Trigeminal Nerve Treatment
1. Medications:
Initial stage of treatment is drug therapy for one or two months. The effectiveness of drugs in controlling the pain can help clinical diagnosis.
But medications can only be a temporary solution, not a permanent cure for the true cause of trigeminal neuralgia that is: external factors compressing on the nerve and make it short-circuit.
Generally doctor will consider medications for
- Its effective pain control
- Without intolerable side effects to patients: sleepy and drowsiness, nausea and vomiting, etc.
- Patient do not want procedure or surgery
- iv) Patient are not suitable for procedure or surgery
Commonly used drugs include:
- Antiepileptic drugs
- Pain medication
- Antidepressants
- Muscle relaxants
2. Interventional Procedures:
- Trigeminal nerve injection therapy
- Semilunar ganglion injection of alcohol treatment
- Semilunar ganglion radio-frequency electrocoagulation therapy
- Balloon pressure for semilunar ganglion compression
3. Microsurgery
Microvascular decompression of trigeminal nerve:
- Nowadays the most commonly used and effective treatment for trigeminal neuralgia
- Under microscope, neurosurgeon will separate the blood vessels from compressing the trigeminal nerve, thus removing the origin of short-circuit that cause pain.
- Operation required general anesthesia
- Wound, of few cm long, is mainly behind the ears and the hair line.
4. Radiosurgery
- Cyberknife radiosurgery for those patients who are not suitable for procedure or surgery
If delaying treatment, what would be the consequences?
- Prolonged pressure on the nerve will cause irreversible diseased changes at nerve, thus reduce the cure rates of microsurgery.
- Social issues: trigeminal neuralgia may make patients unable to carry out normal social interaction and daily activities.
- Emotional disturbances: chronic pain can lead to depression and suicidal thoughts.
How to determine if they are suffering from trigeminal neuralgia?
Before any invasive procedure or surgery, you should seek professional advice:
- Dentists
- Neurosurgeons
