How is trigeminal neuralgia treated?

Trigeminal neuralgia is a facial pain disorder, and its treatment mainly includes the following approaches: 1. **Medication**: Initially, medications are often used to control pain, such as anticonvulsants (e.g., carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine) and antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline), which can effectively relieve pain. 2. **Minimally Invasive Surgery**: For patients who do not respond well to medication, minimally invasive procedures such as microvascular decompression (MVD) may be considered. This procedure uses a microscope to isolate the blood vessel compressing the trigeminal nerve from the nerve itself, thereby relieving pain. 3. **Local Block Therapy**: This includes techniques such as radiofrequency thermocoagulation and nerve ablation. These methods directly block or damage the trigeminal nerve to alleviate pain. However, they may cause complications such as sensory disturbances and weakened chewing ability. 4. **Physical Therapy**: Methods such as heat or cold compresses may provide some additional pain relief, although their effectiveness is limited. Treatment should be selected based on the individual patient's condition. Patients are advised to undergo treatment under the guidance of a physician.