If you have facial pain or muscular spasms in your jaw, you may be suffering from trigeminal neuralgia. Trigeminal neuralgia is a condition that affects your 5th cranial nerve. The nerve travels from your face to your brain and communicates information to your brain about sensations around your cheek, eye or jaw.
Trigeminal nerve damage may occur from a serious condition like a brain cyst or tumor, stroke or multiple sclerosis. Trigeminal neuralgia may also be caused by irritation of your nerve by its neighboring blood vessel. The vessel presses against the nerve, damaging the protective sheath around the nerve and causing facial pain symptoms.
Symptoms of trigeminal nerve damage may include:
- Sharp, shooting pain on one side of your face, eye or jaw
- Muscular spasm in your jaw
- Ear pain or pain in your teeth
- Hypersensitivity in your face
- Abnormal sensation like numbness, burning or tingling in one side of your face
If you have any of these symptoms, you may be suffering from damage to your trigeminal nerve, causing trigeminal neuralgia. The presence of these facial symptoms is a good indicator that you should find a facial pain specialist right away to get an accurate diagnosis of your condition and to start the correct treatment.
Trigeminal Nerve Damage: Find the Best Care
When dealing with the facial pain that comes with trigeminal neuralgia, you need to find the best possible care for your condition. There are many NJ doctors who may be able to help, but if you work to find a top-rated doctor to treat your trigeminal neuralgia, you can be sure to get optimal care for your condition.
Treatment for trigeminal neuralgia typically includes:
- Medications
- Injections
- Gamma Knife Radiosurgery
- Microvascular decompression surgery
- Percutaneous rhizotomy
While a facial pain clinic may be able to offer you some of these treatments, the most definitive treatment — microvascular decompression surgery — is managed most effectively by a specially trained New Jersey neurosurgeon. Your neurosurgeon should have an intimate knowledge of trigeminal nerve conditions and how to offer the best care for your trigeminal neuralgia.
The Right Surgeon Makes the Difference
When considering microvascular decompression surgery to treat your trigeminal nerve damage, you need to find the best surgeon for you. So, how do you locate a top-rated NJ neurosurgeon who treats trigeminal neuralgia? It may take a little work, but your extra effort will be well worth it.
To start your search for a top-rated doctor for your trigeminal neuralgia, you can try a few different things, which include:
- Searching the internet for well reviewed NJ neurosurgeons who treats facial conditions
- Asking your family physician for a trusted referral
- Asking family members and friends who may have had experience with facial pain or trigeminal neuralgia surgery
Once you have located some top-rated neurosurgeons who have experience with trigeminal nerve conditions, you need to find the best one for you. The best way to do this is to meet with several neurosurgeons and evaluate the qualities that will lead to alleviating your facial pain.
Facial pain neurosurgeons
First and foremost, the neurosurgeon who performs your microvascular decompression surgery should have experience in treating facial pain conditions. He or she should be a leader in the field of facial pain surgery. Be sure to ask about your surgeon’s experience with facial pain and trigeminal neuralgia to decide if he or she is the right doctor for you.
Offers you alternatives
A good doctor knows when to do surgery. A great doctor knows when not to do surgery. When meeting with your doctor, does he seem eager to schedule your surgery, or does he take the time to assess your condition and offer you possible alternatives to surgery?
A trusted neurosurgeon will explain the risks and benefits of microvascular decompression surgery and be able to offer you alternative treatments for your trigeminal neuralgia.
Takes time to answer your questions
When meeting with your doctor, have a list of questions ready to ask, and evaluate how your doctor answers your questions. Your doctor should listen to your concerns and take the time to answer questions about your condition and trigeminal nerve surgery.
When meeting with each neurosurgeon, you should be able to get a feel for their treatment styles. Does your doctor really pay attention to your symptoms and conditions, or do you feel like just a number in line for surgery?
Who’s the Best NJ Neurosurgeon for You?
So, how do you know which NJ neurosurgeon is best for you? The answer is all about communication. Your doctor should communicate with you about the risks and benefits of microvascular decompression surgery, and he or she should help you feel at ease about the procedure.
Some of the best doctors who treat trigeminal neuralgia offer their patients pre-operative programs to help them get acquainted with trigeminal neuralgia surgery and to learn about what to expect from the procedure. This can help put your mind at ease about your surgery.
Most importantly, your doctor should instill in you a sense of trust. You should feel like you are working in a therapeutic alliance with your neurosurgeon to find the best possible care for your trigeminal neuralgia.
Open lines of communication between you and your neurosurgeon makes facing trigeminal neuralgia surgery an easier task. When dealing with facial pain or spasm, considering surgery may be a necessity to help you gain your normal life back.
Choosing the best NJ neurosurgeon who treats trigeminal neuralgia and facial nerve disorders can help you relieve your symptoms quickly and safely. That way, you can get back to your normal, pain-free lifestyle without having to worry about trigeminal nerve damage or facial pain.
