Sherri has a bubbly and nurturing personality, but these qualities were dimmed for years due to a crippling pain for which she was continually misdiagnosed. After a decade of discomfort, she finally received the correct diagnosis for what was keeping her from sleeping, eating, drinking and even hugging her grandkids comfortably: trigeminal neuralgia.
WHAT IS TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA?
Dr. Miguel Melgar, a board-certified neurological surgeon, explains that trigeminal neuralgia is a condition characterized by excruciating pain on one side of the face. Typically, this condition impacts the elderly population. It strikes unexpectedly, like a lightning bolt in an otherwise ordinary day, leaving the sufferer reeling from its intensity.
“Patients may be doing normal things,” Dr. Melgar says, “but then a severe pain comes, followed by a continuous burning sensation that lingers for hours or even days.”
THE ROOT OF THE PAIN
The cause of this relentless pain lies deep within the intricate network of facial nerves. Dr. Melgar explains.
“The trigeminal nerve, responsible for transmitting sensations on the face to the brain, is impacted,” he says. “A blood vessel surrounding the nerve at its origin in the brainstem triggers a response with every heartbeat, leading to the debilitating pain experienced by patients.”
Sherri says many doctors didn’t take the time to listen to her symptoms. But then, by chance, she met family medicine specialist Dr. Kerry Scott. Dr. Scott, familiar with trigeminal neuralgia, recommended that she consult with a neurologist after considering her symptoms.
FINDING RELIEF
With a surgical procedure tailored to address the root cause of her pain, Sherri found herself on the path to relief.
“Just about instant relief,” she says. Surgery for trigeminal neuralgia requires significant expertise in microsurgery around the brainstem and other vital brain structures.
A REMARKABLE RECOVERY
Dr. Melgar emphasizes the importance of offering such procedures to the community.
“Living with agonizing pain all day long is unbearable,” he says. The transformation achieved through surgery restores not just physical comfort, but also the joy of living.
“I’m relieved that I’m not in so much pain anymore,” Sherri says. “I would wake up screaming and praying for pain relief.”
For Sherri, the surgery was not just a medical procedure, but a catalyst for profound change.
“I feel rested. I feel more energized,” she says. “It’s been a hard journey, but now I have answers to my prayers.”
To learn more about this condition and Memorial’s neurosurgery options, call (228) 867-4855.
