Trigeminal Neuralgia

What Is Trigeminal Neuralgia?

In trigeminal neuralgia, the facial nerve is permanently irritated, which is very painful for patients. A distinction is made between idiopathic (without a recognizable cause) and symptomatic (as a symptom of underlying disease) trigeminal neuralgia.

The trigeminal nerve is the most important sensitive nerve in the head and facial region. It is divided into three major branches, the ophthalmic nerve, the maxillary nerve, and the mandibular nerve. In general, each of the three branches transmits the sensations of a third of the face to the brain.

What Causes Trigeminal Neuralgia?

Although the cause of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia is unknown, it is suspected to be related to a cerebellar artery in close spatial contact with the nerve and may irritate it. There are no known triggers or risk factors. Usually, the disease occurs from the age of 40. Women are slightly more frequently affected than men.

Symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia occurs as a side effect of other diseases, often multiple sclerosis or tumors close to the trigeminal nerve. In these cases, the myelin sheath, a fatty layer surrounding the nerve, is dissolved, and the nerve fibers are irritated.

Which Symptoms Occur?

Patients suffer from sudden, extreme facial pain that lasts from a few seconds to minutes. These pains can occur due to a stimulus (touch, swallowing, brushing teeth) or spontaneously and can repeat arbitrary frequently per day. At the beginning of the disease, patients are pain-free between attacks. Later, the patient may also experience discomfort or dull pain, even between the episodes.

Trigeminal Neuralgia Therapy: What Helps? Medication, Surgery, or Radiation

Trigeminal neuralgia can be treated in several ways. In drug therapy, antiepileptic drugs are administered. They have a better effect than painkillers.

During the trigeminal surgery, either the cranial bone is opened, the nerve is freed from possible incarcerations and relieved, or trigeminal ganglion, the nerve's dividing point, is intentionally damaged to prevent the transmission of stimuli to the brain. Surgical therapy options have a very high success rate. In some cases, however, a new surgery may become necessary after several years.

Recently, there is also the possibility of irradiating the nerve fibers once using radiosurgery, which has the same effect as surgery without having to open the skull.

Which Doctors and Clinics Are Specialized in Trigeminal Neuralgia Surgery?

Every patient who needs a doctor wants the best medical care. Therefore, the patient is wondering where to find the best clinic for trigeminal neuralgia surgery. As this question cannot be answered objectively and a reliable doctor would never claim to be the best one, we can only rely on the doctor’s experience of a.

Specialists for trigeminal neuralgia surgery are very experienced neurosurgeons. We help you to find an expert for your disease. All listed doctors and clinics have been checked by us for their outstanding specialization in trigeminal neuralgia surgery and are awaiting your inquiry or treatment request.

Sources:

http://www.onmeda.de/krankheiten/trigeminusneuralgie.html

https://www.neurologen-und-psychiater-im-netz.org/neurologie/erkrankungen/trigeminusneuralgie-gesichtsschmerzen/ursachen/

http://www.mylife.de/krankheit-behandlung/trigeminusneuralgie-symptome-ursachen-und-was-wirklich-hilft-10421

http://flexikon.doccheck.com/de/Trigeminusneuralgie