What doctor treats glossopharyngeal neuralgia?

If the pain requires further evaluation, a neurologist or a neurosurgeon may be recommended. The diagnosis of neuralgia is made after carefully assessing the patient’s symptoms. If glossopharyngeal neuralgia is suspected, the doctor will attempt to trigger an episode by touching the back of the throat with a swab.

Is glossopharyngeal neuralgia serious?

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a rare condition in which there are repeated episodes of severe pain in the tongue, throat, ear, and tonsils. This can last from a few seconds to a few minutes.

What does glossopharyngeal neuralgia feel like?

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is characterized by a sharp, jabbing pain deep in the throat, or in the tongue, ear, and tonsils, lasting a few seconds to a few minutes. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is generally caused by a small blood vessel that presses on the nerves as they exit the brainstem.

Can acid reflux cause Glossopharyngeal neuralgia?

Irritation of the respiratory epithelium by gastric acid stimulates the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves, producing ear pain. Throat cancer could be responsible for secondary glossopharyngeal neuralgia, but could also induce referred ear pain by irritation of the superior laryngeal branch of the vagus nerve.

What can irritate the Glossopharyngeal nerve?

In some cases, the source of the irritation is found to be increased pressure on the glossopharyngeal nerve, such as an abnormally positioned artery, growths at the base of the skull, an infection, an injury, or tumors of the throat, mouth, or brain.

Is Glossopharyngeal neuralgia an autoimmune disease?

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia associated with an autoimmune disorder of the thyroid gland.

What can irritate the glossopharyngeal nerve?

Can acid reflux cause glossopharyngeal neuralgia?

What are the consequences of glossopharyngeal dysfunction?

Among the more serious consequences of glossopharyngeal dysfunction are: Loss of the carotid sinus reflex, leading to diminished blood flow, which impairs brain function Dysphonia, a voice disorder due to spasms in the larynx that causes the voice to break and sound tight or strained Neuralgia is pain due to nerve damage.

What are the treatment options for glossopharyngeal nerve damage?

In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to remove pressure from the glossopharyngeal nerve. This may involve removing the cause of the pressure on the nerve or severing the nerve so that it no longer causes pain. [1]

Is glossopharyngeal neuralgia hereditary?

In most cases, glossopharyngeal neuralgia is caused by irritation of the glossopharyngeal nerve and is not inherited (passed down from parent to child). In most cases, a person with glossopharyngeal neuralgia is the only person with the disorder in the family.

What is the extraoral peristyloid approach to treat glossopharygneal nerve blocks?

Extraoral peristyloid approach (not recommended for temporary nerve blocks for anesthesia of the oropharynx) (used for treating glossopharygneal neuralgia) as reported by Singh (Singh 2013) Introduce a needle percutaneously 3.5 – 4.5 cm deep, touch the styloid process and inject the drug behind it.