Finally Free From Facial Pain

After misdiagnoses and unsuccessful treatments for glossopharyngeal neuralgia, Jill B. found relief at last at the Gerald J. Glasser Brain Tumor Center.

Jill – who suffered from glossopharyngeal neuralgia that caused excruciating throat and ear pain for years – wants others to know the importance of advocating for yourself and that relief is possible with the right medical team.

As a nurse, Jill B. knows the ins and outs of the medical community. But when she began experiencing intense throat and ear pain that eventually became chronic and unbearable, she was left searching for answers.

“There are truly no words to describe the excruciating pain I was experiencing,” Jill recalls. “It felt like the worst sore throat and ear ache imaginable.”

Jill sought help from an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor as well as a neurologist who explored potential causes like tonsillitis, strep throat and a viral infection. Without a clear diagnosis or effective options for controlling the pain, she dove deep into research of her own. Meanwhile, her symptoms only got worse as she began having trouble swallowing food and choking.

After three trying years, Jill finally discovered her symptoms matched a rare condition called glossopharyngeal neuralgia, which is caused when an artery presses on a cranial nerve exiting the brainstem that controls swallowing and vocal cord movement. Her neurologist agreed but didn’t see anything of concern on her MRI.

“Knowing doctors can read MRIs differently, I wanted someone who treats this condition every day to take another look at my scan,” explains Jill. “I’m so glad I did because when I contacted a doctor who regularly treats glossopharyngeal neuralgia at a major academic medical center, they saw the nerve compression and confirmed my diagnosis.”

Jill traveled from her home in Melbourne Beach, Florida to the Tri-State area for brain surgery that should have fixed the issue and provided her relief. However, five days after surgery, her pain returned and was worse than before.

“The months following my first surgery were very scary,” says Jill. “I was in limbo, desperately trying to find a solution, and in immense pain despite being on muscle relaxers and nerve medications.”

Finally, a friend referred her to neurosurgeon Yaron A. Moshel, MD, PhD, director of Atlantic Health System’s Gerald J. Glasser Brain Tumor Center and chairman of neurosurgery at Morristown Medical Center. At Morristown Medical Center, a team of highly skilled neurologists, head and neck surgeons and ENT specialists work together to provide comprehensive care for a range of conditions related to the brain, including facial pain syndromes such as glossopharyngeal neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia and more.

“Jill’s previous surgery addressed one small part of a bigger issue,” Dr. Moshel explains. “Thankfully, we have state-of-the-art robotic microscopes with integrated endoscopes that allow us to actually see around corners. Using a miniscule fiberoptic camera, we were able to visualize the front of Jill’s brain stem, which is traditionally difficult to reach, and clearly see where her glossopharyngeal nerve was being compressed. Having that view was key in enabling us to treat the root cause of the pain.”

The surgical team at Morristown Medical Center used advanced microsurgical techniques to mobilize both the artery that was pressing on Jill’s glossopharyngeal nerve as well as the entire parent arterial tree that was distorting the brainstem. A sophisticated skull-based approach allowed the surgeons to access this hard-to-reach area while minimizing any disturbance to other areas of her brain.

The surgery also entailed insulating the nerves and brainstem with Teflon felt cushion, creating a buffer between the artery and nerves of the brainstem to prevent the recurrence of any symptoms.

“I thought I was going to be in agonizing pain for the rest of my life,” says Jill. “You can imagine how relieved I was when I came out of this surgery and realized my pain was completely gone. After years of suffering, I was finally free. Dr. Moshel truly saved my life, and the care I received from the entire team at Morristown Medical Center was just incredible.”

Jill wants others to know there is hope for people who have glossopharyngeal neuralgia and other neuralgias or who may be suffering from similar symptoms. Although not all cases of glossopharyngeal neuralgia can be fixed with surgery, she urges those with the diagnosis to seek a surgical consult and explore their options.

“Keep looking for answers,” she says. “They’re out there.”