Authors: Matthew J Allsop Maureen Twiddy Hilary Grant Carolyn CzoskiMurray Mark MonWilliams Faisal Mushtaq Nick Phillips Joanna M Zakrzewska Sue Pavitt
Publish Date: 2015/09/02
Volume: 157, Issue: 11, Pages: 1925-1933
Abstract
Trigeminal neuralgia TN is a serious health problem causing brief recurrent episodes of stabbing or burning facial pain which patients describe as feeling like an electric shock The consequences of living with the condition are severe There is currently no cure for TN and management of the condition can be complex often delayed by misdiagnosis Patients’ qualitative experiential accounts of TN have not been reported in the literature Capturing subjective experiences can be used to inform the impact of the condition on quality of life and may contribute to a better understanding of current clinical practice with the aim of improving patient careThe impact of TN and treatment on the lives of participants emerged as four predominant themes 1 diagnosis and support with TN 2 living in fear of TN pain 3 isolation and social withdrawal and 4 medication burden and looking for a cure Each theme is discussed and illustrated with extracts from the transcriptsKey issues to address in the management of patients with TN include continued delays in diagnosis persistent side effects from medication and a lack of psychological support Developing strategies to enhance the management of patients with TN informed by a biopsychosocial approach and multidisciplinary team working is essential to enhancing the provision of current careTrigeminal neuralgia TN is a serious health problem causing brief recurrent episodes of stabbing or sharp facial pain which patients describe as feeling like an electric shock 10 Attacks can be triggered by any kind of movement or touch they can occur at numerous intervals or continuously throughout the day 27 Trigeminal neuralgia is rare and hence it is difficult to obtain highquality epidemiological data Data from GP practices based in the United Kingdom UK outlined an incidence of 8 per 10000 people per year and a lifetime prevalence of 07 per 100000 people per year 15 The consequences of living with the condition are severe Often patients live in fear of pain with daily functioning disrupted and quality of life impaired 26 typically presenting with higher levels of anxiety and depression 16Patients’ qualitative experiential accounts of TN have not been reported in the literature but they could be used to report the impact of the condition on quality of life and may contribute to a better understanding of current clinical practice with the aim of improving patient care While existing accounts of the patient’s journey through TN exist 26 29 this is the first reported qualitative study into the experience of TN and the impact of treatment by patients diagnosed with TN
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