# Gamma knife **URL:** \ **Category:** General TN & GPN (Old Site)\ **Created:** [January 23, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/gamma-knife/1956 "2012-01-23T01:15:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![sandy1943](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/sandy1943/32/2320_2.png) [@sandy1943](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/u/sandy1943)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/gamma-knife/1956/41 "2016-06-25T00:14:39Z")
Will they recommend gamma knife even if an MRI found nothing? I have Type II atypical. Tegretol and Trileptal nearly killed me because they sapped all the sodium out of my system (see Hypernatremia). I have an appointment next week to be evaluated for the gamma knife treatment but am afraid they will reject me. My doctor won’t prescribe oxycodone for me anymore and I’ve had bad side effects from all the other meds they tried to give me (Cymbalta, Gabapentin, Abilify and other antidepressants). I have been going through this for a year and a half and have nearly given up hope. Sandy1943 ---
**Author:** ![sandy1943](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/sandy1943/32/2320_2.png) [@sandy1943](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/u/sandy1943)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2016, 12:19am UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/gamma-knife/1956/42 "2016-06-25T00:19:18Z")
I have Type 2 also and am worried that since the MRI found nothing, I will be refused the gamma knife treatment. I have an appointment to see about it next week. Am really scared. ---
**Author:** ![sandy1943](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/sandy1943/32/2320_2.png) [@sandy1943](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/u/sandy1943)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2016, 12:32am UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/gamma-knife/1956/43 "2016-06-25T00:32:55Z")
> [@Red1](#): > > Gamma Knife has a 50% pain recurrence rate after three years, with an initial success rate against typical TN of about 70-85% (depending on the sources you read). MVD is 90% effective as a first procedure against typical TN, and about 70% of all MVD patients have pain relief for at least 12 years. If you have a choice, I’d strongly recommend MVD over Gamma Knife. What is MVD? ---
**Author:** ![sandy1943](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/sandy1943/32/2320_2.png) [@sandy1943](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/u/sandy1943)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2016, 12:45am UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/gamma-knife/1956/44 "2016-06-25T00:45:41Z")
What is MVD? My doctors did an MRI and said there was no sign of anything to operate on. I have Atypical Type 2 and from what I’m reading, there is much less hope for me with the Gamma Knife treatment. Also, why would the Gamma Knife treatment make other options less effective in the future? ---
**Author:** ![anon25930859](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4491bb/32.png) [@anon25930859](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/u/anon25930859)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/gamma-knife/1956/45 "2016-06-25T01:41:21Z")
MVD is Microvascular Decompression – a surgical procedure which places a small hole through the mastoid bone and examines the trigeminal nerve near its emergence from the brain stem, before deciding whether to place small teflon pads between the nerve and any impinging (compressing) blood vessels. ``` Regards, Red ``` ---
**Author:** ![anon25930859](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4491bb/32.png) [@anon25930859](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/u/anon25930859)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2016, 1:43am UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/gamma-knife/1956/46 "2016-06-25T01:43:31Z")
Likewise, Gamma Knife causes scarring on and around the nerve in the target zone. In some cases, this scarring is accompanied by adhesions between the nerve and surrounding tissues, called “arachnoiditis”. Neurosurgeons have told me that when MVD is attempted as a second procedure after GK, success rates are lower because of damage to the nerve. This is also true of RF Rhizotomies (sometimes called “ablation” procedures). ---
**Author:** ![cooleye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/35a633/32.png) [@cooleye](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/u/cooleye)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 12:48pm UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/gamma-knife/1956/47 "2016-09-26T12:48:31Z")
I had an unsuccessful MVD in Feb. of 2015 that resulted in facial numbness, but no pain relief, and Gamma Knife in April of 2016. Just within the last week or two I have been noticing increased numbness in my face. At first I thought I was just being hyper aware, but now I believe the numbness has truly increased as I can feel a difference in my lips and scalp/hairline. I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this months after the Gamma Knife procedure. [Previous page](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/gamma-knife/1956.md?page=2)