How to treat trigeminal neuralgia

Total Health | March 19th, 2010

A new paper from a doctor at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine in California describes and comments on the various ways to treat the painful and debilitating condition called trigeminal neuralgiaA disorder of the trigeminal nerve, which supplies sensation to the face.. One of the most effective treatments is Gamma Knife® - as patients including Martin Kemp of Spandau Ballet will be quick to attest.

Watch the video.

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Expert articles

What can modern neurosurgery treatments be used for?

By Mr Ranjeev Bhangoo, Consultant NeurosurgeonContact
King's College Hospital, The Harley Street Clinic

The aim of neurosurgery has always been to gain the maximal benefit for the patient with the minimum amount of risk. Modern neurosurgery and radiosurgery can be used to treat a variety of conditions including brain tumours, brain haemorrhages, pain, epilepsyA tendency to have recurrent seizures., and movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis.

Neurosurgery for pain management

By Mr Ranjeev Bhangoo, Consultant NeurosurgeonContact
King's College Hospital, The Harley Street Clinic

The aim of neurosurgery has always been to gain the maximal benefit for the patient with the minimum amount of risk. Neurosurgery can be used to treat back, neck, leg and arm pain following a thorough assessment by a neurosurgeon. In most cases further tests will be ordered to assess which nervesBundles of fibres that carry information in the form of electrical impulses. are involved in the pain and this is usually an MRIAn abbreviation for magnetic resonance imaging, a technique for imaging the body that uses electromagnetic waves and a strong magnetic field. scan of the spine.

Neurosurgery for brain tumours

By Mr Ranjeev Bhangoo, Consultant NeurosurgeonContact
King's College Hospital, The Harley Street Clinic

It is now well recognised that patients with brain tumours (and their family) do best if managed by a group of doctors, both medical and surgical, who have a particular interest in the management of brain tumours. This is known as a tumour Multidisciplinary Team (MDT). All patients with brain tumours should receive highly individualised care that delivers not only the best treatment possible for the patient but treatment that is appropriate to the patient’s and family’s psychological and emotional needs. The aim of neurosurgery has always been to gain the maximal benefit for the patient with the minimum amount of risk.

Gamma Knife® FAQs

By Mr Ian Sabin, Consultant NeurosurgeonContact
Barts and the London NHS Trust, The Wellington Hospital

The Gamma Knife® is a machine designed to deliver radiationEnergy in the form of waves or particles, including radio waves, X-rays and gamma rays. in a very precise manner by targeting hundreds of pinpointed beams of radiation directly at the tumourAn abnormal swelling.. This is a non-invasiveAny test or technique that does not involve penetration of the skin. The term 'non-invasive' may also describe tumours that do not invade surrounding tissues. and non-surgical treatment for brain conditions.

When is treatment with Gamma Knife® radiosurgery appropriate?

By Mr Ian Sabin, Consultant NeurosurgeonContact
Barts and the London NHS Trust, The Wellington Hospital

The Gamma Knife® (GK) is a machine designed to deliver radiationEnergy in the form of waves or particles, including radio waves, X-rays and gamma rays. in a very precise manner, to treat a patient with a single dose over the course of a day rather than in a number of doses over weeks. The early prototype was first used in the late 1960s but was later developed to a model more comparable to today’s machine in the mid-1980s.

Gamma Knife® Surgery and Neurosurgery

By Mr Ian Sabin, Consultant NeurosurgeonContact
Barts and the London NHS Trust, The Wellington Hospital

Introduction

The Leksell Gamma Knife® is used to deliver radiotherapyThe treatment of disease using radiation. with precision to treat a variety of neurological Associated with the nervous system and the brain. problems involving the brain.  Most of the conditions treated are tumours – both benignNot dangerous, usually applied to a tumour that is not malignant. and malignantDescribes a tumour resulting from uncontrolled cell division that can invade other tissues and may spread to distant parts of the body. – but in addition tangles of arteries and veins (arterio-venousRelating to the veins. malformations –AVMs) can be obliterated and the excruciating facial pain known as trigeminal neuralgiaA disorder of the trigeminal nerve, which supplies sensation to the face. can be relieved. 

Related videos

How does Gamma Knife® work?

By totalhealth, Authoritative medical information

Click here to watch an animation showing how the Gamma Knife® Perfexion™ radiosurgery machine operates. As with all Gamma Knife® machines, the Perfexion™ treats brain cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. by targeting hundreds of pinpointed beams of radiationEnergy in the form of waves or particles, including radio waves, X-rays and gamma rays. directly at the tumourAn abnormal swelling. as an alternative to traditional neurosurgery.

See video

Martin Kemp opens HCA Gamma Knife® Centre

By totalhealth, Authoritative medical information

The actor and Spandau Ballet singer Martin Kemp has opened the revolutionary Gamma Knife® Centre to treat brain tumours. The Centre is based at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London. Martin Kemp opened the centre following the discovery of a benign tumourAn abnormal swelling that is not cancerous; in other words, it does not invade local tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. in his brain. He was treated using the radiotherapyThe treatment of disease using radiation. machine at St Bart's Hospital.

The innovative radiotherapy machine is able to treat brain tumours with greater accuracy than before.

Recent news

Radiosurgery, neuromodulation and the latest brain treatments

Total Health | February 7th, 2012

A team of leading London brain experts have teamed up to pool their senior expertise by writing about the latest treatments related to conditions in the brain such as trigeminal neuralgiaA disorder of the trigeminal nerve, which supplies sensation to the face. and meningiomas. The new technology means that previously inoperable conditions, or malfunctions such as arterio-venousRelating to the veins. malformations that would normally require access through the skull are now routinely treated without the need for a drill or scalpel using non-invasiveAny test or technique that does not involve penetration of the skin. The term 'non-invasive' may also describe tumours that do not invade surrounding tissues. precision radiology.

Ski Injury Experts - best treatments when the ACL tears

Total Health | January 30th, 2012

Prevention is always the best treatment option and as expert Orthopaedic Surgeon, Richard Sinnerton, advises: “Tell the truth about your weight and ability when you rent your skis. Lying to the ski-rental guys may not be as dangerous as telling a few porkies before bungee-jumping, and the release tensions in bindings must be correct if you're to avoid the risk of serious injury”.

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