments are fully virtual. In-network with most insurance plans in select states.
of patients report improvement*
satisfaction with Override providers*
*Source: Internal Override Health patient-reported outcomes data
What Causes Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition affecting the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from your face to your brain. It typically causes sudden, severe, shock-like or stabbing pain on one side of the face, often the cheek or jaw area, that can be triggered by ordinary activities like chewing, talking, brushing teeth, or even a light breeze. Episodes are usually brief but can recur frequently, and the condition has historically been nicknamed the “suicide disease” due to the intensity of the pain, a real signal for how seriously it should be taken and treated.
Common symptoms:
Sudden, severe, electric-shock-like facial pain, usually one-sided
Pain triggered by light touch, chewing, or talking
Episodes lasting seconds to a couple of minutes, sometimes occurring in clusters
Periods of remission between episodes, which can vary widely in length
Tingling or altered sensation in the face, in some cases
Chronic trigeminal neuralgia pain is also a nervous system story. The condition itself involves the nervous system directly, and living with recurring severe pain can further heighten overall sensitivity, which is part of why a coordinated, whole-person approach matters alongside medical treatment.
A note on safety. Trigeminal neuralgia causes pain, not weakness. If you notice sudden weakness, drooping, or an inability to move one side of your face, with or without pain, this is a different condition, such as Bell’s palsy, and in some cases can be a sign of a stroke. Sudden facial drooping or weakness needs emergency evaluation right away, not routine treatment. If you’re only experiencing pain without any weakness or drooping, that’s consistent with trigeminal neuralgia and not an emergency in itself.
When Trigeminal Neuralgia Becomes More Than a Facial Pain Problem
When trigeminal neuralgia episodes recur over months or years, they can start affecting much more than the moments of pain itself.
Pain can change how you eat, how you talk, how you brush your teeth, how anxious you feel anticipating the next trigger, and how isolated you feel with a condition most people have never heard of.
That’s why Override doesn’t treat trigeminal neuralgia as only a symptom to medicate.
We look at the whole pain experience and build a personalized plan around your symptoms, history, goals, and the factors that may be contributing to your pain.
A Whole-Person Approach to Trigeminal Neuralgia
You may have already seen a neurologist or tried medication. Maybe something helped for a while. Maybe nothing did.
Override isn’t about asking one more treatment to solve every part of a complex pain experience.
It’s about bringing the right care together.
Depending on your needs, your personalized care plan may include:
Pain Medicine
Pain specialists trained in pain neuroscience and non-opioid chronic pain management who coordinate directly with your neurologist’s care plan.
Physical Therapy
Movement specialists trained in chronic pain who address jaw, neck, and facial muscle tension that can heighten nerve sensitivity and trigger frequency.
Pain Psychology
Pain-focused therapists who help address the anticipatory anxiety and trigger avoidance that often develop with trigeminal neuralgia.
Coaching & Peer Support
Certified pain coaches help you track triggers and build sustainable daily habits, and stay supported between visits.
Your care is personalized to you. You may not need every service. The difference is that your providers can work together as one team, with one shared understanding of your pain and your goals, and your neurologist stays central to medication and any procedural decisions.
Real Results
Override patient
How Is Trigeminal Neuralgia Treated?
Medication, usually anticonvulsants, is typically the starting point, prescribed and monitored by your neurologist.
Treatment can also include physical therapy targeting jaw and facial muscle tension, and behavioral approaches for trigger management. For cases that don’t respond well to medication, procedural options exist and would be discussed with your neurologist or neurosurgeon.
We’ve created a complete guide to trigeminal neuralgia treatment options, including how different approaches work together.
When Should You Consider Override for Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Override may be a good fit if:
You’ve been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia and are looking for a coordinated, comprehensive plan
Your symptoms are affecting your eating, sleep, work, mood, or the things you want to do
You feel like you’ve been managing flares without support for the physical and emotional side
You’re looking for care that works alongside your neurologist, not in isolation
Override doesn’t diagnose trigeminal neuralgia or manage medication independently. Please continue working with your neurologist for that part of your care.
Related Conditions
Occipital Neuralgia
A related but distinct nerve pain condition
TMJ/TMD
A distinct but sometimes confused condition
Headache & Migraine
Frequently Asked Questions
We provide active treatment for trigeminal neuralgia, including managing medication when appropriate, alongside physical and muscular contributors to your pain. For cases involving procedural decisions, we coordinate closely with your neurologist or neurosurgeon. That combined approach is how most patients see the best results.
Common triggers include light touch, chewing, talking, brushing teeth, or cold air on the face. Triggers vary by person, which is why tracking your own pattern is a key part of treatment.
Many people manage it effectively long-term with a combination of medication and supportive physical treatment. For cases that don’t respond well to medication alone, procedural options exist and would be discussed with your neurologist or neurosurgeon.
Yes. Trigeminal neuralgia is best managed with both medical oversight and physical treatment together. We coordinate closely with your neurologist rather than working in isolation.
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