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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

$Subcutaneous Trigeminal Nerve Field Stimulation for Refractory Facial Pain$

Subcutaneous Trigeminal Nerve Field Stimulation for Refractory Facial Pain

Published on: May 10, 2017

Trigeminal neuralgia during sleep.

Marshall Devor¹, Irene Wood, Yair Sharav

¹Department of Cell and Animal Biology, Institute of Life Sciences and Center for Research on Pain, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel. marshlu@vms.huji.ac.il

Pain Practice : the Official Journal of World Institute of Pain

|May 28, 2008

Summary

Painful awakenings from trigeminal neuralgia (TN) attacks are common, challenging the belief in a sleep protective mechanism. These nocturnal episodes, often triggered by stimuli, indicate that TN pain can disrupt sleep despite not always causing full awakenings.

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Area of Science:

Neurology
Sleep Medicine
Pain Research

Background:

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is characterized by sudden, intense facial pain paroxysms.
Clinicians often report that TN patients are rarely awakened by pain during sleep.
This suggests a potential sleep protective mechanism in TN.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the occurrence and nature of sleep disruptions due to trigeminal neuralgia pain.
To determine if patients with TN experience nocturnal pain awakenings.

Main Methods:

Surveyed TN patients and their sleep partners regarding painful awakenings.
Documented the frequency and triggers of nocturnal pain episodes.

Main Results:

Contrary to clinical assumptions, painful awakenings from TN are common.
Nocturnal pain paroxysms are often induced by natural stimuli at TN trigger points.
Some brief attacks may not fully awaken patients but are still perceived as painful.

Conclusions:

The presence of a powerful sleep protective mechanism in TN is questionable.
Trigeminal neuralgia pain frequently disrupts sleep, impacting patient well-being.
Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying sleep disruption in TN.