Neuralgia – Page2

Treatment
By treating Neuralgia, our main intent is to Control all kinds of body pains. There are numerous medicines which are available in the market for treating the same.
Trigeminal neuralgia
Medicine called as anticonvulsant is given to reduce the pain in your face.
Anticonvulsants
Anticonvulsants are prescribed as painkillers that do not work effectively. Anticonvulsants used are gabapentin & carbamazepine . These are used normally to treat epilepsy but they are quite effective for trigeminal neuralgia as they claim the nerve impulses. In case if this type of anticonvulsant will not work, you can change the dose or switch to another with consultation from your doctor. These can have side effects like vomiting, nausea, dizziness and drowsiness. This can also stop working after sometime as they are effective in calming the pain not stopping it. In such cases you can refer to a specialist. You are recommended to refer to the specialist in case your age is under 40 years. Side effects caused due to anticonvulsants, anticonvulsants cannot control pain although any of your other senses can surely get affected, pain in the face between spasms. You also have the option of consulting a neurosurgeon or a neurologist.
Surgery

In case anticonvulsant do not work, surgeries are recommended.
Trigeminal neuralgia surgery is carried out to stop the blood vessels applying any further pressure or causing damage to the nerve. strong enough to control it from malfunctioning.
Microvascular decompression

This is the most result oriented operation for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. The pressure on the blood vessels are released which are in turn pressing the trigeminal nerve. The blood vessels are relocated or removed by separating it from the nerve. This eases the pain to a great extent. It can at times cause complications like double vision, facial weakness and damage hearing senses in one ear.
Stereotactic radiosurgery
A concentrated beam of radiation is used to decrease the effects in trigeminal nerve. This is a gammaray knife surgery as it does not require any incisions or anaesthetic on the skin.
A stereotactic radio surgery is a fairly new treatment. It takes few weeks to ease the pain. At times tingling or facial numbness can be caused because of this.
Some types of surgeries are:
Electric current – where an electric current is used to numb the trigeminal nerve.
Balloon compression – where a tiny balloon is inflated over trigeminal nerve in order to relieve pressure.
Peripheral radiofrequency thermocoagulation – where radiation is used to damage the nerve endings.
Neurectomy – a procedure where ends of nerves get cut.
Glycerol injection – This is injected at a place where at least three branches of the nerve join.
Alcohol injections – which are given into ends of your nerves to numb your pain.
Cryotherapy – where trigeminal nerve is frozen using chemicals.
Nerve block – where anaesthetic is injected into your face over several weeks or months.