Causes and treatment of trigeminal neuralgia

  Trigeminal neuralgia occurs mostly in adults and elderly people, slightly more in women than in men, mostly unilateral, more on the right side than on the left. The pain mostly starts from one maxillary branch or mandibular branch, and gradually spreads to two or even three branches are involved. The pain is often without warning before the onset of pain, and is mostly a sudden lightning-like p brief and intense pain in the form of electric burning-like, pinprick-like, knife-like or tearing-like intense throbbing pain.  In the trigeminal nerve distribution area, such as the upper lip, lower lip, nose, corner of the mouth, incisors, cuspids, roots, cheeks or tongue, etc., are particularly sensitive, and the slightest contact can cause a painful attack, these sensitive areas are called “trigger points”.  The pain can last from a few seconds to a few minutes per attack and often stops abruptly, with most of the pain disappearing completely during the interval, but a few patients still have a burning sensation. Most of the episodes are gradually aggravated, and the number of painful episodes is gradually more frequent. The attack cycle is related to the climate, and is more likely to occur in spring and winter.  Etiology of trigeminal neuralgia: The etiology of trigeminal neuralgia is now clear, and the majority of patients suffer from vascular compression at the beginning of the trigeminal nerve emanating from the brainstem.  Treatment of trigeminal neuralgia: There are many conventional treatments for this disease, such as carbamazepine medication, acupuncture, peripheral branch extraction, nerve block or radiofrequency destruction, etc. However, most of these methods can only temporarily relieve the pain, and after a period of time, the pain will usually recur.  The most effective treatment method recognized by the medical community is trigeminal nerve root microvascular decompression, which is a treatment that can eradicate the cause of the disease. The surgery is performed under a microscope and the blood vessels compressing the trigeminal nerve root are cushioned so that the blood vessels no longer compress the trigeminal nerve, and the pain will disappear immediately, and the surgery does not damage the trigeminal nerve, and there will be no complications such as facial numbness and diminished corneal reflex after the surgery.