Treatment Options For Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia is a condition that causes chronic pain in the face by affecting the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for bringing sensations from the face to the brain. When an individual has this condition, any stimulation of their face might cause jolts of pain, even gentle routines like applying makeup or brushing their teeth. At the onset, the attacks tend to be short and mild.

However, trigeminal neuralgia tends to progress and become more severe, causing more frequent and more intense pain. Women are more likely to have the condition than men, and the condition more commonly appears in those over fifty years old. There are multiple treatment options available, so patients aren't necessarily doomed to pain if they have trigeminal neuralgia.

Microvascular Decompression

Microvascular decompression is a surgical treatment option that releases abnormal compression of certain cranial nerves. It's used to treat trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, and glossopharyngeal neuralgia. During this surgery, the surgeon will open the patient's skull and insert a sponge between the artery causing the pain signals and the nerve. This keeps the artery from sending more pain signals. Most doctors will recommend treating trigeminal neuralgia with medications first.

However, if pain medications cause too many dangerous side effects or aren't effective enough, patients might benefit from microvascular decompression. In many cases of trigeminal neuralgia, the trigeminal nerve is compressed by a blood vessel that increases pressure and causes a pulsing effect. Using a sponge to separate the blood vessel helps isolate the nerve, stopping it from carrying the pain signals to the brain.

Anticonvulsant Medication

Anticonvulsant medication is one of several medication options available for individuals with trigeminal neuralgia. The most common type of medication is carbamazepine, which has shown effectiveness in multiple studies regarding trigeminal neuralgia treatment. There are other anticonvulsants that may also be used like lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine, and phenytoin. If these aren't effective, doctors might use benzodiazepines like clonazepam. In many cases, using carbamazepine can lead to immediate relief.

However, the symptoms may recur within six to twelve months, even if they aren't as severe. Some patients stop using their medication when the symptoms recur, and they eventually have to start medication again. It's always best for patients to talk to their doctor before stopping any medication, provided the medication isn't causing potentially life-threatening symptoms.