If you have facial pain or hemifacial spasm, you may benefit from a surgical procedure called microvascular decompression to help relieve your symptoms. Microvascular decompression surgery is considered the definitive treatment for trigeminal neuralgia or hemifacial spasm. Understanding the surgery and the multiple benefits of microvascular decompression surgery can help you make an informed decision about your treatment for facial pain.
Facial pain can limit your ability to concentrate on your normal work and recreational activity. It can prevent you from enjoying time with family or friends, and may even make the most basic tasks, like brushing your teeth, a painful experience. Finding a top-rated NJ neurosurgeon who performs microvascular decompression surgery can help you have a successful outcome with treatment.
What Causes Facial Pain?
The most common cause of facial pain is irritation of your trigeminal nerve, the 5th cranial nerve. This nerve travels from your brain stem to your face, cheek and jaw. It provides sensory information from your face to your brain. Sometimes a nearby artery can rub against your trigeminal nerve, causing irritation and facial pain known as trigeminal neuralgia.
The 7th cranial nerve, called the facial nerve, is near your trigeminal nerve, and it may also become irritated by its arterial neighbor. When this happens, a condition called hemifacial spasm may occur.
When your cranial nerves become irritated and facial symptoms are present, your doctor may initially treat them with medication. This may be an effective short-term solution to your pain, but your body will likely develop a tolerance to the medication and you may require more invasive procedures to fully treat your facial pain.
Compression of your cranial nerves requires a surgical procedure to get pressure off of them. The best procedure for that is microvascular decompression surgery. Your neurosurgeon can tell you the benefits and the expected recovery period from microvascular decompression.
What is Microvascular Decompression Surgery?
Microvascular decompression is a type of brain surgery to help relieve facial pain or spasm. The procedure is done by a neurosurgeon. A small incision is made behind your ear, and a quarter-sized portion of your skull is then removed so your surgeon can visualize your trigeminal or facial nerve. Then, a small Teflon pad is situated between the nerve and the artery that is pressing against it. This pad helps to take pressure off your nerve to relieve your pain.
After the surgery, you will remain in the intensive care unit overnight, and then you will be transferred to a standard hospital room for close monitoring. After 2 or 3 days in the hospital, you can go home. Once home, you will be expected to slowly and carefully increase your activity level. You should watch your incision for any signs of infection and check in with your doctor regularly. Patients should avoid heavy lifting or bending over after their microvascular decompression. Slowly increasing walking and activity is recommended.
Most patients are ready to return to normal activity within weeks of their microvascular decompression surgery. However, not everyone heals at the same rate; your doctor can tell you when you can resume normal activity.
Benefits of Microvascular Decompression Surgery
There are several benefits to microvascular decompression surgery. These may include:
- Rapid relief of symptoms – some treatments for facial pain or trigeminal neuralgia require time to take effect. Most patients who undergo microvascular decompression realize rapid relief of their facial pain. This means that they can quickly get back to their normal activity.
- Long lasting relief – once you have microvascular decompression surgery, your facial symptoms should go away – and stay away. Most patients who have microvascular decompression realize long-term relief.
- The procedure is safe – although microvascular decompression is considered brain surgery, the incisions used during the operation are tiny. This limits the risk of infection or blood loss. Working with a top-rated and qualified NJ neurosurgeon can help you have the best outcome with your microvascular decompression.
- Low risk of recurrence – people who have microvascular decompression surgery typically do not experience their facial pain symptoms again. The 10-year recurrence rate for facial pain is less than 20 percent after microvascular decompression.
- Low risk of other symptoms – some treatments for trigeminal neuralgia or hemifacial spasm may leave patients with side effects like facial numbness or hearing loss. One benefit of microvascular decompression is the low risk of facial numbness or tingling after the operation.
Given the safety of microvascular decompression surgery and the multiple benefits of the operation, many patients elect to have the surgery to get rapid and long-lasting relief of their facial pain symptoms.
Work with a Top-Rated NJ Neurosurgeon
When considering microvascular decompression surgery, you need to take the time to find the best NJ neurosurgeons who perform this operation. Your surgeon should spend time with you to answer your questions and concerns about surgery, and you should feel like he or she is a trusted ally.
When meeting with different neurosurgeons, take note of how you are treated. The best NJ neurosurgeons surround themselves with compassionate and caring healthcare professionals. Your experience with your surgeon should feel like a positive one.
If you have facial symptoms from trigeminal neuralgia or hemifacial spasm, you may benefit from a surgical procedure called microvascular decompression. This surgery has many benefits – including rapid relief of pain and low risk of recurrence – resulting in many patients choosing microvascular decompression over other treatments for facial pain. Understanding these benefits and working with a trusted NJ neurosurgeon can help you have a positive outcome with microvascular decompression surgery.
