If you have pain, numbness or spasm in your face or jaw, you may benefit from a consult with a neurosurgeon who is a facial pain specialist. Your specialist can properly diagnose your condition and prescribe the right treatment for your specific condition. There are many causes of facial pain, including:
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Facial nerve disorders
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
- Cervicogenic headache
- Dental problems
- Sinus infection
Any of these conditions require that you see your doctor right away to get started on the best treatment for you. Trigeminal neuralgia is one common cause of facial pain that many people suffer from. If you have trigeminal neuralgia, you should consult an NJ neurosurgeon for the best possible treatment.
Treatments available for trigeminal neuralgia may include:
- Medication
- Gamma Knife Radiosurgery
- Microvascular decompression surgery
- Electrical stimulation
- Percutaneous rhizotomy
Microvascular decompression surgery is considered the definitive treatment for facial pain that comes from trigeminal neuralgia. If you have trigeminal neuralgia and have tried managing your pain with conservative treatments, you should consider visiting a neurosurgeon who can explain the procedure and help you decide if microvascular decompression surgery is for you.
Microvascular Decompression Surgery in NJ
Trigeminal neuralgia, or irritation of your 5th cranial nerve, can be difficult to treat as there is some confusion as to the cause of the condition. Some cases of trigeminal neuralgia may be caused by a loss of the myelin sheath around the trigeminal nerve.
The myelin helps to insulate and improve overall function of the nerve. Some conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, may result in loss of myelin around your trigeminal nerve, resulting in trigeminal neuralgia.
Another cause of trigeminal neuralgia is compression on your 5th cranial nerve from a neighboring blood vessel. When this otherwise normal vessel presses against your nerve, abnormal sensations or pain may be felt. Microvascular decompression surgery is a surgical procedure that is used to take pressure off your trigeminal nerve. The procedure is performed in the hospital by a neurosurgeon.
During microvascular decompression surgery, your doctor will make a small incision just behind your ear. A tiny portion of your skull will be removed, and then specialized instruments will be used to visualize your trigeminal nerve where it exits your brain stem.
Once your surgeon visualizes your trigeminal nerve, a small Teflon pad will be placed between your nerve and the neighboring blood vessel. This pad takes pressure off of your trigeminal nerve to eliminate the pain or abnormal sensations that you are feeling with trigeminal neuralgia.
After the surgery, you can expect to spend 1-2 days in the hospital and then be discharged home. Once you are home, you can gradually increase your activity level until you have made a full recovery.
Find the Top Neurosurgeons for the Best Care
When considering microvascular decompression surgery for your trigeminal neuralgia, your first step should be to find a NJ neurosurgeon who leads the field in facial pain surgery. To find the best surgeon, you should take a few steps, including:
- Ask your family physician for a referral to a trusted specialist
- Ask family members and friends
- Search the internet for positive reviews about New Jersey facial pain neurosurgeons
The best way to find the best doctor for you is to meet with a few for a consultation. Your doctor should be a compassionate professional who explains to you the microvascular decompression procedure.
He or she should take the time to listen to your concerns and questions about your surgery, and you should be offered alternatives to surgery. Most importantly, you should feel a sense of trust in your neurosurgeon that he is working in your best interests to treat your trigeminal neuralgia.
The Benefits of Having Surgery in NJ
Microvascular decompression is a type of brain surgery, and it should be considered very seriously when treating your trigeminal neuralgia. Many people feel that a major medical procedure should be done in a large metropolitan hospital for the best possible care.
But there may be some benefits to undergoing microvascular decompression surgery close to home in New Jersey. Benefits of undergoing microvascular decompression surgery in NJ include:
- Ease of travel for you and your family
- Smaller, New Jersey hospitals offer personal, individualized care
- Local hospitals have innovative diagnostic and surgical equipment
- Cost savings for you with less worry about parking or lodging for family members and friends
Most importantly, you need to find the best surgeon who can perform your microvascular decompression close to home to make your transition from hospital care to recovery at home a smooth one. Microvascular decompression surgery is considered the definitive treatment for trigeminal neuralgia. It can offer you rapid and lasting relief from your facial pain and spasm.
By working with a top-rated facial pain neurosurgeon in a modern NJ hospital, you can be sure to maximize your chances of having a positive outcome with your surgery. That way, you can quickly get back to your active, pain-free lifestyle with no symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia.
