Neuralgia

Question 1

What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?

Answer 1

Idiopathic disorder of the 5th CN leading to severe, overwhelming pain in the face

Question 2

How do attacks of Trigeminal Neuralgia present?

Answer 2

extremely sudden precipitated by chewing, touching the face or pronouncing certain words where the tongue strikes the back of the front teeth

Question 3

How do patients commonly describe the pain of Trigeminal Neuralgia?

Answer 3

like a knife being stuck into the face

Question 4

What is used to treat Trigeminal Neuralgia?

Answer 4

Oxcarbazepine or Carbamazepien

Question 5

If drugs do not treat Trigeminal Neuralgia what can be curative?

Answer 5

Gamma knife surgery or surgical decompression

Question 6

What is Postherpetic Neuralgia?

Answer 6

Herpes Zoster reactivation (Shingles)

Question 7

How do you treat Postherpetic Neuralgia?

Answer 7

TCA
Gabapentin
Pregabalin
Carbamazepine
Phenytoin

Question 8

What topic anesthetic effectively treats postherpetic neuralgia?

Answer 8

Topical Lidocaine

Question 9

What age group is the Zoster Vaccine indicated for?

Answer 9

age >50