Cranial Neuralgia Treatment in India

Ayaan Kumar, a 28-year-old software engineer...

Ayaan Kumar, a 28-year-old software engineer from Bangalore, had always been active and career-driven. For the past 18 months, he had been plagued by excruciating, electric-shock-like pain that erupted from the right side of his jaw and radiated up to his temple and behind his eye. It was triggered by the simplest acts, chewing, talking, or even a cool breeze on his face. Multiple dentists found nothing wrong, and a previous neurologist diagnosed him with atypical facial pain, but medications like carbamazepine only caused debilitating drowsiness, threatening his job. Desperate and increasingly isolated, he was referred to a neurologist specializing in cranial neuralgias. After a detailed history and a high-resolution MRI, the neurologist diagnosed him with Trigeminal Neuralgia, Type 2. He recommended a procedure called a Microvascular Decompression (MVD), explaining that a blood vessel was likely compressing his trigeminal nerve and the surgery would gently pad it away. Terrified of brain surgery but more terrified of living in constant pain, Ayaan agreed. The MVD was performed successfully. The immediate post-op period in the hospital was uncomfortable, with headache and facial numbness, but the characteristic lightning bolts of pain were gone. Over six weeks of careful recovery at his parents' home, the surgical soreness faded. The numbness persisted but was a welcome trade for the absence of torture. Emotionally, Ayaan transformed from a hopeless, anxious shadow of himself to a man cautiously rebuilding his life. He felt a profound gratitude for the return of simple pleasures like eating a meal and socializing without fear.