how is trigeminal neuralgia diagnosed?

Question

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

Clinical Diagnosis: By an expert, based on the patient's history and description of pain. There are several types of tn; most typical is sharp, shooting, electrical stabbing pain on one side of the face in the distribution of one or more branches of the trigeminal nerve. Diagnostic studies, such as brain mri, do not make the diagnosis, but help to search for a cause.

Answer 3

History and exam: Other conditions like a tooth ache, muscle pain, and tumors must be ruled out. Then it is diagnosed with a history, examination, and sometimes local anesthetic.

Answer 4

Clinical diagnosis: Syndrome of extreme facial pain in the absence of numbness or other objective findings, characterized by paroxysms of sharp stabbing pain in one of the divisions of the trigeminal nerve. Onset in mid->latter life, slighty greater f>m. Between paroxysms patient is pain free, paroxysm may last 15 min or more, many times/day. Trigger zone when stimulated sets off a paroxysm. Rarely bilateral.

Answer 5

Clinically : Trigeminal neuralgia is diagnosed clinically. Your doctor may still send you for a brain MRI to rule out any other pathology.

Answer 6

Sort of: Sometimes people with trigeminal neuralgia have long periods with no symptoms, but there is always the possibility of recurrence.

Answer 7

Sort of: The only thing that i would add is that trigeminal neuralgia is extremely unlikely to occur in a 22 year old; consult an orofacial pain dentist or neurologist.

Answer 8

No: Trig neuralgia is diagnosed based upon the history and the description of the pain. An MRI may show the loop of a blood vessel next to the trig nerve. This is thought to be the cause but you may still have tn even if the MRI does not show anything as the vessels are quite small.

Answer 9

Unfortunately no: There are no definitive tests for trigeminal neuralgia. It is a diagnosis made clinically. There are known treatments for this condition and you should consult a neurologist and/or a pain management physician.

Answer 10

Yes: Generally trials of antiseizure medications can be beneficial. Some individuals fail such therapy and may otherwise benefit from neurosurgical procedures including gamma knife therapy.

Answer 11

Trigeminal neuralgia: Antiseziure medications such as tegretol have been used succesfully in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia for many years, in most cases, these drugs work where others fail. Surgical options such as microvascular decompression have also been used very succesfuly in cases where medications fail.

Answer 12

Multiple approaches: Most start with anti-seizure medication (for pain!). May also try other "neurological" non-seizure medications, but traditional pain killers usually not effective. Many have tried acupuncture, biofeedback, homeopathic, electrical stimulation and diet, with mixed success. Surgical procedures helpful: microvascular decompression yields highest rates of remission, though others helpful.

Answer 13

Treat with meds : Medications should always be tried first,see a neurologist,,intractable neuralgia,may also be treated with alcohol injection of the ganglion,though not always effective,

Answer 14

No: It can be very painful, to the point of causing difficulty speaking or eating, and it can sometimes be caused by a tumor, but trigeminal neuralgia itself is not life threatening, not associated with other neurologic dysfunction, and rarely causes significant disability.

Answer 15

YES! If not treated.: Tn is a specific name to a type of facial pain. It can take a few doctors visits to get a final ruling. Don't wait it is not cancer but the pain can make you wish you were dead! think flesh/tissue and not nerves for face pain! begin a self-care wellness program of vits, magnesium glycinate, sleep hygiene, self/pro massage, chiropractor, heat, epsom soaking, stretching. I use acupuncture!

Answer 16

Sometimes: If untreated, it may become very severe and people may become very depressed. Best to treat earlier and opt for not only medical pain relief, but also a cure (especially if medication does not completely control or results in unacceptable side effects). Important to see a specialist.

Answer 17

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.

Answer 18

Severe pain: Typically there aren't complications from trigeminal neuralgia although pain can be very severe and debilitating.

Answer 19

Yes and No: I would consider the development of anxiety about getting facial pain and the frequent development of depression and social isolation to be important "complications" of tn. While treatment of facial pain is most important, recognition and treatment of these potential complications is as important. Even after the pain is in remission, some patients are still suffering form anxiety and depression.

Answer 20

Indirectly ...: Trigeminal Neuralgia; recurrent unilateral sharp stabbing pains, paroxysmal, maybe triggered by touch, toothbrushing, eating. Thought to be caused by intermittent compression of trigeminal nerve. Chronic pain conditions are associated with reduced sleep, anxiety and depression. Adverse effects of pain medications can be problematic. Avoiding triggers may lead to poor oral hygiene and < nutrition.

Answer 21

Longer recovery: When the appendix burst (perforation) an abscess is formed (pocket of pus). The surgery is more involved and may take more time to recognized the appendix during surgery. The abscess will need to be removed, and usually a drain is placed. The patient may stay in the hospital 3-7 days without any complications. Recovery at home for open surgery is 4-6 weeks. For laparoscopy 7-10 days.

Answer 22

Antibiotics/drainage: If not diagnosed early enough, can die from peritonitis produced by perforation. If detected early and antibiotic therapy employed prognosis is usually good.Recovery time depends on severity of peritonitis and abscess formation in abdomen.Doctors typically try to treat the abscess or peritonitis before appendectomy. Treatments usually involve draining any pus from abdomen and antibiotics 6-8 wks

how is trigeminal neuralgia diagnosed?

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