Friday, October 7, is International Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day, a day to recognize those living with trigeminal neuralgia, a chronic condition marked by intense facial pain that can have debilitating effects on a person’s health and quality of life.
Often, trigeminal neuralgia develops when the trigeminal nerve (which sends sensations from the face to the brain) is compressed by a blood vessel. (Tumors and multiple sclerosis are other possible causes.) The extreme pain that strikes around the eye, cheek or lower part of the face can be activated by simply touching that part of the face, which can make everyday activities such as eating, brushing teeth, shaving or applying makeup nearly impossible.
A rare condition, trigeminal neuralgia is diagnosed in approximately 4.3 per 100,000 individuals a year in the United States. While it can affect anyone at any time, it is most commonly seen in women over age 50.
Diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia?
If you’ve been putting off treatment for trigeminal neuralgia, or if your trigeminal neuralgia medication has lost its effectiveness, it may be time to consider Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia pain relief.
Specialists at The Valley Hospital Gamma Knife Center routinely use Gamma Knife radiation to damage or destroy the trigeminal nerve, which prevents pain signals from traveling from the face to the brain. This nonsurgical procedure is noninvasive (no incisions are made), carries few, temporary side effects, and is often completed in one treatment session.
It’s time to stop living with the pain of trigeminal neuralgia. Contact us today to see how Gamma Knife treatment can relieve your trigeminal neuralgia pain.