Thursday, October 25, 2012

Surgery To Manage Trigeminal Neuralgia - Why Many Are Averse To It

By Aaron Doolsey


There are several reasons as to why many people fear the surgical procedures performed in a bid to manage trigeminal neuralgia. This is in light of the claims made by practitioners of conventional medicine, suggesting that surgery is the only way that people suffering from trigeminal neuralgia will be able to manage it. These surgical procedures are primarily geared towards dealing with the neuropathy giving rise to the facial pain that the condition is known for. Many of the patients have been vocal about their reservations regarding undergoing surgery to solve the problem.

It is not surprise, then, to see many of these patients who are still looking for other opinions or suggestions and even seeking alternative treatments despite the fact that they are already under a lot of pain. Even those who opt to go for the surgery straightaway (the moment they are advised to go for it) tend to so with lots of fears in their minds. What we are trying to identify then, are the reasons as to why so many people fear the surgical procedures performed in a bid to manage this illness, which normally manifests through unbearable facial pain.

Surgery involves a lot of risks, and that is the first reason why people are afraid to take on surgery as a means to solve their problem on trigeminal neuralgia. After all, we are not talking about just any other ordinary surgical procedure here. Rather, these are procedures that target the facial area: where we tend to find a complex labyrinth of nerves, blood vessels and other sensitive body tissues. There is always that chance that something could go wrong, no matter how careful or how skilled the doctors or surgeons who are handling your surgery are. Those are enough reasons for people to take a step back from surgery as an option. However, they are torn between avoiding the risks but still wanting to be free of the pain that their condition is giving them.

The pain involved in the actual surgery is also another reason why people are afraid of undergoing them to solve their problem with trigeminal neuralgia. It is common knowledge that anesthesia will be applied to numb the face of the patient before the actual surgery is performed. But anesthesia do not last forever. Once they wear off after the surgery, the patient will feel the pain. It has been the experience of many patients that the post-operative period will be particularly an ordeal for them.

You cannot be sure that, after the surgery, the results you wanted and expected would be achieved. This uncertainty translates to fear of surgery for some. We have patients on whom the surgical procedures are carried out who, after some time, start experiencing the symptoms of the condition again. You should probably know that these surgical procedures may be carried out for the sole purpose of relieving the pain, but not to cure it completely. Sometimes, they don't even go a long way in managing the condition. But if the doctor recommends surgery, it would still be a good idea for the patient to comply. He will have greater chances of actually managing his trigeminal neuralgia, although there is no assurance that the surgery will be completely successful.




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