Frequently asked questions about trigeminal neuralgia
"I have just been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia, and I have heard that it can be operated... when should I have surgery? Will surgery cure me? This is a frequent question among people suffering from this disease. The answer is very easy: most trigeminal neuralgias (about 75%) are controlled with oral medication (1 or 2 drugs) so surgery will not be necessary. Those who have been in pain for more than 1 year and have tried at least 3 drugs correctly and for a sufficient time, are considered refractory. These are the cases that require surgery, and it is recommended that this be done by teams with experience in the management of these conditions.