trigeminal neuralgia
"I am now 79, but had trigeminal neuralgia attacks for at least 35 years.  I would get an unprictable jabbing pain on either the right or the left side of my face about once or twice a year.  For years I did not know what caused it and simply toughed it out.  It was usually gone after about a week or so.  

About ten years ago I mentioned it to my family doc who sent me to a nerve specialist.  He diagnosed it right away and prescribed Neurontin.  Now, when I feel the first jab coming on, I take one or 2 pills and follow it up with additional pills until the pain goes away, usually in 2 or 3 days.

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