This is surprising with the Canadian MS Society's usual stance.

The Effect of Microvascular Decompression in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis and Trigeminal Neuralgia

Medical Update Memo
August 5, 2010

Summary
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is thought to be caused by demyelinating plaques within the nerve root entry zone, the trigeminal nucleus, or the trigeminal tracts.

Authors review their experience of microvascular decompression (MVD) in patients with MS and symptomatic TN. Sandell T, Eide PK., Neurosurgery. 2010 Jul 21. [Epub ahead of print]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20651626

Details
All first-time MVDs for symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia in patients with MS performed by the senior author during an 8-year period (1999-2007) in this department were reviewed.

The preoperative pain components were differentiated as being 100% episodic pain, > 50% episodic pain, or > 50% constant pain. At follow-up, pain relief was assessed with a standard mail questionnaire; those still having residual pain were further examined in the outpatient clinic or interviewed by phone.

Of the 19 MS patients, 15 were available for follow-up. The median observation period was 55 months (range, 17-99 months). At follow-up, 7 of 15 patients (47%) were completely free of their episodic pain, and an additional 4 (27%) had significant relief of episodic pain (ie, worst pain marked as 0 to 3 cm on a 10-cm visual analog scale).

Among the subgroup of 8 patients with a constant pain component, all were free of their constant pain, and 4 (50%) were free of their episodic pain.

CONCLUSION:
In an 8-year experience of doing MVD in MS patients with TN, authors found complete and significant relief of episodic TN in a large proportion of patients.
Even those with a constant pain component before MVD were completely relieved of their constant pain. Thus, in patients with TN (with or without a constant pain component), the presence of MS should not prevent patients from being offered MVD

My note: This is like CCSVI neck clearing of the jugular veins. Then no more T.N.

Is this an older procedure or something new? A friend of mine has severe MS and severe TN at times. I know she had surgery many years ago for the TN and it worked to help her but the effects of the surgery wore off. I wonder if it was this or something different?

19 patients, sounds like an extremely early study. May not mean much, but then it might.

Good news, Lady. Thanks..

I have both MS & TN, had MVD done May 09. MVD stopped the stabbing pain, still have incredible pain, though. Seems to be getting worse.

I am sorry to hear that you still have pain. Have you though of getting the laser Cyberknife treatment by a Neurosurgeon? Cut the nerve bloodlessly.