Trigeminal neuralgia gamma knife radiation
Common Questions and Answers about Trigeminal neuralgia gamma knife radiation
trigeminal-neuralgia
They also told me to bring a CD, which they played during the gamma knife part of it. The gamma knife machine makes no noise and there is no pain -- I brought a CD that I knew had 3-minute long upbeat songs, so I could do a countdown of when the procedure would be done.
The aftereffects include facial swelling from the frame -- that started shortly after the gamma knife procedure. I put ice on my face to bring down the swelling.
Has anyone had the gamma knife surgery and in doing so worried about radiation exposure? I know it is extremely high in order to destroy the nerve. I would love to know how people deal with and approach the fact even though the radiation is highly targeted, it is still approaching high theapuetic levels. I have pain in both sides of the trigeminal nerve and may need one dose to each side. The idea of that much radiation freaks me out to point I am consdiering Rhizotomy instead.
Thanks!
As many as 90% patients have reduction in symptoms after a month of treatment. Some side effects of facial numbness have been associated. Gamma knife surgery for trigeminal neuralgia has been a safe and effective treatment and better than traditional surgery. Take care.
I have typical Trigeminal Neuralgia and had a Gamma Knife treatment 6 months ago. I was told to begin weaning off my medication (Trileptal). Since reducing the medication by 150 mg, I am once again experiencing TN pain triggered by chewing, talking, washing my face, etc. Is this normal when weaning off anti-seizure medications used for TN?
I had Gamma-Knife Surgery 4 months ago for Trigeminal Neuralgia. After the surgery, I felt no different than before. However, recently, I began to feel a twinge in my lip like a oncoming cold sore. Two weeks later, I have almost complete numbness on the entire left side of my face. I am incredible greatful because my pain is gone, but I no longer feel anything. I feel as though I can't move my face even though the PA said it's all within the nerve not the muscle.
Hi Deb,
Have you gone back to the surgeon that did the EAR operation. It sound like maybe he/she hit the nerve, during the ear suregery! If I were you I'd also get copies of MY medical records from the ear MD as well as the hospital surgical records. THE TN branch is right behind the ear. You may need them for a consult with another TN specialist ( oh make sure you get any and ALL x-rays MRI and stuff flims and not just the reports!
Gamma Knife is not new to TN. I had 2 rounds of Gamma Knife and 2 rounds of MVD. I still have TN and now I have Phantom pain from all of the treatments. The docs are going to try to restore the nerve and start all over again. Gamma knife runs about 150K per round. Insurance companies are hesitate to approve its use for TN now, since it only helps one-half of the TN patients. It is the least invasive of all treatments, the best of all worlds, ONLY if it works.
I suffer from trigeminal neuralgia and am currently taking BACLOFEN to help with the pain. I was treated with the Gamma Knife about a year ago without success. A friend also had TN and was treated with an alcohol shot to the face that had to be repeated about 4 weeks later. That was over 10 years ago and he has had NO pain since. I can find only passing references to the alcohol shot to the face. My question is where can I go to get this alcohol shot to the face?
Also, I would love to have another child within the next 2 years and I wondered how the radiation of a gamma knife would affect that. I have been on tegretol forever and I hate it. The last 3 months that I was off it, I was a different person. I had so much energy and was like my old self. I am tired of being a brainless zombie who just wants to sleep all day. The tegretol is not working as well as it used to so I am going to have to do something. Any opinions would help. Thanks.
I've have had TN since Dec 17th. My internist put me on gabapentin which did not help the pain. My neurologist put me on Tegretol, which did not help the pain. My pain specialist put me on Trileptol, which after slowly increasing the dosage finally controlled the pain. April 22nd I had gamma knife surgery. The pain specialist said it'll be 3 months before we know if it worked. There are five surgery options.
gamma knife radiosurgery or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy, with a linear accelerator (linac), or proton therapy. In the gamma knife approach, 201 beams of gamma radiation are focused on the tumor in a single session. The damage to the tumor at the convergence point may cause it to stop growing but usually does not cause it to shrink in the long term. It may cause short-term shrinkage due to necrosis in the tumor. The damage may be to the tumor cells and/or to the tumor vasculature.
Hi,
It is difficult to treat such a persistent post herpetic neuralgia. If you have tried gamma ray knife surgery as well, then there is nothing much in the way of a treatment that can be done. You might have of course tried topical creams, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, steroids, local anesthetics, probably electrical nerve stimulation. If your doctor has not prescribed any of these, you may ask for them. There have been some cases where some amount relief is offered by meditation.
Hallo Doctors, does someone who has prostate cancer (MRI test shows cancer spread only within the prostate) have gamma knife or surgery to remove it. Does gamma knife ensure all cancer cells are burned? Does gamma knife ensure beningn prostate self corrects to allow normal urination? Isnt complete radiation or surgery the best option to ensure cancer is all removed?
Has anyone had any experience with using Trignotab as an alternative treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia? I am posting this for a friend who does not have access to a computer. She has suffered from this condition for years (30+), has undergone surgery with short term success, has been assessed for gamma knife treatment but is not a candidate. She is currently taking trileptol and baclofen, and is not sure if she can take the Trignotab with these medications.
Treatment may include a specific form of directed radiation called gamma knife radiosurgery. This is a misleading term; this is NOT a type of surgery, it is just the use of radiation in a very focused beam so as to prevent damage of normal structures by radiation. Another treatment option is surgery to remove the mass. Tumors larger than 3 cm may not be amenable to radiation, and in such cases, microsurgical resection is the best option.
m not under more stress than anyone else. 3 months ago I had gamma knife radiation for trigeminal neuralgia and am on seizure medicine. I can get these anytime of day. Am also on klonipin 3 x' per day . Afraid to drive or do anything else. Help no answers. What about dinner and flying. Afraid to do that. Neuro thinks i dont need to worry and its probable just stress.
I am going twice a week to a Chiropractor to get relief from Trigeminal Neuralgia .He is an expert in in nerve pain treatment.I have Trigeminal Neuralgia since Nov ember 20001..I took Homeopathic treatment,Accupuncture treatment..Since one and half years I am taking Gabapentin,colonzepam,baclofom etc.Pain goes and come.some times it almost blind me due to severe pain.
Is there anyone who got cure by Chiropractor.
The AAN stated that other therapies, such as procedures on the collection of nerves that gives off the trigeminal nerve (gasserian ganglion ablation, microvascular decompression, gamma knife which is basically focused radiation, and injection) are possibly helpful for cases that do not respond to therapy.
With bilateral TN, an investigation for multiple sclerosis is warranted. This is best conducted by a neurologists.
In 1999 I had gamma knife surgery for a menimgioma which was originally thought to be a pineal tumor. Now I have developed head tremmors and dizzyness. Is this a side effect post gamma knife? I have not had a follow up MRI due to being extremely claustrophobic and the whole gamma knife thing was a horrible experience. I did have a CT scan about a year ago which showed no mass but some brain atrophy. I am a 57 year old female. I also get headaches.
Hi,
I am not sure if this is something to worry about, but I've noticed in the last few months I can't move my right small toe. I used to be able to. I have trigeminal neuralgia and had a gamma knife procedure to alleviate the pain (it has helped greatly). I am currently taking neurontin, tegretol, and triliptol (not sure of spelling) to help with TN pain.
I know that occipital neuralgia ( eye TN ) has ruinded peoples lives . Go to you tube, type in trigeminal neuralgia, and you will seee videos of a man who suffered from this ..........let me know how thing's go for you . Good Luck, I know the pain .
I have had TN (Trigeminal Neuralgia) now for about 17 years. Sharp stabbing pain at times right side of face, usually centered around upper right teeth/top of lip/bottom of nose area. Have had two Gamma Knife procedures done 10/05 and then 10/08 after pain had returned early '08. Pain has returned this spring and continues. Recent MRI shows no changes from before.
In place of surgery, a more focused form of radiation such as the gamma knife may be plausible to use in your situation. This is focused radiation and does not really harm nearby structures and should have no long lasting effects. Another option is called embolization where they block the blood supply feeding the AVM causing it to regress.
At one point I was up to three different meds then had gamma knife procedure. It worked long enough for me to wene off of two of the the meds then it came back with a vengence but was able to control it with neurontin for a while. Two years ago I began taking Trileptal. Long story short it flared up about 10 weeks ago worse than I've ever had it and haven't been able to get it under control. It has been excrutiating. I worked only one day this week.
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