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Neuropathy From
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Does It Even Matter?
Justin Sandall, D.O.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Department of Anesthesiology, CA-2
Case Presentation
Her pain is worsened with anxiety, working out, loud noises, heat and
alleviated with application of cold, migraine medications and Lyrica.
Mother has noticed L sided facial swelling.
There is no association with brushing teeth, putting on makeup or
wind on the face. She denies changes in hearing, balance or
coordination. She also denies sensory changes, tearing, conjunctival
effusion and ataxia.
No h/o trauma or HSV.
Case Presentation
MEDICATIONS:
- Synthroid Oral Tablet 75 mcg 1 tablet by mouth daily
- Betaxolol 10mg PO twice daily
- Zoloft 150mg PO daily
- Migrelief 2 tabs PO
- Topamax 300mg OP daily
- Ondansetron tab PO PRN
- Indomethacin 25mg PO twice daily
- Zomig Zmt 5mg PO twice daily
- Lyrica 300mg
- Kariva BC
- Zyrtec 10mg
Case Presentation
Relevant Physical Exam
Relevant Imaging
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Most common target is the gasserian ganglion via the foramen ovale1
Studies have all used patients w/classic trigeminal neuralgia
Glycerol rhizotomy had lowest initial pain relief, lowest procedure success and highest
pain recurrence
More often associated with young, middle aged women and feelings
of depression
Motor cortex stimulation for trigeminal neuralgia seems promising
70% success rate compared to 50% for central pain5
Classic
trigeminal
neuralgia
Rare
Intraoral or
extraoral in
trigeminal
region
Each episode
of pain lasts
for seconds to
minutes;
refractory
periods, and
long periods
of no pain
Sharp,
shooting,
moderate to
very severe
Light touch
provoked
(e.g., eating,
washing,
talking)
Discrete
trigger zones
Atypical
trigeminal
neuralgia
Rare
Intraoral or
extraoral in
trigeminal
region
Sharp attacks
lasting
seconds to
minutes, more
continuoustype
background
pain, less
likely to have
complete pain
remission
Sharp,
shooting,
moderate to
severe but
also dull,
burning,
continuous
mild
background
pain
Light touch
provoked,
but
continuoustype pain not
so clearly
provoked
May have
small trigger
areas, variable
pattern
Trigeminal
neuropathy
Very
rare
Trigeminal
Continuous
area, but may
radiate beyond
Dull with
sharp
exacerbation
Areas of
allodynia,
light touch
Sensory loss,
subjectiveobjective,
progressive,
vasodilation
and swelling
may occur
Adapted from Essentials of physical medicine and rehabilitation: musculoskeletal disorders, pain, and rehabilitation/
[edited by] Walter R. Frontera, Julie K. Silver, Thomas D. Rizzo Jr.2nd ed. Chapter 90.
Case Resolution
26 y/o female with L sided facial pain in the setting of chronic migraine HA, h/o
depression and hypothyroidism. Given the nature of her pain, her history of
depression and migraine HA, her pain triggers or lack thereof and physical exam
findings, this most likely is atypical facial pain secondary to trigeminal neuropathic
pain in the V1/V2 distribution rather than classic trigeminal neuralgia. It is important
to make this distinction given that definitive treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (i.e.
neurolytic tx) can actually worsen the pain of trigeminal neuropathy. In addition, she
almost certainly has a component of transformed migraine HA that is contributory
thus one of our long-term goals will be to decrease the number of medicines she is
on.
1. Atypical facial pain
2. Trigeminal neuropathic pain in the V1V2 distribution
3. Transformed migraine headache
4. H/o depression
5. Hypothyroidism
Will schedule for superficial V1/V2 block and TPI and assess response. Needs to be
off indomethacin x7 days prior to procedure. May benefit from Gasserian ganglion
block and/or Stellate ganglion block down the road if not responsive to more
conservative measures. If responds well to the peripheral n. blocks, will use Botox for
long-term control. Meanwhile
References