Is Trigeminal Neuralgia Fatal?

Posted on Fri, 4 Sep 2015

Question: hi I belive my mother has TN . is it something dangerous? She did a CT scan that showed no sign of anything. is MRI different? She has had sharp electric pain in her rite side near gums and jaw for months and she is starting to get depressed about it. all signs poi t to TN. please give me some good news to give her some hope

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (56 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
MRI scan is better than CT scan.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for trusting us with your health concern.
In trigeminal neuralgia, MRI scan is needed to differentiate it from multiple sclerosis and cerebellopontine angle tumors. These are not sometimes detected on a CT scan. MRI can also detect trigeminal nerve atrophy.
If properly diagnosed then the pain can be relieved with anti epileptic medicines like carbamazepine. You can consult a neurologist for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Please feel free to discuss further. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Rakhi Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Rakhi-Tayal

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (11 minutes later)

Thank you. would MS have other signs as well.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (31 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Details below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
Yes. MS is associated with numbness or weakness of the limbs, double vision, gradually decreasing strength of muscles, thinking problems, clumsiness, chronic pains, etc. A neurologist will be the best person to evaluate all this.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar