Physicians at NeuroTexas Institute at St. David's HealthCare Help Cedar Creek Woman Find Relief from Debilitating Pain

3/17/10

67-Year-Old Judy Garner Was Diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia,
A Chronic Condition That Causes Extreme, Sporadic “Shock-like” Face Pain

In September 2009, physicians at NeuroTexas Institute at St. David’s HealthCare performed a life-changing procedure on 67-year-old Judy Garner after she was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN). According to the National Institutes of Health, TN is a chronic pain condition that causes extreme, sporadic, sudden burning or shock-like face pain. The pain usually lasts for a few seconds, but can last up to a minute or two per episode.

“It felt like I bit my tongue really badly, and the pain got steadily worse,” Garner said. “I took pain medication, but even as the dosage increased, the pain became more intense. It’s the worst pain you can have, and it was all over the left side of my face, my jaw and my tongue.”

The pain associated with TN is often described as a sharp, stabbing pain that comes out of nowhere and usually gets worse as time passes. The intense pain can last for a few seconds up to several minutes or hours.

“The pain can affect any part of the face, including the lips, tongue and ears,” Dr. Michael Webb, neurosurgeon and Executive Medical Director of NeuroTexas Institute at St. David’s HealthCare, said. “The pain comes from one or more branches of the trigeminal nerve—the major carrier of sensory information from the face to the brain.”

After suffering for several months, Garner decided to undergo surgery.

Dr. Webb performed a minimally invasive procedure known as a MVD, or microvascular decompression, to relieve the compression of Garner’s trigeminal nerve. During this procedure, neurosurgeons enter the brain through a small opening in the skull (in this case behind Judy’s left ear), to find the area where the nerve exits the brainstem. Often, the surgeon will find the nerve’s protective sheath has been damaged by a blood vessel pressing against it. To alleviate the compression of the nerve, neurosurgeons insert a small “pillow” between the nerve and the blood vessel to separate them.

After her procedure, Garner’s pain was gone, allowing her to return to work four days later.

“I kept waiting for the pain to come back,” Garner said. “But it never did.”


NeuroTexas Institute at St. David’s HealthCare

NeuroTexas Institute at St. David’s HealthCare, located near downtown Austin at 919 East 32nd Street, is dedicated to ensuring the best clinical outcomes for patients with conditions affecting the brain, spine and nerves. The Institute was founded to promote quality care, provide academic leadership and perform advanced research in the field of neurosciences. For more information please visit NeuroTexasInstitute.com.