Treatment for the Symptoms of Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia affects the trigeminal nerve, near the jaw, and results in severe but intermittent pain on one side of the face. The medical community believes the disorder has causes including damage or disease in the trigeminal nerve, blood vessel compression, improperly functioning mechanisms for pain inhibition, and tumors or other lesions, among other things. Treatment options include medication and surgery.

Medications

• Medications used to treat this condition include anticonvulsants and muscle relaxants. The primary goal is to control pain. The University of Pittsburgh's Department of Neurological Surgery names the anticonvulsant carbamazepine as the most effective treatment. The Mayo Clinic notes that a combination of anticonvulsants and muscle relaxants might provide optimal relief.

Surgery

• Surgical intervention aims to remove or damage the portion of the trigeminal nerve causing pain. Because of facial numbness and other potential side effects, the patient must undergo an MRI to rule out other causes of the condition before resorting to any of the methods described below. The procedures include the injection of substances to block nerve pain, the application of electrical currents to destroy damaged nerves, craniotomy and microvascular decompression. The type of procedure chosen will depend on the age of the patient, whether he or she has multiple sclerosis or hearing problems, and the patient's history of treatment.

Radiation

• Sterotactic radiosurgery involves radiation aimed at the root of the trigeminal nerve. This quick procedure does not require anesthesia. The Mayo Clinic, however, notes that this method might not bring pain relief for up to three months in some cases.