امرأة عمرها ٥٦ سنة عندها ألم العصب الخامس (Trigeminal neuralgia)، تأتيها نوبات ألم كالصعقة في الخد الأيمن عند المضغ أو لمس الوجه، ونقص وزنها لأنها تتجنب الأكل. بدأت كاربامازيبين. أي عبارة منها تدل أنها فهمت التعليمات؟

A 56-year-old woman with trigeminal neuralgia has electric-shock pains in the right cheek when chewing or touching her face and has lost weight avoiding food. She has started carbamazepine. Which statement shows she understood the teaching?

1. “I’ll chew food on the unaffected side.”
2. “I’ll rinse my mouth with cold water after meals.”
3. “When the pain starts I’ll rub my face firmly.”
4. “I’ll eat very hot food to relax the nerve.”

Answer: A) “I’ll chew food on the unaffected side.”. Triggers are cold, heat and touching the face. Chewing on the unaffected side and lukewarm food reduce attacks.