At Orange County CyberKnife, we’re proud to provide world-class radiation therapy treatments from our state-of-the-art Orange County treatment facility. Our cancer doctors work hard to make treatment convenient for our patients, and we can provide treatment for a wide variety of conditions, including some noncancerous conditions. If you’re suffering from trigeminal neuralgia, we may be able to help.
Trigeminal neuralgia, also called tic douloureux, is a chronic pain condition affecting the fifth cranial nerve, or the trigeminal nerve. The trigeminal nerve is one of the primary nerves serving the face, and trigeminal neuralgia (TN) can cause extreme, debilitating pain in the face. In fact, TN is one of the most severe chronic pain conditions known to modern medicine – but in some cases, we may be able to provide treatment.
Broadly, TN is divided into two main forms: Type 1 and Type 2 trigeminal neuralgia. Type 1 is marked by brief, intense bouts of uncontrollable pain. The attacks may last anywhere from a few seconds to two minutes long, and often are so intense as to be debilitating. Attacks may occur in succession for a period of several hours. In Type 2 TN, patients experience a most constant, dull aching sensation in the face. It’s possible for a patient to suffer from both Type 1 and Type 2 TN, and some patients may experience both at the same time.
Trigeminal neuralgia may have a number of causes. In some cases, the cause is completely unknown, but in other cases it may be caused by a degenerative nerve disease or by a tumor pressing on the trigeminal nerve. If TN is caused by a tumor or lesion, it’s referred to as secondary trigeminal neuralgia.
In some cases, secondary TN can be treated by removing the tumor. This may be accomplished through a surgical procedure or with a radiation therapy treatment such as CyberKnife, often providing complete relief from TN pain. Your doctor will help you determine the treatment options available to you and select the one that best fits your unique situation.
If you or someone you love is suffering from TN, don’t wait: contact us today. We can help you better understand the condition and choose the best options for moving forward. You deserve to live a happy, normal, and pain-free life, and the treatment team at Orange County CyberKnife is committed to helping you get there. We look forward to hearing from you.