Understanding Your Treatment Options for Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a rare but painful condition affecting the trigeminal nerve. Researchers don’t know why it occurs, but TN can significantly alter your quality of life without treatment.

At Palm Beach Pain Institute in Delray Beach, Florida, board-certified pain management physician Marcie Merson, MD, and our team specialize in treating trigeminal neuralgia. This blog explains TN  and highlights some of the most common treatment options for relief.

Understanding trigeminal neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a rare neurological condition that affects the trigeminal nerve. The trigeminal nerve is located near the brainstem and provides sensations to your neck and face. 

People with TN often experience frequent, intense electric-like shocks on one side of their face. These sensations can occur at any time, and regular activities like chewing food or brushing teeth can trigger them.

Experts don’t know why TN occurs, but it's thought that when nearby tissues like blood vessels and arteries compress, they can disrupt the nerve’s function. Other factors that may contribute to TN include neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis, strokes, and tumors.

When to see a specialist about trigeminal neuralgia

Make an appointment at Palm Beach Pain Institute if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Sudden episodes of pain triggered by touching your face, chewing, or speaking
• Episodes of intense shooting or stabbing pain that feel like an electric shock
• Pain on one side of the face at any time
• Pain that occurs alongside facial spasms
• Pain in your cheeks, jaws, teeth, gums, or lips

Seek treatment even if your symptoms are mild. TN typically worsens with time, but prompt intervention can help slow it down.

Treatment for trigeminal neuralgia: what to expect 

We take an integrative, minimally invasive approach to treating trigeminal neuralgia at Palm Beach Pain Institute. Depending on your needs and the severity of your symptoms, we may suggest:

Prescription medication

Prescription medication is often enough to relieve TN symptoms. We typically prescribe anti-seizure medication or Baclofen. 

Anti-seizure drugs help stabilize activity in the trigeminal nerve and block pain signals from reaching the brain. Baclofen, on the other hand, decreases muscle spasms, letting your facial muscles relax. 

Botox® injections

If prescription medication doesn’t provide significant relief, we recommend Botox injections. While commonly known for reducing wrinkles and fine lines, Botox can also relieve TN-related pain.

When injected into strategic areas of the face or jaw, Botox blocks pain signals from the trigeminal nerve, preventing them from reaching your brain.

Osteopathic manual therapy

Osteopathic manual therapy (OMT) uses hands-on modalities, like massage and myofascial release, to reduce muscle tension and restore mobility in your facial bones. This therapy relieves the pressure off your trigeminal nerve while increasing circulation to your face.

Sometimes, we administer nerve blocks alongside osteopathic manipulation. Nerve blocks use injectable medications to block the trigeminal nerve from sending pain signals to your brain.

Referral to a specialist

Most cases of trigeminal neuralgia improve with non- and minimally invasive treatments. However, if your symptoms continue or worsen, we may refer you to a neurosurgeon to explore surgical treatment options. 

Several types of TN surgery exist, including microvascular decompression, radiosurgery, and peripheral neurectomy.

We can help you relieve trigeminal neuralgia-related pain!

Trigeminal neuralgia can make routine activities like brushing teeth and chewing incredibly painful, but various treatments can provide relief. After a physical exam and X-rays, we can make personalized treatment recommendations to ease your symptoms and improve your quality of life. 

You can request an appointment with Dr. Merson today by calling our office at 561-499-7020 or using the online booking tool.