Trigeminal neuralgia is manifested by intense, shooting pains in the face, which are compared to an electric shock. The trigeminal nerve, the largest sensory cranial nerve, sends signals to the brain from the face about pain, pressure, touch, and temperature. It has three main branches covering the lower jaw, cheeks and forehead. The most common cause of trigeminal neuralgia is compression of its root by an enlarged, tortuous vessel at the base of the skull. The slightest stimulation causes severe pain. There is also a milder form of trigeminal neuralgia, which is manifested by mild but prolonged (up to 3 days) facial pain. Patients describe it as burning, pressing, bursting or creeping on the skin. The pain may disappear for several months or years (this period is called remission). Over time, periods of remission tend to get shorter.