Trigeminal Neuralgia. Even the name stings. It sounds like a spell gone wrong or the title of an obscure opera. But for those who suffer from it, this nerve condition is all too real — a sharp, sudden, electric pain in the face, capable of being triggered by the lightest touch, a wisp of wind, or even a smile. The condition may be serious, but this corner of the blog invites silliness in solidarity. So let us offer a rhyme-wrapped reprieve: a nonsense verse for those who know what it means to wince at the breeze.
Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Nonsensical Tale
Introduction to Verse
Trigeminal Neuralgia is a mouthful to say and a mind-bender to live with. This rare and excruciating condition affects the trigeminal nerve — the very one responsible for carrying sensation from your face to your brain. When it misbehaves, it can cause sudden, shock-like facial pain from the lightest of triggers: brushing your teeth, a gust of wind, or even a smile from a friend.
Sufferers may find themselves flinching at a handshake or sipping soup through a straw just to avoid agony. It’s one of those invisible illnesses that can make everyday actions feel like navigating a minefield. Some call it the “suicide disease,” not to dramatise, but to acknowledge the depth of suffering that comes with each unpredictable jolt.
But here on My MS is Me, we sometimes confront the pain with parody — not to make light of suffering, but to honour its absurdity. And so, in the spirit of whimsical defiance, we present a nonsense verse. Expect no comfort, no cure, and certainly no clinical accuracy — only the odd therapeutic chuckle for those who’ve learned to laugh when life zaps back.
Exquisite Pain
Sir Pibbleton Wog had a squiggly moustache,
And lived in a teapot repurposed from trash.
He winced when he whistled, he groaned when he grinned—
A sneeze sent him flying clean over the wind.
His left cheek would twitch with the sound of a spoon,
His eyebrow would buzz like a startled raccoon.
The culprit, you see, was a cruel little gremlin
Called Trigeminal Neuralgia (or so claimed Miss Emlyn).
She lived down the road in a bucket of broth,
And watched as poor Pibbleton simmered in froth.
“He can’t eat a crumpet! He can’t stroke his cat!
He can’t even nod without wearing a hat!”
He tried wrapping scarves round his jaw and his nose,
But the pain simply followed wherever he goes.
He yelped at the post and he ducked at the door,
He whispered his woes to a vase on the floor.
“Oh blast it!” he shouted, “I just want some peace!
Not a nerve that explodes when I’m chewing on peas!”
He met with a wizard who offered a chant—
But it only made Pibbleton dance like a plant.
So now he just hums in a minorish key,
And eats all his dinner exclusively through tea.
And though he still flinches when brushing his hat,
He smiles through the nonsense—imagine that.Reflection
The humour above may be nonsensical, but the lived experience of Trigeminal Neuralgia is anything but. Characterised by intense, stabbing pain that can be triggered by the lightest touch or even a puff of air, it often defies explanation and conventional relief. While Sir Pibbleton’s antics may be fictional, the desire to laugh in the face of pain is very real. And valuable.
The following links might give you a sense of the pain:
Trigeminal Neuralgia is one of the most exquisite pains known to man or woman.
Conclusion
Trigeminal Neuralgia may not be whimsical — but whimsy is one of the tools we use to fight back. This verse honours not just the struggle, but the strange triumph of those who keep smiling through the storm. If this made your day a fraction brighter (or at least, fractionally more ridiculous), why not explore more joyful nonsense at Nonsense Verse: Joyful Gems for the Foggy Mind?
When you live with Trigeminal Neuralgia, laughter may seem elusive—but nonsense verse can offer relief of a different kind, reminding us that while pain may zap the nerves, it doesn’t have to steal our silliness, our imagination, or our uniquely stubborn sense of delight.
We started this exciting, nonsensical journey from landing page for this section.
