Trigeminal Neuralgia Treatment

In this case gamma knife surgery may be an excellent option. This is a type of radiation that is narrowly targeted to the nerve root to stop the pain.

Although called 'surgery" it is actually radiation and the machine used looks somewhat like a CT scanner.

Most studies about gamma knife radiosurgery have shown that 80-90% of patients have pain relief in 3-4 weeks after surgery.

Lack of response to medication may be especially true if the nerve is in contact with a small blood vessel. If this is the case, the constant irritation of the nerve can only be relieved by surgery.

Here, a different type of surgery is performed as a small piece of Teflon is inserted between the nerve and the offending vessel (usually a tiny artery). This surgery is an open prodcedure unlike the gamma knife.

Read more information about trigeminal neuralgia.

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