Since the year 2000, intermittently, I have experienced Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN), a facial neuralgia. For some time now, the neuralgia has been in total remission, and I have been pain-free. However, certain activities of daily living always will need to be modified or avoided in order to reduce the likelihood of flare-ups.

Classic TN affects one side of the face and head. Pain varies from mild to intense, and is electric-shock-like. The pain can last for an instant, or occur intermittently for hours or days, and may come-and-go for months, even with medication. Approximately 5.5 per 100,000 persons in the United States have this disorder. Medication and/or surgical procedures can help, but there is no certain remedy for everyone.

Between 2004 and 2006 my facial neuralgia was not well-controlled, and the high level of medication strongly affected my thinking, speaking, and coordination. In 2006, after the symptoms diminished, I created the Trigeminal Neuralgia Series of paintings. The paintings helped me cope with the pain and emotional distress of the disorder and were a way to visually express what experiencing TN (an invisible affliction) feels like.

My intention was to create appealing images, and use humor at times, so people would be willing to engage with the paintings and understand. When the neuralgia paintings have been exhibited at Pain Conferences, usually several individuals, who have experienced facial neuralgia, will spontaneously point to the images and say, “That’s me!”