INFORMATION ON GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL NEURALGIA

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia may be defined as chronic pain syndrome that causes intense, shooting pains in the back of the tongue and throat, tonsillar areas, and middle ear.
It is also been said that Glossopharyngeal neuralgia may be due to inflammation or compression of either the Glossopharyngeal nerve or the vagus nerve.

CAUSES OF GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL NEURALGIA

So far the exact cause of Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is not completely understood, although it seems that conditions like tumors, infections, injuries, or blood vessels located close to the Glossopharyngeal nerve put pressure on the Glossopharyngeal nerve may sometimes be responsible for its development. Subjects with diabetes or multiple sclerosis may also develop Glossopharyngeal neuralgia.

SYMPTOMS OF GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL NEURALGIA

The symptoms of Glossopharyngeal neuralgia:-

1. Swalloing difficulty.
2. Pain while sneezing.
3. Pain while speaking.
4. Pain while clearing the throat.

DIAGNOSIS OF GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL NEURALGIA

Clinically Glossopharyngeal neuralgia can be identified by following test:-

1. MRI.
2. CT scan.
3. Angiography.
4. X-ray.

TREATMENT OF GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL NEURALGIA

Antidepressants like Carbamazepine, phenytoin, gabapentin, baclofen, and tricyclic can be used to eliminate the pain of Glossopharyngeal neuralgia. When a blood vessel is identified as compressing then, surgery may be performed to move the vessel or to place Teflon felt pad between the blood vessel and the nerve, in order to minimize any pressure that is exerted on the nerve. In critical cases of Glossopharyngeal neuralgia that don't respond to other treatments, surgery that severs the Glossopharyngeal nerve may be the only treatment that relieves the sufferer's pain.