
What Causes Weird Sensations On Left Side Of Face Post Surgery For Trigeminal Neuralgia?

I have had the operation for trigeminal neuralgia....but the pain is still there mostly at night. What could this be?
Which type of surgery(MVD or Radiosurgery) you had and when?
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXX,
Thanks for being on Healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.
If you would have presented to me as an outpatient with this complaint,I would have told you that pain may recur after surgery for trigeminal neuralgia.It however depends on the type of surgery and duration after surgery.Please tell me the following details:
1)Which surgery you had?Was it a Microvascular decompression(MVD), a Gamma knife surgery or a Radiofrequency lesioning?
2)How much time back did you have the surgery done?
3)Did the symptoms improve after the surgery?
Please follow-up with above details so that I can answer your query better.Meanwhile,please start carbamazepine (UNDER YOUR PHYSICIAN'S GUIDANCE).
Waiting for your follow-up question.
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)


I thought the zapping would be gone already. Am I rushing it or could the pain be something else not Trigeminal Neuralgia.
MVD has a success rate of 80-90 percent.Please tell character of pain.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
Though Microvascular decompression is the best surgical procedure for 'Trigeminal neuralgia' and has a response rate of about 70-80 percent but still,pain has potential chances to recur anytime in future.
Its good that your pain has improved,although not completely. Carbamazepine is the drug of choice and 400 mg per day is just the starting dose,with potential chances of increasing the dose. Optimal dose is 800 mg per day for optimal relief from pain. However, Trigeminal neuralgia patients can derive maximum benefit from dosage upto 1200 mg per day. Please discuss with your treating physician to increase the dose in a graded fashion by about 100 mg per week.
Drugs like baclofen can be used as an add-on drug.PLEASE TAKE MEDICINES UNDER A PHYSICIAN'S GUIDANCE.
Trigeminal neuralgia has the following characteristic features:
1) Episodes of excruciating pain lasting for seconds
2) Pain on face,lips,gums,cheeks or teeth
3) Pain episodes may occur in day and night
4) Pain triggered by speaking,chewing or smiling
5) Specific trigger zones on face
Please observe if these are the symptoms associated with your pain. If yes,you are indeed having Trigeminal neuralgia. If not, please tell details of the character, triggering factors and relieving factors of your pain.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have some follow up queries, I shall be glad to answer else, please close the thread-rate it and write a review.
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

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