One-sided facial pain is not just a minor complaint. The pain can appear suddenly and significantly interfere with daily activities. Simple actions such as eating, talking, brushing your teeth, or even smiling can become painful. This condition can reduce quality of life, especially when the pain occurs repeatedly and unpredictably. One possible cause to be aware of is trigeminal neuralgia, which can trigger intense facial pain.
To treat this condition, Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri has an experienced neurosurgeon, Dr. dr. Mardjono Joy Tjahjadi (Dr. Joy), who can perform the Microvascular Decompression (MVD) procedure as a treatment option.
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What Is Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Trigeminal neuralgia is a condition that causes sudden, severe facial pain that can disrupt daily activities. It usually occurs when a blood vessel compresses the trigeminal nerve near the brainstem. The trigeminal nerve functions to transmit sensory signals from the face to the brain and is part of neuropathic (nerve-related) pain conditions.
Although not life-threatening, trigeminal neuralgia can greatly affect a patient’s quality of life. Simple activities such as chewing, speaking, smiling, or brushing teeth can trigger sharp, sudden pain. Therefore, this condition impacts not only physical health but also emotional well-being. Trigeminal neuralgia is generally chronic (long-term), but its symptoms can be managed with appropriate treatment.
The main symptom is sudden, intense facial pain, usually affecting only one side of the face. The pain is often described as an electric shock or stabbing sensation. During an attack, facial muscles may also experience spasms or twitching.
Between attacks, patients may experience:
- Burning sensation
- Throbbing pain
- Numbness
- Persistent dull pain
MVD Procedure for Trigeminal Neuralgia
Microvascular Decompression (MVD) is a neurosurgical procedure aimed at treating trigeminal neuralgia by relieving pressure from blood vessels on the trigeminal nerve. This pressure is the main cause of severe facial pain.
Unlike other treatments that only relieve symptoms, MVD addresses the root cause, offering the potential for long-term relief and significant reduction of pain.
At Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri, this procedure is performed by Dr. dr. Mardjono Joy Tjahjadi, Sp.BS, Subsp. N-Vas, F. N-Onk, PhD, FICS, IFAANS (Dr. Joy), an experienced neurosurgeon.
General Steps of the MVD Procedure:
- The doctor makes a small incision behind the ear to access the trigeminal nerve area
- A small portion of the skull bone is opened to reach the affected nerve
- The doctor identifies the blood vessel compressing the trigeminal nerve
- The blood vessel is carefully separated from the nerve
- A special cushion is placed between the nerve and the blood vessel to prevent contact
- The surgical area is then carefully closed
Profile and Practice Schedule of Dr. Joy
Dr. Joy is a neurosurgeon with a subspecialty in cerebrovascular diseases. He has expertise in treating various neurological disorders, especially those related to vascular abnormalities in the brain.
He earned his doctoral degree from the University of Helsinki, focusing his research on brain aneurysms. His research explored how aneurysms form and the medical approaches used for diagnosis and treatment.
In addition to providing medical services at Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri, Dr. Joy is also active in academia. He is the author of the book Memahami Aneurisma Otak (Understanding Brain Aneurysms), published in two editions, which comprehensively discusses causes, disease mechanisms, diagnostic methods, and treatment options for brain aneurysms.
In daily practice, Dr. Joy frequently handles complex neurological cases such as brain aneurysms, cerebrovascular stenosis, brain hemorrhage, brain tumors, and brain cancer.
With extensive clinical experience, a strong academic background, and training at various international neurosurgical centers, Dr. Joy is recognized as one of Indonesia’s leading neurosurgeons, particularly in managing cerebrovascular and brain tumor cases.
Consultation Schedule
Dr. Joy is available for consultation at Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri on the following schedule:
- Monday: by appointment
- Tuesday: 14:00 – 17:00 WIB
- Wednesday: by appointment
- Thursday: 08:00 – 12:00 WIB
- Friday: 14:00 – 17:00 WIB
- Saturday: 08:00 – 12:00 WIB
To make your visit more convenient, you can use the WhatsApp Chat feature, Book Appointment service, or the Care Dokter app (available on Google Play and the App Store) to schedule visits, check queue numbers, and access complete information.
