Trigeminal neuralgia causes sudden, severe, electric-shock-like pain in one side of the face — triggered by chewing, talking, brushing teeth or even a light touch. It is often mistaken for a dental problem, and many patients undergo unnecessary tooth extractions before the true diagnosis is made.
The most common cause is a small blood vessel pulsating against the trigeminal nerve at its root. Dr. Nilesh Jain offers the complete range of treatment in Indore — from medication optimisation to microvascular decompression (MVD), the operation that addresses the root cause.
चेहरे के एक तरफ बिजली जैसा तेज दर्द — खाने, बोलने या ब्रश करने से बढ़ने वाला — trigeminal neuralgia हो सकता है। इसे दांत की बीमारी समझकर दांत न निकलवाएं। दवा से आराम न मिले तो MVD ऑपरेशन से जड़ से इलाज संभव है।
Symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia
- Sudden, severe, stabbing or electric-shock-like pain on one side of the face
- Attacks lasting seconds to a couple of minutes, in clusters
- Pain triggered by chewing, speaking, shaving, brushing or cold wind
- Pain along the cheek, jaw, teeth, gums or around the eye
- Fear of eating or talking due to anticipated attacks
- Periods of remission followed by recurrence, often worsening over time
Treatment of trigeminal neuralgia
Treatment begins with medicines such as carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine, which control pain in the majority of patients initially. An MRI is done to look for a compressing vessel and to rule out other causes such as tumours or multiple sclerosis.
When medicines fail or cause intolerable side effects, microvascular decompression (MVD) — gently separating the offending vessel from the nerve through a small keyhole opening behind the ear — offers the best long-term, pain-free results while preserving facial sensation. Less invasive options such as radiofrequency ablation or balloon compression suit selected or elderly patients.
Why patients choose Dr. Nilesh Jain
Dr. Nilesh Jain (M.B.B.S., M.S., M.Ch.) trained in neurosurgery at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute, Trivandrum — among India's premier neurosurgical centres — and has been a Consultant Neurosurgeon in Indore since 2010. He is Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery (SAIMS) and holds a 4.8★ rating from 190+ Google reviews. Consultations are unhurried, investigations are advised only when needed, and surgery is recommended only when it genuinely helps.