Pune, May 22 : A 67-year-old woman suffering from severe facial pain for the last five years has finally found relief after undergoing an advanced brain surgery at Manipal Hospital, Kharadi, Pune. The patient had been living with trigeminal neuralgia, a neurological condition known to cause sudden, sharp, electric shock-like pain on the face. Over the years, the pain had become so intense that even simple day-to-day activities such as eating, speaking, brushing teeth, and washing her face had become extremely difficult. Despite being on medications for a long time, her symptoms continued to worsen, significantly affecting her daily life and emotional well-being.
After a detailed clinical evaluation and advanced neuroimaging, doctors identified that a blood vessel known as the superior cerebellar artery was compressing the trigeminal nerve, which was triggering the severe pain episodes. The patient was advised Microvascular Decompression (MVD), a specialised surgical procedure considered the gold standard treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia.
Speaking about the case, Dr. Sachin Chemate Patil, Consultant—Neurosurgeon, Manipal Hospital, Kharadi, Pune, said,
“Trigeminal Neuralgia is often considered one of the most painful neurological conditions, and many patients silently suffer for years thinking medications are the only option. In selected patients, advanced microsurgical techniques can provide long-term relief and significantly improve quality of life. While conventional microvascular decompression surgery usually involves placing a small Teflon material between the nerve and the blood vessel to reduce pressure, in this case we performed an advanced ‘Transposition Technique’. In this technique, the artery causing the compression is carefully separated from the nerve and repositioned away from it.”
Further he added,
“The artery is then fixed securely to the surrounding membrane using specialised medical glue, which helps remove the source of irritation without placing any material between the nerve and the blood vessel. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are extremely important, especially when symptoms start affecting routine daily activities.”
The surgery was successful, and the patient experienced significant relief from the facial pain soon after the procedure. She is now able to eat, speak, and carry out her routine activities comfortably after years of suffering.
This case highlights the growing availability of advanced neurosurgical treatments in Pune and offers hope to patients living with chronic facial pain conditions