CyberKnife radiation therapy can often effectively manage the pain of trigeminal neuralgia with just one treatment, which takes about an hour.
The procedure is painless and requires no incisions or anesthesia.
How it Works
The CyberKnife system delivers high doses of radiation beams with pinpoint accuracy to desensitize the trigeminal nerve. The radiation damages the nerve fibers responsible for transmitting excruciating pain, thereby alleviating symptoms.
Efficacy and Outcomes
Success Rate: Approximately 75% to 90% of patients experience significant, lasting pain relief.
“I’m surprised at how long many of these patients have suffered before they are referred to a CyberKnife center for treatment. That’s why it’s so very important that we get this information out about CyberKnife as a non-invasive treatment option for trigeminal neuralgia,” says Dr. Mark Pomper, medical director of the CyberKnife Center of Miami and a board-certified radiation oncologist.
Dr. Pomper often sees trigeminal neuralgia patients after they have exhausted all other options, including surgery. “Patients suffering from trigeminal neuralgia should always consider alternative options to surgery,” says Dr. Pomper, “After trying medication, ask your doctor, is there a non-invasive treatment available? Typically, patients need only one CyberKnife treatment. If the pain returns, a second treatment may be considered but we have been very successful with just one treatment.”
Timeline: For many patients pain relief after CyberKnife is immediate. For others it may take several days or weeks for the nerve fibers to be disrupted enough to stop the pain.
Durability: Pain control can last for years. However, pain may eventually return, in which case a second CyberKnife treatment can be performed.
Potential Risks and Side Effects
Facial Numbness: The most common side effect is facial numbness, which usually subsides, and is generally accepted by patients compared to the severe facial pain of the condition.
Who is it For?
CyberKnife is typically recommended for patients who: Have not responded well to pain medication, cannot tolerate the medications or don’t want to take them.
Are medically unfit or too frail for open brain surgery (such as MVD).
Have trigeminal neuralgia caused by Multiple Sclerosis (MS), for which radiosurgery is often considered a highly effective option.
“Natalia says, I am so thankful to Dr. Pomper and CyberKnife Miami. At first after the treatment, I was afraid to sneeze or cough fearing it would set off another pain attack like usual, but it didn’t. I did feel a bit more nerve pain in my face right after the treatment, but after a few weeks I was off the pain medication, and I felt nothing. It took me a month to stop being so cautious and realize the pain was not coming back.”
“I’m so grateful, I have my energy and my life back. Before I couldn’t make plans, I was afraid of waking up because I didn’t know what the day would bring. I hated going outside because the wind brushing across my face could start an attack. Now I can exercise and do everything I did before. Living in pain makes you appreciate living with no pain and you no longer take the simple things in life for granted.”
To consult with top experts in the field on CyberKnife treatment for trigeminal neuralgia call our team at 305-279-2900 and read more about the procedure on our website now: https://www.cyberknifemiami.com/trigeminal-neuralgia/
Cyberknife Center of Miami – The Beam Of Life