Overcoming Trigeminal Neuralgia: A 12-Year Battle Ended by Pulsed Radiofrequency
Living with chronic facial pain can turn daily life into an agonizing ordeal. For 57-year-old Ngo Thi Thanh Mai from Da Nang, this was a harsh reality that lasted for over a decade. Suffering from excruciating pain on the left side of her face due to trigeminal neuralgia (the 5th cranial nerve disorder), she spent 12 years seeking relief through various medications and therapies, but to no avail.
Desperate for a permanent solution, she undertook an 800-kilometer journey to Phu Tho Provincial General Hospital after learning about their advanced pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) ablation technique. Under the care of Dr. Vi Truong Son, Head of the High-Quality Outpatient Department, her condition was accurately diagnosed and targeted for treatment.
Rapid Relief for Severe Facial Pain Patients
Another success story is 40-year-old Mai Thi Ngoc Dung from Dien Bien, who suffered from similar agonizing facial spasms and pain since 2022. As oral medications began to lose efficacy, her quality of life deteriorated. Traveling over 500 kilometers to Phu Tho, she underwent the same PRF procedure. Remarkably, just one hour after the intervention, she reported being completely pain-free, showing immediate recovery signs.
What is Pulsed Radiofrequency (PRF) Ablation?
According to Dr. Vi Truong Son, PRF is a modern, minimally invasive intervention widely utilized to manage neuropathic and musculoskeletal pain. Here is how it stands out compared to conventional thermal treatments:
- Minimal Thermal Damage: Unlike continuous radiofrequency which relies on high heat to destroy tissue, PRF delivers short, high-voltage bursts of energy.
- Targeted Action: It selectively modifies the pain-transmitting pathway of the target nerve without causing permanent damage to surrounding tissues.
- Fewer Side Effects: By avoiding prolonged thermal exposure, the risk of sensory loss or numbness is significantly reduced.
Expert Recommendations for Facial Pain Management
While PRF offers outstanding results, Dr. Son cautions that this therapy is not a one-size-fits-all solution. “The choice of treatment must be thoroughly evaluated by a specialist based on pain patterns, medical history, and response to previous therapies,” he explained. He strongly advises patients experiencing sudden, sharp facial pain to seek professional medical diagnosis early rather than relying on self-medication and long-term painkillers, which can lead to severe systemic side effects.
