Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a rare syndrome that causes pain by compression of the glossopharyngeal nerve, ninth cranial nerve that is located inside the neck. The pain extends down the throat, tongue, tonsils and middle ear, although many times can cause back pain.
It can last for a few seconds to several minutes, the above happening multiple times throughout the day or even for weeks. Many individuals with Glossopharyngeal neuralgia pain associated with attacks specific factors such as swallowing, drinking cold liquids, sneezing, coughing, talking, throat clearing and touch the gums of the mouth.
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is usually caused by compression of the glossopharyngeal nerve, but in some cases, no cause is evident. What seems established is that, as in trigeminal neuralgia is associated with multiple sclerosis, which should not be forgotten is that glossopharyngeal neuralgia primarily affects the elderly.
In short, this compression causes paroxysmal tables in pain, very intense, repeated in speech, swallowing or even when touched. Surgical intervention has eradicated one way instant a picture of recurrent pain on the inside of the mouth, pharynx and heard a patient who suffered for a year and a half.
After several screening tests such as MRI, was diagnosed with glossopharyngeal neuralgia due to compression by the posterior inferior cerebellar artery. The intervention with microvascular decompression procedure, which lasted nearly four hours resulted in the disappearance of postoperative pain remains unsatisfactory.
The first 24 hours the patient remained in the ICU and complications is not entered plant, where he remained hospitalized for six days only to return home afterwards.
After suffering for five years with TN and Glossopharyngeal neuralgia, plus, at the point of suicide, I opted for Microvascular decompression surgery. At that point, my spasms were coming every two-hours and lasting up to one-and-a-half hours. Having researched much, concerning surgeons, I found Dr. Peter Janetta– who had developed the microvascular decompression technique– to still to be in practice: only the best would do for me as it should be for your special self. On further inquiry, I found he had performed over 6,000 such surgeries and that people suffering with neuralgia came to him from all over the world.
Dr. Janetta and his highly trained staff are located with the Alleghaney General Hospital, in Pittsburg, PA. Though I haven’t contacted his office for some time– haven’t needed to– I Thank God today for Dr. Janetta, and his technique, for literally saving my life. January 13th, 2010, marked six-years since I had the surgery and I haven’t had the first pain since! I control my own life once again, I’m back to my old self, and I couldn’t be happier or more filled with hope for the rest of my life.
If anyone wishes to gain an appointment with Dr. Janetta, simply google him for info, and a phone number to call. And if my posting has helped you in any way, please let me know. It does my heart good to hear from you. I can be emailed at jnatompkins@comcast.net God Bless You. Jackie Tompkins