Can trigeminal neuralgia be cured completely?

Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
Updated on September 24, 2024
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Trigeminal neuralgia manifests as stubborn, intractable pain, but that does not mean we are helpless against it. The treatment of trigeminal neuralgia mainly involves the following aspects. Medication can only relieve symptoms and is not a cure. Radiofrequency ablation can destroy the trigeminal ganglion, but there is also a high probability of recurrence. The principle of Gamma Knife is somewhat similar to radiofrequency ablation, and the possibility of recurrence is also relatively high. Currently, the most effective treatment for a complete cure is surgical treatment, with about 80%-90% of patients with trigeminal neuralgia achieving complete eradication through treatments such as microvascular decompression surgery.

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What are the symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia?

The clinical symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia are mainly characterized by severe, paroxysmal pain in the area of the face distributed by the trigeminal nerve, typically affecting one side. The pain can affect one, two, or all three branches of the trigeminal nerve. The pain is episodic, resembling cutting, electric shocks, and is sudden in onset and cessation, making it unbearable for the patient. In some patients, actions such as eating, washing the face, or brushing teeth can trigger the pain. Most patients have trigger points, commonly located near the nostrils, corners of the mouth, or upper lip.

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Should people with trigeminal neuralgia avoid certain foods?

Patients with trigeminal neuralgia need to be cautious about their diet. In daily life, try to avoid oily, spicy, and irritating foods, as these types of foods may trigger an attack of trigeminal neuralgia or make the existing attacks more frequent, thereby causing great pain to the patient. It is recommended to choose a light diet in daily life, low in salt and fat, especially for patients with high blood pressure or diabetes, who need to be more cautious. It may be beneficial to appropriately include some fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet, and it is also suggested to supplement with some multivitamin drugs, which might enhance the effects. If trigeminal neuralgia attacks frequently, it is still recommended to visit a local hospital in a timely manner and consider undergoing microvascular decompression surgery for treatment.

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How is trigeminal neuralgia diagnosed?

Trigeminal neuralgia is divided into primary and secondary types. Primary trigeminal neuralgia refers to cases where no specific cause is apparent. However, with the advancement of modern medicine, doctors have discovered that there is actually a cause for primary trigeminal neuralgia. It is due to the lack of protective myelin sheath over the initial segment of the trigeminal nerve, which gets irritated by the pulsation of nearby small arteries. In such cases, further investigations like brain MRI and cerebral angiography can usually identify the responsible blood vessel. On the other hand, secondary trigeminal neuralgia occurs along with corresponding tumors and inflammation during the progression of the neuralgia, and MRI can assist in diagnosis.

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What should I do about trigeminal neuralgia of the teeth?

Trigeminal neuralgia in the teeth is generally caused by lesions in the areas controlled by the trigeminal nerve, leading to pain. This pain has trigger points, which could be a particular patch of skin or triggered during face washing, producing paroxysmal, electric shock-like pain. It is important to differentiate this from tooth-related nerve pain. Sometimes toothache may resemble symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia. If dental treatment does not relieve the pain, it might be trigeminal neuralgia related to the teeth. Trigeminal neuralgia requires medication, and there are many types of treatments available. If medicinal treatment proves ineffective, surgical treatment or acupuncture may be employed. In severe cases, nerve tissue blockage can be performed to temporarily relieve the pain.

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Trigeminal neuralgia pain level

The World Health Organization classifies pain into five levels. Level zero is no pain. Level one is mild pain that does not require medication. Level two is moderate pain that requires medication. Level three is severe pain that necessitates medication. Level four involves severe and intense pain, often accompanied by changes in vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse, and respiration. Trigeminal neuralgia is a type of severe pain that occurs repeatedly in the trigeminal nerve area. It is recognized globally as one of the most painful diseases, often referred to as the "world's greatest pain" and "the cancer that does not kill." Patients often live in a state of feeling better off dead, which indicates the extreme level of pain associated with this disease. The pain level for this condition is classified as level four, the highest level.