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This is a condition in which one side of the face spasms. It begins as a mild spasm of the lower eyelid, and over a period of several years to 4-5 years, the spasms can become so severe that one eye closes or the cheek or corner of the mouth on that side is pulled. This condition affects people of all ages, primarily those in their 40s and 50s.
In most people with this condition, the blood vessels that supply the brain and nerves compress the facial nerve, which branches off from the brain, causing nerve damage. The facial nerve controls the movement of the muscles that create facial expressions, but it is thought that continued compression by the blood vessels causes abnormal nerve activity, resulting in spasms.
Treatment options include surgery and botulinum therapy. Our hospital has been providing surgical treatment since the 1980s, and performs microvascular decompression (neuro-decompression), which moves the blood vessels compressing the nerves, helping the nerves recover and improving symptoms. Between 70 and 100 patients undergo this surgery at our hospital each year.
Our hospital belongs to the Japanese Society of Neurodecompression, and the chief director (Toda) serves as an officer and steering committee member.
Botulinum therapy is an injection that relieves tension in facial muscles. We also offer botulinum therapy at our clinic.
Trigeminal neuralgia is a disease characterized by very strong, short-lasting pain in the face and mouth, similar to electric shocks. Eating, washing the face, or even just having wind blow on the face can cause pain. This condition is common in people over 60 years old.
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia, which is rarer than trigeminal neuralgia, is a condition that causes severe pain in the throat and ears when swallowing food or drink.
The most common cause is when blood vessels that supply the brain and nerves compress the trigeminal nerve as it enters the brain, damaging the nerve. Other causes include rare diseases such as brain tumors, vascular malformations, and multiple sclerosis, and there are also cases where the cause is unknown. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is often caused by nerve compression by blood vessels, and is diagnosed through MRI scans or ENT examinations.
Treatment options include oral medication (carbamazepine) and surgery. At our hospital, we perform microvascular decompression (neuro-decompression), which involves moving and fixing the blood vessels that are compressing the nerves. We have devised a method to make this surgery safe even for elderly patients. Approximately 20 to 30 patients undergo this surgery at our hospital each year.
There is intractable pain caused by nerve damage, such as that caused by stroke or spinal damage/degeneration. To alleviate this pain, we offer deep brain stimulation (DBS) and epidural spinal stimulation (SCS), so please feel free to contact us for a consultation.
