I. What is trigeminal neuralgia about? Primary trigeminal neuralgia can be divided into primary and secondary: the cause of primary trigeminal neuralgia is due to long-term intracranial vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve root area in the cranium, resulting in local myelin loss on the surface of the nerve root area and “short-circuiting” of the nerve fibers conducting tactile sensation and nerve fibers conducting nociceptive sensation, which makes the nucleus of the spinal tract of the trigeminal nerve The nucleus of the trigeminal spinal tract is in an “irritated state” at any time, so that stimuli that can only cause tactile sensation under normal circumstances can trigger the onset of trigeminal neuralgia; and secondary trigeminal neuralgia is commonly caused by multiple sclerosis of the brainstem, brain tumors and other diseases. Second, how to treat trigeminal neuralgia? 1.It is understood that there are three conventional treatments for trigeminal neuralgia, namely, drug therapy, minimally invasive surgery, and microvascular decompression, what are the advantages and disadvantages of these three treatments? How do I choose the treatment method? The most classic drug treatment is with carbamazepine, which is inexpensive, has exact efficacy, quick onset of action and maintenance time of several hours. However, there are certain allergic reactions, liver function impairment, and the combination with other drugs can affect the efficacy. Microvascular decompression surgery is currently preferred internationally, which can remove the cause of the disease and has good long-term efficacy. The advantages and disadvantages of various surgeries are compared. 2.What are the side effects of taking medication? Is there any way to reduce the occurrence of side effects? The most common adverse effects of carbamazepine include dizziness, ataxia, drowsiness, fatigue, water retention, hyponatremia, rash, pruritus, and liver function impairment. Oxcarbazepine, a derivative of carbamazepine, has relatively few side effects and can be used by patients who are financially eligible. 3.What are the potential risks of the procedure? The complications of microvascular decompression include hearing loss, infection, facial numbness, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, etc. Complications of radiofrequency thermocoagulation include: facial numbness, chewing difficulty, vision loss, visual double vision, keratitis, infection, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, etc. Complications of balloon compression include: facial numbness, chewing difficulties, vision loss, visual double vision, keratitis, infection, etc. Gamma knife: facial numbness, chewing difficulties, dry eyes, etc. 4.Vascular decompression is one of the most common treatment methods at present, can it be done once and for all? Are there any risks? Since microvascular decompression is currently the most efficient treatment method with the lowest recurrence rate and the best long-term efficacy, it can be said to be once and for all compared to other treatment methods. The risks of microvascular decompression include: hearing loss, facial numbness, infection, etc. 5.In terms of cost, is there any difference between medication and surgery? The cost of short- and medium-term medication is lower than the cost of surgery; however, the cost of long-term treatment is calculated to be higher than the cost of surgery. 3. Can trigeminal neuralgia be prevented? 1.What kind of people are prone to trigeminal neuralgia? Trigeminal neuralgia is mostly seen in people over 50 years old, with a male to female ratio of about 1:2, and a slightly higher incidence in patients with high blood pressure. 2.Can trigeminal neuralgia be prevented? How can it be prevented? Choosing a healthy lifestyle can reduce the attack of trigeminal neuralgia, including: avoiding overexertion and having a regular routine; paying attention to keeping the head and face warm; brushing teeth and washing face gently, not using too cold and too hot water to avoid stimulating the trigger point; trying to cook food to become soft.