Trigeminal Neuralgia Treatment in Turkey
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 Turkey, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for trigeminal neuralgia in Turkey include Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir, Istinye Üniversitesi Hastanesi Liv, Liv Hospital Ankara, 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 Turkey
These partner hospitals in Turkey have dedicated neurology teams and experience managing patients undergoing trigeminal neuralgia.
Istanbul, Turkey
140 Doctors
Had my gallbladder out last week....
Had my gallbladder out last week. The surgery itself was fine, but the first two days after were rough. Dr. Madhumitha was really on top of my pain meds, adjusting them a few times until it was manageable. She checked on me every morning and evening at MGM, which helped a lot. I'm home now and the recovery is going okay, just taking it slow.