Trigeminal neuralgia -- or "tic douloureux," as it is sometimes known -- is often described as the worst pain known to man. Anyone who has had it quickly agrees.

For centuries, sufferers have tried to get rid of this sharp, stabbing, almost electrical face pain by all sorts of methods, ranging from blood-letting and bee venom to burning the face with hot irons and severing the trigeminal nerve altogether. It wasn't unusual for sufferers to kill themselves to escape the agonizing pain.

Today, a variety of medicines and medical treatments are available to effectively knock out this and related face pain. This is the story of TN and other face pains -- what causes them, how these pains affect those who have them, and most importantly, what can be done to stop the pain and give people their lives back.

Written in layman's terms, this book is the most comprehensive resource available for understanding neuropathic face pain like TN. It's a must-have guide for patients, their loved ones, caregivers and healthcare providers.