Diagnosis of Trigeminal Neuralgia: A New Appraisal Based on Response to Treatment

The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of carbamazepine as primary definitive diagnostic aid in patients with classical/idiopathic and symptomatic/ pathological trigeminal neuralgia by analyzing the pain relief. Advantages of using carbamazepine is its easy availability, cost effective, non-invasive, no machine needed, simple, no specialized team needed and is itself a mode of treatment for trigeminal neuralgia as compared to MRI and CT. 100 patients with clinical characteristics signifying trigeminal neuralgia were included in this study in the age group of 50-65 years from both sexes who were examined clinically and radiographically. Sensory input of trigeminal nerve, gross motor input, diagnostic analgesic blocking and 0.5cc of normal saline at test site is also used to differentiate pain. All 100 patients were given tab. carbamazepine 100 mg twice daily to analyze the pain relief.