Trigeminal neuralgia is a facial pain syndrome consisting of  sharp, lancinating pain in the face. The pain is often described as shock-like stabs of pain. The pain is only on one side of the face and may be elicited by touching trigger points in the skin of gums. There is no associated numbness (unless there is co-existing multiple sclerosis). Often there may spontaneous remissions from pain lasting weeks to years. Interestingly, this pain usually responds to carbamazepine (Tegretol), an oral anticonvulsant medication.