Trigeminal Neuralgia New Treatment (Microvascular Decompression) - Watch WebMD Video

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Trigeminal Neuralgia

Reviewed By: Varnada Karriem-Norwood,

SOURCES: 2010 Medical Reference from Medstar Television. Neil Martin, MD, Neurosurgeon, University of California Los Angeles.

© 1999-2011 Medstar Television

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Narrator:

Warning: This video contains graphic images. One night, while getting ready for a dinner date, Sandra McGee (mah-gee) got the shock of her life.

Sandra McGee, Patient:

I looked down because I just knew something fell in the shower and I was being electrocuted.

Narrator:

Instead, it was trigeminal neuralgia (tri-JEM-in-uhl Noor-AL-jah). The nerve that provides sensation to her face was short circuiting causing agonizing pain.

Sandra McGee, Patient:

It's the worst pain known to mankind and I couldn't believe that I had it.

Narrator:

Typically surgeons sever the nerve to provide relief, but results aren't always permanent and the procedure can leave the face numb. Now, they know more about the underlying cause of T-N.

Narrator:

With that knowledge in mind, doctors AT U-C-L-A developed a treatment using microvascular decompression.

Narrator:

With that knowledge in mind, doctors AT U-C-L-A developed a treatment using microvascular decompression.

Neil Martin, MD, Neurosurgeon, University of California Los Angeles:

If we clearly see the blood vessel and it looks like it can be moved on the images, then this procedure, microvascular decompression, really is the way to go.

Narrator:

First, 3-D images help them locate Sandra's blood vessel and mentally rehearse the operation. The target area is near the center of the skull.

Neil Martin, MD, Neurosurgeon, University of California Los Angeles:

We have to go in from the side just behind the ear and make a nickel-sized hole.

Narrator:

Through a surgical microscope, they free up the blood vessel and the nerve.

Neil Martin, MD, Neurosurgeon, University of California Los Angeles:

There it is! At the last moment, it just sort of popped out from behind the nerve and you could see that the nerve which was stretched, all of a sudden just relaxed.

Sandra McGee, Patient:

When I first woke up there was no pain at all and I've been a happy camper every since.

Narrator:

Without those electric shocks, she'll stay that way. For WebMD, I'm Sandee LaMotte.

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