Glossopharyngeal NeuralgiaSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) is a rare condition in which there are repeated episodes of severe pain in the tongue, throat, ear, and tonsils. The pain can last from a few seconds to a few minutes.
Cranial mononeuropathy IX; Weisenberg syndrome; GPN
GPN is believed to be caused by irritation of the ninth cranial nerve, called the glossopharyngeal nerve. Symptoms usually begin in people over age 50.
In most cases, the source of irritation is never found. Possible causes for this type of nerve pain (neuralgia) are:
- Blood vessels pressing on the glossopharyngeal nerve
- Growths at the base of the skull pressing on the glossopharyngeal nerve
- Tumors or infections of the throat and mouth pressing on the glossopharyngeal nerve
The pain usually occurs on one side of the head and may be jabbing. In rare cases, both sides are involved. Symptoms include severe pain in areas connected to the ninth cranial nerve:
- Back of the nose and throat (nasopharynx)
- Back of the tongue
- Ear
- Throat
- Tonsil area
- Voice box (larynx)
The pain occurs in episodes and may be severe. The episodes can occur many times each day and awaken the person from sleep. It can sometimes be triggered by:
- Chewing
- Coughing
- Laughing
- Speaking
- Swallowing
- Yawning
- Sneezing
- Cold beverages
- Touching (a blunt object to the tonsil of the affected side)
The goal of treatment is to control pain. The most effective medicines are antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine. Antidepressants may help certain people.
In severe cases, when pain is difficult to treat, surgery to take pressure off the glossopharyngeal nerve may be needed. This is called microvascular decompression. The nerve can also be cut (rhizotomy). Both surgeries are effective. If a cause of the neuralgia is found, treatment should control the underlying problem.
CUIMC/Neurological Institute Of New York
"Dr. Sekula is one of the world’s foremost leaders in minimally invasive brain surgery. His world-renowned practice is dedicated to less invasive but maximally effective treatment of a variety of brain disorders, particularly difficult to reach tumors involving the skull base (acoustic neuroma, meningioma, and other brain tumors) as well as rare and debilitating conditions like trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, and glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Dr. Sekula routinely performs keyhole surgeries, which allow patients to experience a gentler and faster recovery without the need for the intensive care unit. During his career, he has performed more than 6,000 surgeries, including more than 2,500 microvascular decompressions. After receiving his undergraduate degree from The University of Virginia and his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Sekula completed his internship and residency training in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he also completed advanced and fellowship training in minimally invasive brain and skull base surgery.Prior to Columbia, Dr. Sekula was Professor and Residency Program Director at the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Neurological Surgery.Dr. Sekula's prolific academic career includes writing over 100 scientific manuscripts, including editing of the textbook, ""Microvascular Decompression Surgery."" He is Principal Investigator of a study concerning trigeminal neuralgia investigating fundamental mechanisms of facial pain from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Sekula is a surgeon and educator, who is regularly invited to lecture in numerous countries to teach his advanced techniques.Learn more about Dr. Sekula via his website: raymondsekulamd.com". Dr. Sekula is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia. His top areas of expertise are Trigeminal Neuralgia, Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia, Neuralgia, Microvascular Decompression, and Gamma Knife Radiosurgery.
University Of Texas Medical Branch
Scott Hardison is a General Surgeon in Galveston, Texas. Dr. Hardison is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia. His top areas of expertise are Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia, Aseptic and Alopecic Nodules of Scalp (AANS), Sinusitis, Septoplasty, and Endoscopy.
Bassett Medical Center
. Dr. Redd is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia. Her top areas of expertise are Infant Hearing Loss, DFNB1, Jones Syndrome, and Meniere Disease.
How well you do depends on the cause of the problem and the effectiveness of the first treatment. Surgery is considered effective for people who do not benefit from medicines.
Complications of GPN may include:
- Slow pulse and fainting may occur when pain is severe
- Damage to the carotid artery or internal jugular vein due to injuries, such as a stab wound, that may be associated with GPN
- Difficulty in swallowing food and speaking
- Side effects of the medicines used
See your health care provider right away if you have symptoms of GPN.
See a pain specialist if the pain is severe, to be sure that you are aware of all your options for controlling pain.
Summary: To investigate the efficacy and safety of the application of PRF combined PRP to the for the treatment of GPN.
Published Date: June 13, 2024
Published By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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Miller JP, Burchiel KJ. Microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia. In: Winn HR, ed. Youmans and Winn Neurological Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 200.
Narouze S, Pope JE. Orofacial pain. In: Benzon HT, Raja SN, Liu SS, Fishman SM, Cohen SP, eds. Essentials of Pain Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 23.