Trigeminal peripheral nerve blocks relieve severe facial pain from trigeminal neuralgia, affecting the trigeminal nerve in your face, which has three branches: around your eyes, cheek, and jaw. We inject a small medicine amount with a local anesthetic and steroid near the troubling nerve branch, temporarily blocking pain signals and reducing inflammation.

This helps ease sharp, shooting pain along the trigeminal nerve, often described as an electrical jolt. It's considered when standard medications, like certain anticonvulsants or antidepressants, are ineffective or cause side effects.

Alternatives include other medications or complementary therapies like acupuncture. In persistent cases, surgery like microvascular decompression, which relieves nerve pressure, might be recommended.

Risks include possible infection or bleeding at the site, and temporary numbness or weakness in the face. Follow guidance on blood thinners. If pain returns, radiofrequency ablation or cryoneuroablation may offer longer relief. In extreme cases, peripheral nerve stimulation, using an implantable device to deliver mild electrical pulses, helps for long-term relief. After the procedure, numbing resolves in a few hours, and most patients resume normal activities the next day.

Effects of injections may last weeks to months, with repeat injections possibly required, often combined with other treatments based on pain progression.