About Trigeminal Neuralgia
Key Highlights
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Provides significant relief from debilitating facial pain, often described as electric shock-like sensations.Non-surgical medication management is the first-line treatment, offering control for many patients.Neurologists offer a tailored treatment plan, adjusting medications and exploring procedural options based on individual response.Can improve quality of life dramatically, allowing patients to resume normal activities like eating, talking, and brushing teeth without fear of triggering pain.Minimally invasive procedural options (like nerve blocks) are available for those who do not respond adequately to medication.
Who is this surgery for?
- Diagnosis of classic trigeminal neuralgia with characteristic sudden, severe, brief, stabbing pain in areas of the face supplied by the trigeminal nerve.
- Pain triggered by mild stimuli such as touching the face, chewing, talking, or brushing teeth.
- Inadequate pain control or intolerable side effects from first-line medications like carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine.
- Suspicion of secondary trigeminal neuralgia due to an underlying cause like a tumor or multiple sclerosis, requiring specialized neurological management.
- Patient preference for exploring interventional or surgical options after failed conservative therapy.
How to prepare
- Detailed neurological consultation to review medical history, pain characteristics, and previous treatments.
- Diagnostic imaging, typically an MRI of the brain, to rule out causes like tumors or multiple sclerosis affecting the nerve.
- Review and possible adjustment of current medications, especially blood thinners, as advised by the neurologist.
- For planned procedures (like nerve blocks), fasting may be required for several hours beforehand.
- Arranging for transportation home post-procedure, as sedation may be used.
Risks & possible complications
- Medication side effects: Drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, liver enzyme changes, or allergic reactions.
- For nerve blocks: Temporary numbness, bruising at the injection site, infection, or very rarely, damage to surrounding structures.
- Procedural risks if surgery is pursued (coordinated by the neurologist): Facial numbness, hearing loss, cerebrospinal fluid leak, stroke, or infection.
- Pain recurrence over time, requiring treatment plan adjustments.
- Risk of misdiagnosis if a thorough evaluation is not completed.
Recovery & hospital stay
- After medication initiation: Patients may need a few weeks to adjust to side effects and find the optimal therapeutic dose under neurologist supervision.
- Post-nerve block: Pain relief can be immediate but temporary; patients can usually resume normal activities within 24 hours.
- Following surgical referral: Recovery varies by procedure, from a few days for outpatient radiosurgery to several weeks for open brain surgery.
- Long-term follow-up with the neurologist is essential to monitor pain control, medication efficacy, and manage any side effects or recurrence.
- Lifestyle adjustments, such as eating soft foods during flare-ups, may be recommended.
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Typical hospital stay: 0-2 days
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Expected recovery time: 1 day to 6 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering trigeminal neuralgia in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for trigeminal neuralgia in India include KMC Hospital Mangalore, Manipal Hospital Gurgaon, Manipal Hospital Jayanagar, Manipal Hospital Kharadi, Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, known for experienced specialists and advanced surgical infrastructure.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform trigeminal neuralgia. MediFyr helps you compare neurologists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for trigeminal neuralgia compare across other countries where we have data.
Top hospitals for Trigeminal Neuralgia in India
These partner hospitals in India have dedicated neurology teams and experience managing patients undergoing trigeminal neuralgia.
Priya Jones, a 68-year-old retired librarian,...
Priya Jones, a 68-year-old retired librarian, had a decade-long history of manageable, intermittent facial pain. Recently, the episodes intensified dramatically. She described the pain as a hot, stabbing sensation along her left jaw and cheek, lasting for minutes at a time and occurring dozens of times a day. It was triggered by the light touch of her glasses or applying moisturizer. The relentless attacks left her exhausted, depressed, and unable to enjoy her beloved gardening or reading. Medications like carbamazepine caused severe drowsiness and dizziness, making her feel like a prisoner in her own home. Her neurologist, Dr. Rodriguez, suggested a Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, a non-invasive procedure using focused radiation to create a lesion on the nerve and block pain signals. Priya, wary of open surgery due to her age, found this option reassuring. The outpatient procedure was painless, though she felt anxious lying still in the machine. Recovery was gradual; the pain didn't vanish overnight but diminished significantly over six weeks. Now, nine months later, she is off all medications and has only rare, minor twinges. Her emotional journey was one of cautious hope transforming into profound gratitude. She regained her independence and the simple joys of her retirement, saying, "I got my quiet, peaceful life back. The silence from the pain is the most beautiful sound."
Neurologists for Trigeminal Neuralgia
Explore experienced neurologists who regularly perform trigeminal neuralgia and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 18 Years Experience
- Neurologist
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 46 Years Experience
- Neurologist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 25 Years Experience
- Neurologist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 13 Years Experience
- Neurologist
SIMS Hospital Vadapalani, Chennai
- 13 Years Experience
- Neurologist
SIMS Hospital Vadapalani, Chennai
- 19 Years Experience
- Neurologist
Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneshwar
- 26 Years Experience
- Neurologist
Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneshwar
- 8 Years Experience
- Neurologist
Kamineni Hospital, Tadigadapa, vijayawada
- 9 Years Experience
- Neurologist
Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneshwar
- 5 Years Experience
- Neurologist
Kamineni Hospital, Tadigadapa, vijayawada
- 3 Years Experience
- Neurologist
Kamineni Hospital LB Nagar, Hyderabad
- 32 Years Experience
- Neurologist
Kamineni Hospital LB Nagar, Hyderabad
- 11 Years Experience
- Neurologist
Manipal Hospital Gurgaon, Gurgaon
- 7 Years Experience
- Neurologist
Kamineni Hospital LB Nagar, Hyderabad
- 8 Years Experience
- Neurologist
Manipal Hospital Ghaziabad, Ghaziabad
- 32 Years Experience
- Neurologist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 19 Years Experience
- Neurologist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 15 Years Experience
- Neurologist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 14 Years Experience
- Neurologist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 13 Years Experience
- Neurologist
Metro Hospital, Sector 11, Noida