CyberKnife Radiation Therapy in Pasadena, CA
It’s easy to get overwhelmed in the fight against cancer – but at Pasadena CyberKnife, we believe there’s hope no matter what. As a leading radiation therapy clinic serving Pasadena and the greater Los Angeles area, we’re proud to provide cutting-edge CyberKnife radiation therapy treatment to patients fighting any form of cancer. In addition to cancerous conditions, we can also use CyberKnife to treat certain noncancerous conditions, including trigeminal neuralgia.
Types of Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN), a rare pain condition affecting the fifth cranial nerve (the trigeminal nerve), comes in two primary forms: Type 1 and Type 2, abbreviated TN1 and TN2, respectively. The two types are distinct in their symptoms and the type of pain they produce, although what causes one type versus the other isn’t well understood.
Trigeminal neuralgia Type 1 is characterized by attacks of a severe, stabbing pain in the face and mouth. The attacks generally come in waves, with a single pain event lasting anywhere between a few seconds up to 2 minutes. The attacks may be spread out over several hours, or they may occur back to back with seconds between them – sometimes recurring for 2 hours or more. TN1 pain is debilitatingly severe, often rendering the patient incapacitated during the pain attacks.
Trigeminal neuralgia Type 2, however, is characterized by a less intense, dull, burning pain more similar to a constant ache than an attack of pain. TN2 pain may come and go or may be a constant experience, although it’s not as debilitatingly severe as TN1 pain. Some patients may develop both TN1 and TN2 – sometimes with both forms of pain occurring at the same time.
Stages of Trigeminal Neuralgia
TN is not a cancerous condition, so it isn’t assessed using a staging system like most cancers. Scientists still aren’t certain what causes TN in many cases, although TN may act like a progressive disease if it’s caused by a tumor on the trigeminal nerve or by an enlarged blood vessel pushing on the trigeminal nerve. In these cases, the condition may worsen as the tumor or blood vessel grows – however, we may be able to use CyberKnife to eliminate the tumor or shrink the blood vessel, treating the condition.
Contact Your Pasadena Cancer Center
Trigeminal neuralgia is one of the most severe chronic pain conditions known to modern medicine – but if you or a loved one are suffering, Pasadena CyberKnife may be able to help. Noninvasive CyberKnife treatment may be able to treat certain cases of TN, providing relief from the pain and helping you move towards recovery. Contact us today if you or someone you love has been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia. We’ll work with you to help you understand your condition, manage it, and find a path towards treatment.