Neuralgias, or nerve pains, are among the more common of the rare multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms. One type of nerve pain is called glosso-pharyngeal neuralgia. Resulting from damage to a cranial nerve, it is experienced as a severe pain in the tongue, throat, ear and/or tonsils. Episodes last from a few seconds to a few minutes. It may be triggered by chewing, laughing, swallowing, speaking or coughing.
Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
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Sigma Nursing answeredTreatment for glossopharyngeal neuralgia usually begins with medication. Doctors often prescribe anticonvulsants to help stabilize damaged nerves, as well as antidepressants, which can be effective at relieving pain. If neither of these medications work, a local anesthetic can be used to provide you with some temporary relief, and if all else fails, surgery may be an option. Unfortunately, these surgical options can sometimes result in the loss of sensation in your mouth, tongue, or throat.
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UCLA Health answeredSee All 3 AnswersGlossopharyngeal neuralgia involves a separate nerve that provides sensation to the inside of the ear and the back of the throat. People with glossopharyngeal neuralgia have the same sort of sudden, sharp, shooting pain, but that pain doesn’t occur in the face, in the jaw or on the tongue, as trigeminal neuralgia can. That kind of pain occurs deep inside the ear or deep down in the back of the throat. That sort of pain often is caused by a similar process, a blood vessel causing compression on the glossopharyngeal nerve, which is the nerve that goes to these different areas. It can be treated by the same sort of surgery done to move a different blood vessel away from that particular nerve. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia doesn’t respond quite as well to medication and often requires a surgical correction. -
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Riverside Health System answeredSome individuals recover from an initial attack of glossopharyngeal neuralgia and never have another. Others will experience clusters of attacks followed by periods of short or long remission. Individuals may lose weight if they fear that chewing, drinking, or eating will cause an attack.
This answer is based on source information from National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
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See All 2 AnswersGlossopharyngeal neuralgia is a rare condition, which can be associated with neoplasms involving the base of the skull. The pain is sharp and lancinating centered around the tonsil and the ear on one side. The pain is triggered by swallowing food or yawning. It is less responsive to treatment with anticonvulsants than trigeminal neuralgia. It can also be treated surgically and micro vascular decompression of the glossopharyngeal nerve is the preferred surgical procedure. -
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Sigma Nursing answered
The main symptom of glossopharyngeal neuralgia is severe pain occurring in your throat, tongue, or ear. It can happen spontaneously or be triggered by something as simple as talking or sneezing. Commonly, the pain will occur in the back or your throat or tongue and only on one side. It may last anywhere from a couple seconds to a couple minutes. In rare cases, the heartbeat can slow down, sometimes enough to cause fainting.
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Sigma Nursing answered
The affect of glossopharyngeal neuralgia on the body depends on what is causing the condition. Often it is because a blood vessel is pressing against the nerve. This pressure interferes with the nerve's ability to pass messages between the brain and the throat, tonsils, or tongue. Signals may be sent but then disrupted by the pressure.
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Sigma Nursing answered
The pain of glossopharyngeal neuralgia typically makes the condition easy to diagnose. If contact with the back of your throat causes pain, your doctor can test whether it is glossopharyngeal neuralgia by applying an anesthetic. If the anesthetic makes the pain go away, that is usually enough to make the diagnosis.
There are several other tests your doctor can use to identify the cause of your glossopharyngeal neuralgia as well. X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can all be used to look for complications like tumors. If an out of place artery is causing your glossopharyngeal neuralgia, doctors can sometimes confirm the problem using magnetic resonance angiography, which is an MRI of your arteries. Blood tests can also be used to rule out other possible causes of your pain.
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Sigma Nursing answered
If you believe you are experiencing symptoms of glossopharyngeal neuralgia, it is a good idea to see your doctor. There are several treatment options available, and finding the right one will depend on a proper diagnosis. The sooner you start trying treatments, the sooner you may experience some relief. If necessary, your doctor may recommend that you see a pain specialist who can better assist you.
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Sigma Nursing answered
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is often treated using medication. Anticonvulsants, like carbamazepine and phenytoin, can be used to help stabilize activity in damaged nerves, while antidepressants can be used to provide pain relief. In the event that neither of these medications is effective, you can try numbing the pain through a local anesthetic. Treatment does not work in every case.