Dr Jaydev Panchwagh Neurosurgeon

Trigeminal neuralgia cured

Trigeminal neuralgia cured by Microvascular Decompression surgery is not unique. However, very few patients actually acknowledge this in public and help spread awareness.

In this interview, Mrs. Deshmukh and her husband share their experiences before and after her Trigeminal neuralgia was treated by Microvascular decompression surgery, or MVD surgery.

Mr Deshmukh also describes how he and his family suffered because they saw her in pain but could not share her neuralgic pain. They would take her to the hospital at all hours of the day when the attacks got particularly bad to give her intravenous pain killers. They endured all this simply because they were unaware of MVD surgery for Trigeminal neuralgia pain relief. Trigeminal neuralgia cured by MVD surgery is a boon for not only the patient but also the family involved.

While googling for trigeminal neuralgia treatment, her son chanced upon a YouTube video that Dr. Jaydev Panchwagh, a neurosurgeon in Pune had uploaded for public education. She then procured his phone number and contacted him. The very first meeting with him and his team gave her enough confidence to opt for surgery. She also spoke to a few other people who were operated upon by Dr. Jaydev Panchwagh,  who reassured her that he was the best neurosurgeon for MVD surgery done for treatment of Trigeminal neuralgia.

The cause for Trigeminal neuralgia is often a blood vessel compressing on the Trigeminal nerve. You can read more by clicking here.

Severe Trigeminal Neuralgia caused by Epidermoid tumour

CP angle Epidermoid Tumor
MRI of C-P Angle Epidermoid Tumor

Severe Trigeminal Neuralgia can occasionally be caused by tumors in the cerebello-pontine region, notably, Epidermoid tumors, Schwannomas and rarely others like meningioma etc.

Severe TN caused by C-P angle Epidermoid tumor

This is the story of a patient named Mr. Gopal Shinde, a young man from rural Maharashtra who suffered from very severe pain in the cheek and forehead. His TN pain was so severe that he could neither eat nor talk, nor open his mouth.

An MRI advised by us revealed a cerebello-pontine (C-P) angle tumor which was likely to be an epidermoid. Unfortunately, a nation-wide lockdown was imposed a few days after his diagnosis, and he had to return to his village.

Eventually, in spite of the Covid-19 situation, he came back to us for excision of the epidermoid, because the pain was unbearable. This was successfully removed in October 2020. His severe Trigeminal neuralgia pain disappeared immediately after surgery and he could begin eating, talking and smiling normally.

 

Dr. Jaydev Panchwagh operated on him and he was cured of his TN pain, with the excision of the Epidermoid tumor and with the freeing of the Trigeminal nerve.

Trigeminal neuralgia medication-how to take them?

Trigeminal neuralgia medication, at least the majority of them, are anti-convulsants.

“How to take them-Trigeminal neuralgia medication?”

Can I take TN medication when I feel the pain coming on?

Can I add more drugs during a Trigeminal neuralgia attack?

Do I have to continue taking the Trigeminal neuralgia medicines even if I have no or minimal pain?

These are all questions that frequently come to the patients’ minds.

What is essential to understand is that TN medicines are not straight-forward pain-killers. They are primarily anti-convulsants or brain numbing medications. Once the first pill is consumed, it takes a few hours to reach the blood. The liver simultaneously metabolizes the drug, while some of it also reaches the brain to act upon. So in effect, the blood level reduces. Over a period of the next few hours, the blood level will become zero. Before this happens, we need to consume another pill to increase and maintain the blood level. If this does not happen, there is no effect on the pain as well.

In short, regular medication is essential to maintain a particular blood level of the drug, so that it calms the brain/ nerve. This calming effect means that they do not respond to pain signals, and therefore have a neuralgic-pain-reducing effect.

Another key point to be noted is that the dosages need to be very gradually increased (and decreased also).

What happens if I take too many TN pills?

Well, you will certainly start manifesting all the side-effects of these anti-convulsants, like drowsiness, dizziness, imbalance, mental clouding, memory loss, depression etc. This is why, their dosages have to be adjusted by your doctor, who will determine what is right for you. One typically starts with the lowest dosage twice or thrice a day. This may be increased to maximum doses four times a day.

What happens if I miss a couple of doses of TN medication?

The blood level reduces, and you may experience break-through pain.

Allergic reactions to Trigeminal neuralgia medication

When starting off drugs to control TN pain for the first time, one has to be aware of and be on the lookout for allergic reactions. Though rare, it is not unheard of. I have come across a few patients in my practice. Typically they are in the form of skin rashes. These may be the harbinger of a very serious and potentially fatal Stevens-Johnson syndrome. If one notices skin rashes on consuming TN medication, please inform your doctor immediately and stop taking it.

What are the commonly used medication for trigeminal neuralgia?

What other drugs than anticonvulsants are useful for TN pain?

Is TN permanent?

What are some of the FAQs about TN?

Is there a cure for Trigeminal neuralgia?

Who is Dr Jaydev Panchwagh?

Youtube videos explaining in detail about Trigeminal neuralgia

Can I hear some patient testimonials? MicroVascular Decompression surgery to cure Trigeminal neuralgia.

How do I contact Dr Jaydev Panchwagh?

Trigeminal Neuralgia Patient Testimonial | Laxminarayan Gogineni

I suffered from Trigeminal Neuralgia and this is my patient testimonial:

I suffered from Trigeminal Neuralgia for five years before my Microvascular decompression surgery. Symptoms of TN for me was a severe shock like pain along the lower jaw.

Continue reading

Is Trigeminal neuralgia hereditary?

For those of you who are wondering whether Trigeminal neuralgia is hereditary, the short answer is ‘ not really’. Having said that, there are cases reported where TN runs in families.

Can Trigeminal neuralgia be Familial?

Familial TN is unusual by all means. It is likely to be less than 2 or 3% of all TN patients. It is possible that patients inherit their familial ‘make-up’ of blood vessel contours or laxity, or lengths…we don’t know. Generally the familial type of Trigeminal neuralgia is on the same side in all affected family members.

Can Trigeminal neuralgia be inherited? Can TN be genetically transmitted?

The chances are so slim, that it’s not worth losing good sleep over it.

Have I seen a case of familial Trigeminal neuralgia?

‘No. I have only read case reports. It is likely that this condition is so rare, that one need not be too worried about it.’ Dr Jaydev Panchwagh answers.

Can children be affected with Trigeminal neuralgia?

Though it is unusual, it is not impossible. Diagnosing TN in children may be a problem, because they may not be able to express their problem clearly.

Parents ought to be more observant and help in establishing patterns.

There are reports of Microvascular Decompression surgery being done even in young children to treat them of the Trigeminal neuralgia pain.

My father and I both have Trigeminal Neuralgia. Is this hereditary? Will my children also have it?

It is possible that there are certain anatomical variations in either the brain and skull, or in the blood vessels that have predisposed both of you to have it. We just have to wait and see if it gets passed on to the next generation.

The youngest patient Dr Jaydev Panchwagh, a renowned Indian neurosurgeon  has operated on is a girl of 22 years, who had been having it for five years. The operation was performed at his centre for MVD in Pune, India.  With an experience of more than a thousand trigeminal neuralgia surgeries, he is one of the best neurosurgeons for such delicate and specialized operations.

You may watch his Youtube channel for more on MVD surgery for Trigeminal neuralgia treatment.

Is trigeminal neuralgia permanent?

Is Trigeminal neuralgia permanent? This is one of the first questions patients ask, upon learning their diagnosis. It is natural to want to know how long they have to face these facial pain-attacks.

The pain of a TN attack is itself not permanent, but comes intermittently most of the times. In a few patients this pain, especially in those who have had it for a long time, may last a few hours at a time.

Does the pain of Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) ever go away?

Unfortunately, no. The pain attacks keep appearing. Initially, the attacks are infrequent, later they become more severe and frequent or even continuous. the timeline varies for every individual who suffers from this.

There are periods, sometimes for months when the pain does not re-appear. It is called pain remission. Some people have short remission periods, and for others it’s longer.

As the condition progresses, the remission periods shorten and the attacks become more frequent. Very rarely, there may be near-permanent remission.

How long does the pain of Trigeminal neuralgia last?

The actual pain attack of TN may last a few seconds to a few minutes. The actual condition is unlikely to ever go away. Most patients need a combination of medications to keep the pain under control. Non-medical therapy helps in managing pain, and living with it. Surgical procedures give longer pain  relief. Microvascular decompression surgery is the main option available for a possible permanent relief from the pain of Trigeminal Neuralgia.

Dr Jaydev Panchwagh and his team at the Centre for Trigeminal Neuralgia Treatment by Microvascular Decompression surgery have an experience of more than a thousand MVD procedures, in the last twenty years. The centre is known for the best treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia.

Dr Jaydev Panchwagh is a renowned neurosurgeon in Pune, India and has many referrals from international patients as well. Plenty of video lectures delivered by Dr Panchwagh on the subject, are available on YouTube.

 

Trigeminal neuralgia patient testimonial | Ketan Dixit

Trigeminal neuralgia patient after operationTrigeminal neuralgia patient testimonial 

I am Ketan Dixit, and I suffered from Trigeminal neuralgia. This is my  testimonial of the treatment I received from Dr Jayadev Panchwagh, an Indian Neurosurgeon famous for trigeminal neuralgia surgery in Pune, India.

I would like to share my Trigeminal neuralgia patient experience with you all. I suffered from this horrible disease for nearly four years before I got operated. I was on Trigeminal neuralgia medications like carbamazepine  etc, for many years. Continue reading