If in fact it is trigeminal neuralgia (tic doloreaux), there is
no "trigger" in the usual sense of that word. Ergo, idiopathic. (i know
that isn't really helpful.)
"Recurrence" is not the correct question. Medication (almost
always carbemazepine/Tegretol as first choice) increases peripheral
threshold so that the paroxysms of pain are not perceived; thus, the
condition is constant; the treatment is symptomatic.
Tic is uncommon at her age. Rarely it can be a manifestation of
incipient multiuple sclerosis (common in her age group), sometimes
antedating clinical presentation by up to 5 years.
An MRI in idiopathic tic is expected to be normal.
Richard E. Cytowic
