Definition

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a chronic pain syndrome that causes intense, shooting pains in the back of the tongue and throat, tonsillar areas, and middle ear.

Description

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia may be due to inflammation or compression of either the glossopharyngeal nerve or the vagus nerve, another nerve that innervates (stimulates) the same basic areas. The condition usually comes on quite suddenly, and may wax and wane in severity over time. This condition may occur in conjunction with trigeminal neuralgia (a pain syndrome affecting the face).

Demographics

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia usually strikes people over the age of 40. It is a relatively rare condition, affecting about 0.7/100,000 individuals per...