What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Trigeminal neuralgia (also called the “suicide disease”) is a chronic pain condition affecting the trigeminal nerve – which carries sensation from the face to the brain. It causes sudden, severe, electric shock-like facial pain, often triggered by everyday activities like eating, talking, or touching the face. Dr Simranjeet Singh at Dashvanth Healthcare Delhi provides expert management including microvascular decompression surgery.
Types
- Type 1 (Classical TN): Sudden, severe, brief episodic pain lasting seconds to 2 minutes
- Type 2 (Atypical TN): Less intense but constant aching, burning pain
Triggers
- Eating, chewing, or swallowing
- Talking or smiling
- Touching the face, brushing teeth
- Wind on the face
- Shaving
Causes
- Vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve root (most common)
- Multiple sclerosis (demyelination of nerve)
- Tumour pressing on the nerve
- Arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
Diagnosis
MRI brain with FIESTA/CISS sequences to show vascular contact with trigeminal nerve. Neurological examination to exclude other causes.
Treatment
Medications (First Line)
- Carbamazepine – first choice, highly effective initially
- Oxcarbazepine, gabapentin, pregabalin as alternatives
- Combination therapy for refractory cases
Surgical Options
- Microvascular Decompression (MVD): Gold standard surgical treatment. Small craniotomy to separate blood vessel from trigeminal nerve. Highest cure rate with longest duration of pain relief.
- Percutaneous Rhizotomy: Needle through cheek to destroy part of the nerve
- Gamma Knife Radiosurgery: Focused radiation to damage pain signals
Expert trigeminal neuralgia treatment at Dashvanth Healthcare Delhi: 011-41670042
