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Advanced Trigeminal Neuralgia Surgery in Bhubaneswar

Medical science recognises trigeminal neuralgia (TN) as one of the most intense facial pain conditions. This chronic pain disorder affects the trigeminal nerve that starts near the top of the ear and splits into three branches to serve the eye, cheek, and jaw areas. Medications are the first-line treatment modality for trigeminal neuralgia treatment. Doctors generally recommend trigeminal neuralgia surgery when medications fail to control severe, recurrent facial pain.

Types of Trigeminal Neuralgia

Medical experts group trigeminal neuralgia (TN) into three main categories based on their mechanisms and characteristics:

  • Classical Trigeminal Neuralgia: This neuralgia stems from blood vessel compression near the brain stem. An artery or vein presses against the trigeminal nerve at a sensitive point. The nerve's protective outer layer, called the myelin sheath, wears away due to this pressure and causes pain signals to travel along the nerve.
  • Secondary Trigeminal Neuralgia: It emerges from other medical conditions. Tumours, cysts, arteriovenous malformation, multiple sclerosis, facial injury, or damage from dental surgery can trigger this condition. Treatment focuses on managing both the underlying condition and pain.
  • Idiopathic Trigeminal Neuralgia: This neuralgia represents cases where doctors can't find a specific cause. This classification guides doctors to develop suitable treatment strategies despite the unknown origin.

Doctors also recognise two distinct forms based on pain patterns:

  • Paroxysmal TN: Sharp, intense episodes last from seconds to two minutes, with pain-free intervals between attacks
  • TN with Continuous Pain: Constant, milder pain persists with aching and burning sensations

Best Trigeminal Neuralgia Surgery Doctors in India

Trigeminal Neuralgia Causes

  • Blood Vessel Disorder: Blood vessel compression near the brain stem causes most cases of trigeminal neuralgia. The superior cerebellar artery puts pressure on the trigeminal nerve root, accounting for 75% to 80% of cases. This compression happens within millimetres of the nerve's entry point into the pons.
  • Overgrowth: Several space-occupying lesions can trigger this condition:
    • Meningiomas
    • Acoustic neuromas
    • Epidermoid cysts
    • Arteriovenous malformations
    • Saccular aneurysms
  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS): MS plays a most crucial role in about 2% to 4% of cases. The condition damages the protective myelin covering of the trigeminal nerve nucleus and causes pain signals.

Trigeminal Neuralgia Symptoms

The main symptom of trigeminal neuralgia is a sharp pain that feels like an electric shock. This facial pain hits suddenly and intensely on one side of the face. 

The pain shows up in several ways:

  • Sharp stabbing feelings in the cheek or jaw
  • Burning or throbbing sensations
  • Spasms in facial muscles
  • Numbness or dull aches

These painful episodes can start from everyday activities. Something as simple as washing your face, putting on makeup, brushing your teeth, eating, drinking, or a gentle breeze can set off an attack. 

Each pain episode typically lasts between a few seconds to two minutes. This condition has a cycle-like pattern. Periods of frequent attacks are followed by weeks or months with minimal pain.

These pain attacks often come with facial twitching, which is why it's also called 'tic douloureux'. The pain might stay in one spot or spread across the face. It can affect the cheeks, jaw, teeth, gums, lips, eyes, and forehead. 

Trigeminal Neuralgia Diagnosis

  • Physical Assessment and Clinical History: Doctors examine patients and review their medical history to understand their facial pain better. A complete neurological exam shows which trigeminal nerve branches are affected. The medical team runs reflex tests to see if compressed nerves are causing the symptoms.
  • Modern Imaging Techniques: These tests will give a clear picture of the mechanisms:
    • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with high-resolution T2 weighted imaging to detect blood vessel compression
    • Advanced MRI techniques to visualise the trigeminal nerve and surrounding areas
    • Specialised brain scans to rule out tumours or multiple sclerosis
    • Blood tests to check for conditions like blood sugar irregularities and Lyme disease

Treatment Options for Trigeminal Neuralgia

Doctors use multiple approaches to manage trigeminal neuralgia pain. 

  • Medications: First-line treatment approach:
    • Anticonvulsant drugs: Carbamazepine remains the first-choice medication that relieves 80% to 90% of patients. Other medicines like oxcarbazepine, gabapentin, and topiramate often enhance the treatment plan.
    • Muscle relaxants: Muscle relaxing medicines like baclofen may be used as a standalone treatment or in combination with carbamazepine
    • Botox Injections: Reduce pain from trigeminal neuralgia
  • Surgery: Patients need surgical interventions when medications don't work. The key surgical options include:
    • Microvascular decompression: Offers long-term pain relief with an 80% success rate
    • Stereotactic radiosurgery: Controls pain effectively in 80% of cases and takes 4-8 months for a complete response
    • Radiofrequency lesioning: Delivers immediate pain relief in 90% of patients

Trigeminal Neuralgia Procedure

Patients with trigeminal neuralgia can find lasting relief through surgical procedures. These include:

  • Microvascular decompression (MVD): MVD remains the most effective surgical option and provides pain relief to 80% of patients. During this procedure, the surgeon moves blood vessels away from the trigeminal nerve and places a soft cushion between them.
  • Gamma Knife radiosurgery: This non-invasive treatment modality uses focused radiation beams on the trigeminal nerve. This treatment helps 70% of patients achieve complete pain relief at first, and 40-55% continue to experience relief after three years.
  • Minimally Invasive Treatment Approach: Several minimally invasive options are available to patients:
    • Glycerol injection: A needle delivers medicine through the face to reduce pain
    • Balloon compression: A catheter with a balloon compresses the nerve to block pain signals
    • Radiofrequency lesioning: An electrode creates controlled damage to stop pain transmission

Pre Trigeminal Neuralgia Surgery procedures

  • A comprehensive assessment to rule out the causes of compression of the trigeminal nerve
  • Medication reviews and adjustments, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines and blood thinners
  • Patients scheduled for microvascular decompression surgery must stick to strict fasting rules. They can't eat or drink anything after midnight before surgery to avoid anaesthesia complications. The fasting rules are nowhere near as strict for Gamma Knife radiosurgery patients.

During Trigeminal Neuralgia procedures

X-rays help guide needle placement during percutaneous procedures while patients remain heavily sedated. Doctors position patients on their backs with heads inside the C-arm to get precise imaging during radiofrequency treatments.

Microvascular decompression needs careful brain stem monitoring. Specialists now use brainstem auditory evoked responses to check nerve function. The surgical team communicates constantly and adjusts their techniques based on immediate feedback.

Post Trigeminal Neuralgia procedures

Patients who undergo microvascular decompression need one day in intensive care room before moving to a regular hospital room. They start moving from bed to chair on their own within 24 hours.

Pain Management and Original Recovery: Patients need medication for 2-4 weeks after microvascular decompression. This helps manage discomfort and swelling and prevents infection. Doctors remove stitches after 10 days. People can return to work after three weeks if their job involves light activities.

Key recovery milestones include:

  • Walking independently by day two
  • Resuming normal housework within one week
  • Returning to sedentary work after three weeks
  • Full activity restoration within 4-6 weeks

Why choose CARE Hospitals for a Trigeminal Neuralgia procedure?

The hospital's treatment approach for trigeminal neuralgia includes:

  • Advanced diagnostic facilities that ensure accurate assessment
  • Skilled neurosurgeons with proven track record
  • Complete treatment options from medication to surgery
  • Custom care plans for each patient
  • Strict infection control protocols
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Trigeminal Neuralgia Surgery Hospitals in India

Frequently Asked Questions

CARE Hospitals leads the way in trigeminal neuralgia treatment in Bhubaneswar with advanced diagnostic facilities and experienced neurosurgeons. 

Carbamazepine remains the best medication choice and helps 80-90% of patients. Microvascular decompression surgery gives the longest-lasting results, with success rates reaching 90%.

Most patients get relief from pain with proper treatment. Microvascular decompression controls pain in 80% of cases. Many patients stay pain-free for years after surgery.

Aftercare needs regular medication management and follow-up visits. Patients must:

  • Monitor pain levels and report changes
  • Take prescribed medications consistently
  • Attend scheduled blood tests
  • Keep medicines nearby even during pain-free periods

Recovery depends on the procedure. Patients who get microvascular decompression usually return to work within three weeks. Gamma Knife patients need 3-8 months for complete response.

Main complications include facial numbness, hearing loss, and rarely, stroke. Pain comes back in about 30% of cases within 10-20 years.

Patients should watch for fever, stiff neck, or vision changes after discharge. Regular check-ups happen throughout the first 3-6 months.

Never stop medications without asking your doctor. Patients should avoid heavy lifting and intense activities for several weeks after surgery.

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