Trigeminal Neuralgia Treatment in DFW When Medications Are Not Enough
IV ketamine therapy is used to address the pain amplification circuits behind refractory trigeminal neuralgia. Physician-led care at three DFW locations.
If you have started planning your day around the fear of the next attack, you are not overreacting. This is one of the most severe pain conditions in medicine.
Trusted by 1000+ Patients
As Seen On
You May Be a Fit If
Trigeminal neuralgia patients usually reach out when some version of the following is true:
- A confirmed diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia with attacks that have become more frequent or more intense.
- You have tried carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, or other first-line medications, and they have stopped working or are causing intolerable side effects.
- You are weighing surgical options like microvascular decompression or radiofrequency lesioning and want something to consider alongside them.
- You are tired of living in fear of the next attack and of letting the condition shape every meal, conversation, and walk outside.
- You want a non-opioid option with honest evidence framing and a team willing to coordinate with your existing specialist.
What Trigeminal Neuralgia Is
Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, the main sensory nerve of the face. Patients describe sharp, electric attacks along one side of the face that can be set off by a light breeze, a toothbrush, or a sip of water.
The classic form is thought to involve compression of the nerve where it exits the brainstem, often by a nearby blood vessel. Other causes include multiple sclerosis, tumors, or nerve injury. What all forms share is a dysfunction in how the nerve sends pain signals, leading to bursts of severe, stabbing pain that feel like electric shocks.
First-line treatment is usually an anti-seizure medication like carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine. Surgical options include microvascular decompression and radiofrequency lesioning. Not every patient responds, and many are looking for something less invasive to try.
When first-line medications stop working, patients are often left weighing surgery or looking for additional options to consider in parallel. That same pattern shows up in other pain management conditions we treat, like chronic migraine and neuropathic pain.
Why IV Ketamine May Help
Mechanism. Ketamine blocks the NMDA receptor, which plays a key role in the central sensitization that accompanies refractory facial pain.
Evidence. The specific evidence base for ketamine in trigeminal neuralgia is smaller than for CRPS but is growing. Academic pain programs have used multi-day ketamine infusion protocols for refractory facial pain, and reports suggest trigeminal neuralgia patients may be among the more responsive subgroups.
IV ketamine is used off-label for trigeminal neuralgia based on that clinical evidence. At your consultation we will walk you through exactly what the research supports and what it does not.
The NeuroGlow Trigeminal Neuralgia Protocol
- Initial physician consultation and history review.
- Subanesthetic IV ketamine infusion series, typically over one to two weeks.
- Private suite, continuous vital sign monitoring, minimal facial stimulation.
- Structured reassessment using an attack diary and facial pain measure.
- Coordination with your neurologist or neurosurgeon whenever possible.
Who Is and Is Not a Candidate
You may be a candidate if you are an adult with a confirmed trigeminal neuralgia diagnosis whose pain is not adequately controlled by first-line medications.
You may not be medically appropriate if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, certain cardiac conditions, active psychosis, or other contraindications. A consultation is how we sort through all of that.
What This Is Not
Your First Visit, Step by Step
- Step 1 : Free consultation with a NeuroGlow physician.
- Step 2 : Review your diagnosis, imaging, medications, and current attack pattern.
- Step 3 : Eligibility discussion with a direct conversation about realistic benefit.
- Step 4 : Treatment planning and first-infusion scheduling.
What Patients Often Notice
The goal is usually to lower the baseline pain, increase the interval between attacks, and give your existing medications more room to do their job.
Some patients say they can eat a meal, brush their teeth, or feel a breeze on their face without bracing. Fewer breakthrough attacks, shorter episodes, and a meaningful reduction in the constant fear of the next one.
We track all of this with a structured attack diary and a facial pain measure, so the plan is based on real numbers instead of memory.
Common Questions Before Starting
Is IV ketamine therapy safe alongside my current medications?
In most cases yes. We review your full medication list at the consultation and flag anything that needs adjustment before treatment.
What does the infusion feel like?
Typically calm and restful, with a mildly dreamlike quality that fades within about an hour.
Can this help me avoid surgery?
Sometimes. For some patients, ketamine buys time and lowers baseline pain enough to make the surgical decision from a clearer place. It is not a substitute for specialist care.
What if it does not help me?
We stop. We will not push you to continue a plan that is not producing measurable benefit.
Will I still need my neurologist or neurosurgeon?
Yes. Ketamine therapy is meant to work alongside specialist care, not replace it. With your permission we will share notes so your care stays connected.
Can I drive home afterward?
No. Plan for a ride home on infusion days and no driving for the rest of the day.
If facial pain has become refractory to carbamazepine or other treatments, NeuroGlow can review your history, explain IV ketamine therapy, and help you understand your next step. Same-week consultations are available for urgent cases. Our team can also help clarify whether your pain pattern and treatment history fit the kind of refractory trigeminal neuralgia ketamine is used to address. The goal is to give you a clearer path forward when standard treatment is no longer providing enough relief.