Question 1

is there any correlation between bells palsy twice (once on each side) and trigeminal neuralgia?

Accepted Answer

Yes and no: True Bell's palsy and true trigeminal neuralgia are unrelated. You likely have 'something' going on causing recurring facial paralysis and trigeminal compression. Lymes disease a possibility. Also need a high quality MRI of head and skull base. Start with a neurologist or ENT and go from there.

Question 2

is bell's palsy and trigeminal neuralgia similar? i suffered with bells palsy in 2012 and i'm suffering with symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia. help?

Accepted Answer

Different but: Could be related. Bell's palsy usually due to 7th nerve issue. Trigeminal is due to 5th. Please send us more information to see if need scan asap

Question 3

hx of bell's palsy and trigeminal neuralgia.  mult episodes of facial weakness w/ right sided weakness. neg for ms. hyper reflexes right side. help?

Accepted Answer

Complicated.: Very complex problem. Sounds like alot more than just isolated bell's palsy and trigeminal neuralgia.
You need to see a neurologist at a university medical center to sort out the possibilities.

Question 4

if carbamazepine isn't working to treat my trigeminal neuralgia, what is a good drug to try next?

Accepted Answer

Varies: Carbamazepine used to be the main agent in treatment of trigeminal neuralgia years ago.  We now have a multitude of anti-neuropathic agents with better side effect profile. To list a few, we have lyrica, (pregabalin) neurontin, topamax, etc.  The choice is based on coexisting medical issues and other medications on which patient is placed.  The physician can make this determination on a case by case basis.

Question 5

how is trigeminal neuralgia diagnosed?

Accepted Answer

Clinical exam: Trigeminal neuralgia is a condition where sharp, electrical pain affects the face along one or more of the three branches of the trigeminal nerve. There is typical and atypical types of trigeminal neuralgia. Your neurosurgeon or neurologist should be able to examine you and make a diagnosis. Brain MRI scans are usually done to make sure there are no tumors or ms.

Question 6

what are symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia?

Accepted Answer

Trigeminal Neuralgia: Good Day;
  Trigeminal Neuralgia is a chronic pain affecting the trigeminal nerve ( fifth cranial nerve) in the face. One notices mild to severe facial and frequent muscle spasms. you may even notice  extreme, sporadic, sudden burning; the pain episodes could vary from a few seconds to a few minutes.

Question 7

are there complications of trigeminal neuralgia?

Accepted Answer

No: Simple answer is no, though rarely it can get bad enough to consider neuro  surgery (eg janetta procedure) which does have a risk of complications.

Question 8

what is the best procudure  for trigeminal neuralgia ?

Accepted Answer

COMPLEX: There are several surgical approaches, but success may be dependent on whether there is vascular or bony compression of the trigeminal nerve at the base of the brain.  This is a relatively safe procedure these days.  Medical treatment may work, and many choices exist.  I have had success with lyrica, (pregabalin) cymbalta, oxcarbezine, gabapentin, baclofen, and sporadically, patches of Butrans or fentanyl.

Question 9

is migraineous neuralgia a component of trigeminal neuralgia?

Accepted Answer

Neuralgia: No they are not related, trigeminal neuralgia is it own specific disorder and not related to a migraineous form of neuralgia.

Question 10

how to treat trigeminal neuralgia?

Accepted Answer

Trigeminal neuralgia: Tegretol, Klonopin, gabapentin, botox, microsurgical decompression, gamma Knife, radiofrequency  therapy, balloon compression, glycerol injection. Best to start with medications first, proceed to more invasive treatment if unresponsive to more conservative treatment.

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Doctor answers about:

Bells palsy vs trigeminal neuralgia

A member asked:

Is there any correlation between bells palsy twice (once on each side) and trigeminal neuralgia?

A member asked:

Is bell's palsy and trigeminal neuralgia similar? i suffered with bells palsy in 2012 and i'm suffering with symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia. help?

A member asked:

Hx of bell's palsy and trigeminal neuralgia. mult episodes of facial weakness w/ right sided weakness. neg for ms. hyper reflexes right side. help?

A member asked:

If carbamazepine isn't working to treat my trigeminal neuralgia, what is a good drug to try next?

A member asked:

How is trigeminal neuralgia diagnosed?

A member asked:

What are symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia?

A member asked:

Are there complications of trigeminal neuralgia?

A member asked:

What is the best procudure for trigeminal neuralgia ?

A member asked:

Is migraineous neuralgia a component of trigeminal neuralgia?

A member asked:

How to treat trigeminal neuralgia?

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