Trigeminal neuralgia is a disorder in which sudden lightning-like pains strike the face. In its severe form it is regarded as the most excruciating pain that a person can experience. Drug therapy (especially carbamazepine and baclofen) is often effective in relieving the pain, but when medications fail, surgical treatment will provide relief in almost all cases.

More than 3,000 patients with trigeminal neuralgia have had surgery at Shands at the University of Florida.

Depending on the patient, UF neurosurgeons offer a range of surgical techniques, including microvascular decompression, radiofrequency lesion and radiosurgery.

Similar microvascular decompressive surgery has also proven quite successful in the treatment of hemifacial spasm. In this disorder, the seventh nerve is frequently compressed by branches of either the anterior inferior cerebellar artery or the posterior inferior cerebellar artery.

Learn more about trigeminal neuralgia and the treatment options provided by UF neurosurgeons at Shands at UF in this video.

Download the Trigeminal Neuralgia and Hemifacial Spasm Brochure.

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For more information or to schedule a new patient appointment, please call 352.273.9000 or visit the UF Department of Neurosurgery.

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