Trigeminal neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia causes a disruption in the function of the trigeminal nerve. Pain is frequently caused by a blood vessel coming into contact with the trigeminal nerve at the base of the brain. The blood vessel might be an artery or a vein. This contact exerts pressure on the nerve, preventing it from functioning normally.

While blood vessel compression is the most prevalent cause, there are several alternative possibilities. Multiple sclerosis, or a related illness that affects the myelin sheath that protects certain nerves, can induce trigeminal neuralgia. A tumor pushing on the trigeminal nerve might also cause this disease.

Some people may develop trigeminal neuralgia after a stroke or facial trauma. Trigeminal neuralgia can also be caused by a nerve damage sustained after surgery.

triggers may set off the pain of trigeminal neuralgia, including:

• Shaving.
• Touching your face.
• Eating.
• Drinking.
• Brushing your teeth.
• Talking.
• Putting on makeup.
• A light breeze blowing over your face.
• Smiling.
• Washing your face.

See your healthcare professional if you experience pain in your face, particularly if it's long-lasting or comes back after going away. Also get medical attention if you have chronic pain that doesn't go away with pain medicine that you buy off the shelf.

Treatment for trigeminal neuralgia usually starts with medication therapy, and some people do not need any other additional treatment. However, over time, some people may stop responding to medications or experience side effects. In this case, injections, hardware methods involving a magnetic field, or surgery are the methods of treating neuralgia.

If your condition is caused by another cause, such as multiple sclerosis, then the underlying disease will have to be treated.

Medications

For the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, medications are prescribed that reduce or block pain signals to the brain.

Anticonvulsants. Doctors usually prescribe carbamazepine for trigeminal neuralgia, and it has been shown to be effective in treating this condition. Other anticonvulsants that can be used to treat trigeminal neuralgia include oxcarbazepine, valproate, and phenytoin. Other medications, including clonazepam, topiramate, pregabalin, and gabapentin, may also be used.

If these drugs begin to lose their effectiveness, the doctor may increase the dose or switch to another type of drug. Side effects of anticonvulsants may include dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, and nausea. Also, carbamazepine can cause a serious drug reaction in some people, mostly of Asian descent, so genetic testing may be recommended before starting carbamazepine.

Antispasmodics. Muscle relaxants, such as baclofen, can be used alone or in combination with carbamazepine. Side effects may include confusion, nausea, and drowsiness.

Botox injections. Small studies have shown that injections of botulinum toxin can reduce pain from trigeminal neuralgia in people who are no longer helped by medications. However, more research is needed before this treatment is widely used to treat this condition.

Surgical intervention

Surgical options for treating trigeminal neuralgia include

• Microvascular decompression. This procedure involves moving or removing the blood vessels that are in contact with the trigeminal root to stop the nerve from dysfunction.
• Stereotactic radiosurgery of the brain (gamma knife). During this procedure, the surgeon directs a focused dose of radiation to the root of the trigeminal nerve. This procedure uses radiation to damage the trigeminal nerve and reduce or eliminate pain. Relief comes gradually and can last up to a month.

Other procedures, such as rhizotomy, can be used to treat trigeminal neuralgia.

The Brainspot Neuromodulation Clinic provides clients with the opportunity to undergo neuralgia treatment using the method of magnetic stimulation of the peripheral nervous system.