If the cause of your neuralgia can be determined you may be able to fix it with surgery. For postherpetic neuralgia, surgery is not usually recommended; antiseizure drugs and painkillers may be all you need. In the case of glossopharyngeal or trigeminal neuralgia, however, if an out of place artery is putting pressure on a nerve a surgeon might be able to separate the two and place a sponge in between to keep them apart. There are also procedures that can deaden your nerves to eliminate pain. They include cutting the nerve, burning it with radio-waves or even killing it by injecting a toxin into it. The only downside is that you may lose feeling in the parts of your body affected by that nerve. In the case of occipital neuralgia, you might not care because it's just your scalp but when it comes to glossopharyngeal or trigeminal neuralgia you could end up losing feeling in your mouth or face. It's also important to keep in mind that surgery may only fix the problem temporarily. It isn't uncommon for symptoms to return after a long period of time.
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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.