New Delhi (India), November 7: Trigeminal neuralgia is a debilitating condition that causes immense pain to the patients. Though there are many treatment options to resolve this issue, a leading neurosurgeon in Mumbai Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney shares valuable tips on how to cope with Trigeminal Neuralgia in daily life.
Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney, founder –and director of the Neurolife Brain & Spine Clinic, Mumbai, says, ‘Patients with Trigeminal Neuralgia require immense patience and resilience. They need to learn how to bear the pain and cope with the frequently occurring bouts of pain. As a neurosurgeon, I can guide them on managing them and living as normally as possible.”
Trigeminal neuralgia refers to the onset of sudden, severe, and shooting pain in the jaws, teeth or gums. The pain can last for a few seconds or up to two minutes. In most cases, patients experience pain on one side of the face, but it is possible that they can experience pain on both sides, which is quite rare.
It is known to occur due to damage in the protective coating or the myelin sheath, which causes the nerve to misfire. Ageing, multiple sclerosis, damage to the trigeminal nerve due to accident, stroke, surgery, and compression on the trigeminal nerve are some reasons for its occurrence.
Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney a leading neurosurgeon in India shares valuable tips to help patients relieve their pain and discomfort regarding trigeminal neuralgia. Beginning with mental health, he states, ‘I advise my patients to adopt mental health practices such as meditation, journaling or any other activity that helps them stay grounded and in more control of their body. They should also approach a mental health counsellor and/or join a trigeminal neuralgia support group to share their experiences and stay connected with people who understand them better.’
They can attempt to lead a normal life with a sound support system in place as the family and friends who are willing to do or assist them in doing their chores, such as driving, cooking, cleaning, and other daily routine tasks, which are essentially important.
He reiterates that trigeminal neuralgia has no cure. Hence, its management is vital for patients to be alert to identify conditions that trigger spontaneous pain attacks, viz., certain foods – hot or cold or spicy, chewing or sipping patterns or certain weather conditions. He states that by avoiding the trigger factors, patients can reduce the number of pain attacks and their intensity.
Overall, he states that patients must consciously adopt a healthier lifestyle and stay positive by adopting a balanced diet, healthy sleep schedule, mental health and an exercise routine. Adhering to their life schedule in a disciplined manner will help them live an everyday life as much as possible.
Also, he suggests that there are certain injections, such as Baclofen, levetiracetam, lamotrigine, gabapentin, pregabalin, and botulinum, which can be recommended. Still, their dosage depends upon various conditions and the patient’s tolerance levels.
Apart from medications, he suggests two surgical procedures viz. Microvascular Decompression (MVD) and Stereotactic radiosurgery can somewhat help resolve the trigeminal condition.
Microvascular Decompression is an invasive surgery performed through a behind-the-ear incision to reposition or eliminate the blood vessels, reduce their contact with the trigeminal root and prevent further shooting pain.
On the other hand, Stereotactic radiosurgery is a non-invasive procedure through which the neurosurgeon administers radiation to the trigeminal nerve with precision and ensures the surrounding areas are not affected by it. The stereotactic radiosurgery procedure is similar to an MRI and takes nearly an hour to complete. The patient can return home in a couple of hours after the procedure.
Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney states that both these procedures deliver viable outcomes towards managing trigeminal neuralgia pain and need to be performed by an expert and well-experienced neurosurgeon.
To conclude, Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney adds that trigeminal neuralgia is a long-term condition that can be managed to a great extent and through its treatment, the intensity and recurrence of pain can be well controlled provided the patients seek regular advice from an experienced neurosurgeon and try to live a healthy lifestyle with balanced diet and exercise while consciously avoiding the triggers as much as possible.
About Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney
Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney, a renowned neurosurgeon in India, is an expert in treating complex brain and spinal cord conditions. He has acquired expertise in the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques and has successfully performed Stereotactic Radiosurgery, Epilepsy Neurosurgery, Functional Neurosurgery, and Neuroendoscopy.
He has an overall experience of 18 years, with six years as an expert neurosurgeon. He has successfully performed many life-threatening brain and spine surgeries and saved the lives of many patients.
As a warm and down-to-earth individual with multilingual proficiency, Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney establishes healthy doctor-patient relationships, ensuring patients and their families are comfortable discussing their problems and concerns with him.He is available to treat his patients with unwavering commitment, endurance, and diligence 24x7x365 days a year.
He has established the Neurolife Brain and Spine Clinic in Mumbai and is also the Senior Consultant in the Department of Neurology & Spine Surgery at Fortis Hospital, Mulund.
For further details, contact –
Neurolife Brain & Spine Clinic, C-118, 1st floor, Hall Mark Commercial Complex, Vasant Oscar, LBS Marg, Mulund West, Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400082.
Phone: +91 8104310753
Email: [email protected]
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