Trigeminal Neuralgia Treatment; Depends On the Patient's Age and General Condition

 

Trigeminal neuralgia treatment includes medication, injections, and surgery. Doctor usually prescribe medications to lessen or block the pain signals sent to the brain. Moreover, doctors prescribe carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol, others) for trigeminal neuralgia treatment, as it has been shown to be effective in treating the condition. Although trigeminal neuralgia cannot always be cured, there are treatments available to alleviate the debilitating pain. Many people find relief from trigeminal neuralgia pain by applying heat to the affected area. In most people, trigeminal neuralgia improves with treatment or goes into remission on its own.

The main cause of trigeminal neuralgia is the blood vessels at the root of the trigeminal nerve. This makes the nerve transmit pain signals that are experienced as stabbing pains. Symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia range from mild to severe facial pain, often caused by speaking, chewing, or brushing the teeth. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), trigeminal neuralgia is twice as common in women as in men. Moreover, according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, each year, around 10,000-15,000 new cases occur in the United States, especially those more than 50 years of age.

Trigeminal neuralgia can occur in children, although extremely rare. Trigeminal neuralgia treatment involves treating the symptoms and soothing the condition, if possible. Treatment methods for this affliction include topical pain relievers (anticonvulsants), local anesthetics, oral hypnosis, and glycerol injection. These methods are usually effective in reducing the sensation of pain and numbness. Moreover, there are several effective ways to alleviate the pain, including a variety of medications, such as Carbamazepine, Gabapentin, Oxcarbazepine, etc. Other medications include opioids, phenytoin, topiramate, lamotrigine, sodium valporate, clonazepam, valproic acid, phenytoin, pregabalin, nortriptyline, amitriptyline, and baclofen.

However, other than side effects, there are some drawbacks to these medications. Furthermore, surgical procedures can help control the pain. Surgical treatment is divided into two categories, such as lesioning procedures and open cranial surgery.