Not all facial pains akin to actor Salman Khan’s condition, say doctors

Lucknow: For a long time, Rae Bareli’s Kamla Devi (45) and Ayodhya’s Geeta Pandey (51) believed they had trigeminal neuralgia—the agonising condition that had afflicted megastar Salman Khan. But when they reached SGPGI’s Pain Clinic, doctors found that their excruciating, shock-like facial pain was not trigeminal neuralgia but was caused by pinched nerves in the neck.For both women, the pain had meant years of misdiagnoses, repeated hospital visits, failed treatments and mounting despair. Kamla had even undergone surgery, but it brought her no relief. Geeta, too, lived with persistent facial pain that affected her daily life.At SGPGI, specialists found their symptoms, though similar to trigeminal neuralgia, were caused by overlapping facial-pain syndromes originating from irritated or trapped nerves in the neck. The distinction was crucial because treating the trigeminal nerve would not have addressed the actual source of their pain.Doctors used precise, minimally invasive techniques to treat the problem. Hydrodissection was performed to free trapped nerves and muscles in the neck, while targeted radiofrequency lesioning was used to calm overactive nerve clusters by applying controlled, mild heat.Both women experienced lasting relief and were able to return to their normal lives without undergoing open surgery.The cases highlight the diagnostic challenge posed by facial pain, which can have several causes and may produce similar symptoms. Doctors at the Pain Clinic said patients with persistent facial pain may need a fresh assessment when conventional treatment fails, rather than repeating the same approach.“These cases remind that overlapping facial-pain syndromes can seem alike but come from different nerves — and the diagnosis, not just the treatment, determines whether a patient gets better,” said Dr Sujeet Gautam, professor at the Pain Clinic, SGPGI. “When pain persists, we must step back and reassess rather than repeat the same approach.”You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Lucknow | Silver Rate in Lucknow | Bank Holidays in Lucknow | Public Holidays in Lucknow | Lucknow AQI | Weather in Lucknow | Petrol Price in Lucknow | Diesel Price in Lucknow | CNG Price in Lucknow | LPG Price in LucknowStay updated with the latest Lucknow news. Download the TOI App.