Neuralgias

Neuralgias are characterized by intense pain along the distribution of cranial or cervical nerves. While the pain is typically short-lasting, severe, and sporadic, some patients may experience continuous neuropathic pain. The most frequently encountered neuralgias include trigeminal neuralgia, postherpetic neuralgia, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, and occipital neuralgia. Additionally, there are rarer cranial neuralgias that can manifest as pain around the eye (such as supraorbital neuralgia) or in the ear (such as nervus intermedius neuralgia). These conditions can sometimes be mistaken for structural or inflammatory/infectious neurological diseases, as well as other primary headache disorders like primary stabbing headache. This book aims to provide a comprehensive overview of neuralgias, including their classification, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and management strategies.