tic douloureux /tik do̅o̅lo̅o̅rœ′/ [Fr, painful spasm] , a brief, extremely painful attack of trigeminal neuralgia. It is unilateral and limited to the distribution of the trigeminal (fifth cranial) nerve. An attack is easily and unexpectedly provoked by any stimulus of the facial muscles, from touching to speaking, and may occur repetitively. See also trigeminal neuralgia.
