Trigeminal Nerve Blocks

Trigeminal nerve blocks are employed for atypical fascial pain. We often see this with patients who have had postherpetic neuralgia or shingles of the face, but can be due to other reasons where the cranial nerve 5, or trigeminal nerve, has been entrapped either by a vascular entity or even sometimes malignancy. In this case, we are able to, under fluoroscopic guidance, while the patient is sedated, able to place a needle at the base of the foramen where the nerves exit the skull. We are able to place medications there, anti-inflammatories or steroids in order to block these symptoms. This is very effective in treating pain that emanates from the trigeminal nerve itself.