Understanding Trigeminal Neuralgia and Treatment Options in Austin, Texas
Table of Contents
What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from your face to your brain.
Even mild stimulation of your face—such as brushing your teeth or putting on makeup—can trigger a jolt of excruciating pain.
Initially, you might experience short, mild attacks, but trigeminal neuralgia can progress, causing longer, more frequent bouts of searing pain.
The condition is more common in women than in men, and it's more likely to occur in people who are over 50 years old.
Symptoms of Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia symptoms may include one or more of these patterns:
Episodes of severe, shooting, or jabbing pain that may feel like an electric shock.
Spontaneous attacks of pain or attacks triggered by things such as touching the face, chewing, speaking, or brushing teeth.
Bouts of pain lasting from a few seconds to several minutes.
Episodes occurring in quick succession, lasting days, weeks, months, or longer—some people have periods when they experience no pain.
Pain in areas supplied by the trigeminal nerve, including the cheek, jaw, teeth, gums, lips, or less often the eye and forehead.
Pain affecting one side of the face at a time, though may rarely affect both sides of the face.
Pain focused in one spot or spread in a wider pattern.
Attacks becoming more frequent and intense over time.
Causes of Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia is often caused by a blood vessel pressing on the trigeminal nerve as it exits the brainstem.
This compression causes the wearing away or damage to the protective coating around the nerve (the myelin sheath).
Trigeminal neuralgia can also occur in people with multiple sclerosis—a disease that causes deterioration of the myelin sheath—or it can be caused by a tumor compressing the trigeminal nerve.
In some cases, a cause cannot be found.
Diagnosis of Trigeminal Neuralgia
Diagnosing trigeminal neuralgia involves a thorough understanding of your medical history and a physical exam.
Your doctor will ask about the type, location, and triggers of your pain to help diagnose trigeminal neuralgia and determine underlying causes for your condition.
Tests may include:
Neurological examination: Touching and examining parts of your face can help determine exactly where the pain is occurring and—if you seem to have trigeminal neuralgia—which branches of the trigeminal nerve may be affected.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Your doctor may order an MRI scan of your head to determine if multiple sclerosis or a tumor is causing trigeminal neuralgia.
Sometimes, your doctor may inject a dye into a blood vessel to view the arteries and veins and highlight blood flow (magnetic resonance angiogram).
Treatment Options
Treatment for trigeminal neuralgia usually starts with medications, and some people don't need any additional treatment.
However, over time, some people with the condition may stop responding to medications, or they may experience unpleasant side effects.
For those people, injections or surgery provide other trigeminal neuralgia treatment options.
Medications: Anticonvulsants are commonly prescribed to treat trigeminal neuralgia.
These drugs decrease or block the firing of nerve impulses.
Carbamazepine (Tegretol) is often the first choice, and it's been shown to be effective in treating trigeminal neuralgia.
Other anticonvulsants that may be used include oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), lamotrigine (Lamictal), and gabapentin (Neurontin).
Muscle relaxants such as baclofen may be used alone or in combination with carbamazepine.
Surgery: There are several surgical options available, including microvascular decompression, which involves relocating or removing blood vessels that are in contact with the trigeminal root to stop the nerve from malfunctioning.
Other surgical options include gamma knife radiosurgery and rhizotomy, where parts of the nerve fibers are destroyed to reduce pain.
Trigeminal Neuralgia Treatment in Austin, Texas
If you're looking for specialized trigeminal neuralgia treatment in Austin, Texas, several reputable medical centers and specialists can help you manage this condition.
Some of the top neurology and pain management centers in Austin that offer treatment for trigeminal neuralgia include:
👉 Ascension Seton Medical Center
👉 Neurology Associates of Austin
These medical facilities provide a variety of treatment options, including medication management, minimally invasive procedures, and surgical interventions.
If you're experiencing severe facial pain and suspect trigeminal neuralgia, it's essential to seek medical advice as soon as possible.
A neurologist specializing in facial pain can help determine the best course of treatment for your specific condition.
Final Thoughts
Trigeminal neuralgia is a painful and often debilitating condition, but with proper diagnosis and treatment, many individuals can find relief.
Whether through medications, surgery, or lifestyle changes, managing this condition is possible with the right approach.
If you're in Austin, Texas, you have access to excellent medical care to help you navigate this challenging condition.
Don't suffer in silence—seek the help you need today!
Keywords: Trigeminal neuralgia, Austin Texas, facial pain treatment, nerve disorder, chronic pain relief
