Recent Study - Gamma Knife Good If Done Early

Symptoms & Treatments Surgery
1

Interesting new recent study that shows Gamma Knife actually gives good results the sooner it is done.

If gamma knife radiosurgery is done within a year of the onset of pain, patients remained pain free for an average of 68 months,

On the other hand if Gamma Knife performed more than 3 years after the onset, then relief lasted only 10 months.

Link to Study

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Did the study specifically mention type 1 or 2?

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My pain began in July 2014 and I'm getting Gamma Knife on March 3, 2016. Let's hope I'll fall towards the end that works and it "sticks"! Thanks for sharing!

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Wow! That's interesting news. At my recent PM appt. my doctor and I were discussing all of the new and older TN procedures (mainly the new Neuroplasticity and Nerve Rebooting) but Gamma Knife came up somehow and I remember him saying "I don't think they even do that procedure anymore. Too invasive and resulting in little or no relief." I said "Yeah, I have a friend I know from an online support group who had it done in the late '90s and it ended up giving her AD." He said AD was a very common outcome of Gamma Knife and that's mainly why doctors do not perform it anymore.

What website did you get this info from? Just curious. I can give it to him during my next monthly visit. He'd be interested. Thanks

5

Sure, here is the link-

http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2015/11/11/WNL.0000000000002216

This study was done on 121 patients.

I'm curious, what is the neuroplasticity and nerve rebooting thing you mentioned? Is there a procedure related to this that they are trying for TN?

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Good Morning knowpain,

Here are some websites that explain Neuroplasticity. Fascinating stuff. I hope more experiments are developed. I want to try the "Mirror Therapy" for my ATN. First and foremost, I need to find a good Pain Psychologist who is abreast with all of this!

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201403/is-impaired-neuroplasticity-linked-chronic-pain

http://painhealth.csse.uwa.edu.au/neuroplasticity.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/neuroplasticity/



knowpain said:

Sure, here is the link-

http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2015/11/11/WNL.0000000000002216

This study was done on 121 patients.

I'm curious, what is the neuroplasticity and nerve rebooting thing you mentioned? Is there a procedure related to this that they are trying for TN?

7

I had Gamma Knife on March 3, and I am happy to report that I do not have AD and so far have gotten positive results. My eyeball is no longer in a clamp and does not feel like it is going to burst. I have had a couple of bad pain days but that was the week after. I have had several jolts and jabs, but not like before the procedure. I went to my neurologist today for Botox injections for migraine, and she was THRILLED that I pushed past her to see a neurosurgeon and got successful help. I wish everyone who bashes GK would stop. Everybody is different. The same procedure helps one and not another but it doesn't mean it's bad. I went to the only neurosurgeon in Richmond that does this procedure and he has an awesome reputation in this field. I would recommend him to everyone who could get here to see him!