Doctors at Fortis Malar Hospital were instrumental in giving Tirupati based 50 year old Shakuntalamma a new lease on life. She was suffering from Trigeminal Neuralgia -sudden usually unilateral severe brief stabbing recurrent pains in the distribution of one or more branches of the fifth cranial nerve” a debilitating chronic pain condition that affects about 12.6 per one lakh people years in the world. While Trigeminal Neuralgia may not be fatal, it incapacitates the patient mentally and physically. In fact, the agony often promotes suicidal thoughts as a means to escape from the pain. The disorder is commonly found amongst people over 50 years, though it can occur at any age.
Sometimes with age one of the blood vessels in the face sags and comes in contact with the trigeminal or 5th nerve of the face. The consequence is in an extreme, shock-like sporadic pain that could last anywhere between a few seconds to a few minutes.
Painful attacks of trigeminal neuralgia can be triggered by common, everyday activities, such as: Brushing teeth, Chewing, Drinking, Eating, Lightly touching the face, Shaving.
Shakuntalamma was suffering from excruciating pain in her right jaw for over six years. She initially responded to medical treatment but required periodic escalation of her dose os medicine till she couldn’t tolerate anymore drug dosage. For the past seven months the frequency of episodes increased to about 20 times per day on maximum tolerable dosage. She was extremely depressed and developed suicidal tendencies due to pain. Subsequently, she had trouble speaking and swallowing food and drink. To treat the condition Dr. Venkateswara Prasanna, Neurosurgeon performed a Micro Vascular Decompression procedure on the patient.
“The procedure involves the physical separation of the artery from the nerve. In the case of Ms. Shakuntalamma, we employed a part of her scalp tissue to keep the two apart. The procedure is quite safe with a very high success rate, alleviating symptoms immediately. ” said Dr. Venkateswara Prasanna, consultant Neuro surgeon Fortis Malar Hospital
“The pain was terribly unbearable, at times used to think about ending my life rather than living with the pain, Now after surgery I am totally relieved and all set to start my second innings of life” – Ms. Shakuntalamma.
If Trigeminal Neuralgia is detected and treated at the early stages, the problem could be managed with medical treatment.
The patient recuperated well and has not experienced any episodes post procedure.
About Fortis Malar Hospitals Ltd (erstwhile Malar Hospitals Ltd)
Fortis Malar Hospitals Ltd is established as one of the largest corporate hospitals in Chennai providing quality super specialty health care services. Fortis Malar Hospitals, with 180 beds, focuses on providing comprehensive medical care in the areas of cardiology and cardiac surgery, Neuro Surgery, Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Pediatrics, Diabetics, Nephrology and Urology. All health care needs are delivered here by the best of doctors.
Fortis Malar Hospitals also has a state of the art Cath Lab and multiple dedicated cardiac operation theatres and intensive coronary care units. Several rare and complex Adult and Pediatric Cardiac surgeries, Orthopedics and Joint replacement, Neurosurgery and Plastic & reconstruction surgeries have been performed in this hospital. The hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology services are among the busiest in the city, performing many difficult deliveries and surgeries successfully, and are supported by a dedicated Neonatology unit. Fortis Malar Hospitals is a part of the Fortis Health care Network which is currently the largest hospital network in Asia Pacific with 74 hospitals and 12,000 beds.
1. Coverage on the same appeared in the Malar Baynews
2. Coverage on the same appeared in the Malar Hindu
