If you’re suffering from trigeminal neuralgia, the thought of being able to escape the pain and discomfort can be all-consuming. While there is currently no way to cure trigeminal neuralgia, there are many treatments that can provide lasting relief.
A Closer Look at Trigeminal Neuralgia
You have a total of twelve paired cranial nerves that branch off at the base of your skull and serve different functions and areas of your face. Your trigeminal nerve is the fifth cranial nerve. It controls the sensation and muscle function in areas of your cheeks, chin, forehead and around your eyes.
When you have trigeminal neuralgia, part of your trigeminal nerve has been damaged or is being compressed by an adjacent structure, such as an artery. When this happens it causes the nerve to send erroneous signals, resulting in stabbing or shock-like pains. Depending on the cause of your trigeminal neuralgia, your doctor may recommend one treatment over another.
Addressing Trigeminal Neuralgia Head-On
It’s tempting to believe that you can cure trigeminal neuralgia through natural remedies, special exercises or meditation. While some of these can be used to complement treatment, none should be relied upon as a definitive treatment.
To determine which treatment is best for you, make sure you find a doctor (and possibly neurosurgeon) you can work comfortably with. Establishing this type of relationship with your medical team will ensure that you receive the best possible treatments for your particular needs.
Treatment Options for Trigeminal Neuralgia
More people than ever are finding effective, permanent relief from trigeminal neuralgia pain through different treatments. Knowing what is available and what might work best for you can bring you closer to a pain-free, normal life.
Medications
Medication is usually the first treatment your doctor will recommend. This conservative approach provides a non-invasive means of attempting to relieve your trigeminal neuralgia symptoms.
Anticonvulsants have proven to be effective for treating trigeminal neuralgia symptoms, with two, in particular, being Tegretol and Trileptal. These medications have been known to provide the highest level of relief. Additionally, neither of these medications can lead to addiction, making them ideal for long-term use.
Initially, many people respond well to medication – for the first time in sometimes years they are not experiencing debilitating symptoms. Unfortunately, although a relatively low dose may be effective at the beginning, in most cases it must be gradually increased to keep getting the same results. The majority of people reach the maximum allowable dose and find out it’s still not enough to take care of the pain.
The other downside of medications would be the possible side effects. Both of these drugs can have side effects that patients find unbearable, including dizziness, headaches, nausea or a feeling of intoxication.
Microvascular Decompression
If medication isn’t working for you or you’d prefer a more permanent solution, microvascular decompression may be a great option for you. Whether you’re a good candidate for this surgery or not depends on the cause of your trigeminal neuralgia and your health status.
Microvascular decompression works in cases where your trigeminal neuralgia is caused by compression of your nerve from an adjacent artery or vein. The pounding of blood through this vessel and consequently onto your nerve can create chronic irritation. This, in turn, is translated into the shock-like episodes of pain you experience. To determine if this is the cause of your trigeminal neuralgia, you will need to first undergo an imaging test called a FIESTA-MRI. This allows your doctors to view the entire area and the way the structures interact with each other.
Microvascular decompression is a true surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia. Your surgeon will use specialized instruments to access the nerve and artery, placing a small Teflon sponge between the two at the point of contact. This creates a buffer so that the blood vessel can no longer cause irritation and damage to your trigeminal nerve. The overall recovery for this surgery is about 2-4 weeks, but most people notice immediate relief of their trigeminal neuralgia symptoms.
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery
If you’re not a candidate for microvascular decompression or would prefer not to undergo surgery, know that Gamma Knife Radiosurgery is a great option. This relatively non-invasive procedure uses around 200 tiny beams of radiation. Each of these rays is ineffective on its own, making it much less damaging while passing through tissues, but when it reaches its target point it combines with the other beams, delivering a therapeutic dose of radiation.
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery is an outpatient procedure and typically only requires a single treatment. It does take a while longer for symptoms to abate, but the non-invasive aspect makes it a great choice for those who can’t have surgery.
Percutaneous Rhizotomy
Another option that doesn’t require general anesthesia, percutaneous rhizotomy is effective in treating the symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia. Your doctor will guide a special needle-like instrument through your cheek and to a point or points along your trigeminal nerve. When in place, a controlled heat is applied, damaging the nerve in a manner that will arrest the misfiring nerve impulses that cause pain.
Pain Stimulator Placement
Pain stimulator placement is another treatment that has proven effective in managing trigeminal nerve pain. One or more tiny electrodes are carefully threaded beneath your skin and to a point or points on your trigeminal nerve. Once they are in place, the physician will test them and attach a stimulator. When a pain episode occurs, the stimulator sends small energy pulses to the electrodes, arresting the nerve impulses causing the pain. A trial period with an external stimulator will give you the opportunity to make sure it will be an effective option. At the end of your trial, the doctor will place a permanent stimulator under the surface of your skin.
Although there is no way to cure trigeminal neuralgia, the number of treatments available will give you more options than ever before. Working with your doctor, you can find the treatment that will work best for you and your lifestyle. You deserve to live a pain-free life.
