Comparative evaluation of therapeutic and analgesic effect of combined laser and carbamazepine with carbamazepine alone in patients with trigeminal neuralgia : a randomised controlled trial

1.      Diagnosis of Trigeminal Neuralgia will be made on basis of clinical findings in line with the IHS Classification ICHD-3.

 2.      Explanation of the treatment protocol will be given to the patient and informed consent will be taken.

 3.     Baseline scoring of pain (using VAS) will be done.

1.      Laser therapy will be performed at the trigger points, based on previous studies we will use laser and carbamazepine in case groups for treatment of TN.

 2.      Due to ethical considerations, patients in both groups will be subjected to standard pharmaceutical therapy with 100 mg carbamazepine at the onset of treatment and then another 100 mg after 2 days based on severity of pain in patients. This process will be continued until pain is alleviated taking into account the maximum safe dose of carbamazepine.

 3.      Low level laser therapy (LLLT) along with pharmaceutical therapy will be performed for the case group. Only pharmaceutical therapy shall be given to the control group.

 4.      The case group shall receive 9 sessions, 3 days a week. The severity of pain will be recorded prior to laser therapy, immediately after each session of laser therapy and one month after completion of treatment using the VAS. The pain scores will be recorded in McGill Pain Questionnaire, with follow-up at 1, 2 and 3 months.

4.     Patients will be divided into 2 groups of cases and controls using block randomization.