Can trigeminal neuralgia heal on its own?
Disease description:
My father has been complaining of headaches for the past two days. After visiting the hospital, he was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia. I would like to ask whether this condition can heal on its own with proper management.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lv Zhiqin
The possibility of spontaneous recovery from trigeminal neuralgia is very low.
Trigeminal neuralgia is a common neurological disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of severe, sharp, knife-like, electric-shock-like, or burning pain on one side of the face within the distribution of the trigeminal nerve. This pain is often unbearable and occurs frequently, significantly affecting the patient's quality of life.
The cause of trigeminal neuralgia is generally believed to be related to irritation of the trigeminal nerve by blood vessels within the skull. Because this irritation persists and the nerve sheath may already be damaged, trigeminal neuralgia tends to progressively worsen, and spontaneous recovery is rare.
Early medical intervention is recommended, using medications, surgery, or other treatments to relieve symptoms and control the condition. Commonly used medications include carbamazepine, which can alleviate pain but cannot cure trigeminal neuralgia. Patients with severe or recurrent symptoms may need to consider surgical treatments, such as microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve.
