&w=3840&q=100)
What is trigeminal neuralgia? Salman Khan's battle with 'suicide disease'
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan first began experiencing symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia—a rare and intensely painful nerve condition—while shooting for Partner in 2007. For years, he endured excruciating facial pain that affected his ability to speak, eat, or move comfortably.
In 2011, he underwent surgery in the United States, finding some relief from what's often dubbed the 'suicide disease' due to the unbearable nature of the pain. His story has drawn attention to a condition that is frequently misunderstood and misdiagnosed.
What is trigeminal neuralgia?
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain disorder involving the trigeminal nerve, which branches across the eye, cheek, and jaw. While humans have two trigeminal nerves—one on each side—pain usually affects only one side of the face.
Even light touch, a smile, or a breeze can trigger sudden, stabbing pain that feels like an electric shock. The condition is also called tic douloureux, meaning 'painful tic.'
Why is it called the 'suicide disease'?
The pain from TN can be so severe and unpredictable that it leads to suicidal thoughts in some patients. Many live in fear of the next attack, and while not everyone experiences mental health effects, the condition can take a serious emotional toll.
What causes trigeminal neuralgia?
'TN often occurs when a blood vessel presses against the trigeminal nerve near the brainstem, disrupting its function and causing pain,' said Dr Animesh Kar, Neurologist, Narayana Hospital, Kolkata.
Other causes include:
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Tumours
Nerve damage from surgery or trauma
Unknown causes (idiopathic TN)
What are the symptoms?
Sudden, sharp facial pain (usually one-sided)
Pain triggered by actions like brushing teeth or chewing
Episodes lasting a few seconds to several minutes
Increasing frequency of pain over time
Who is at risk?
A 2022 study places the global incidence between 4 and 13 cases per 100,000 people. Women are more commonly affected, and most cases occur after age 50—though younger individuals can also develop the condition. Genetics, autoimmune disorders, and neurological diseases may raise risk.
How is it diagnosed and treated?
'The biggest challenge is getting the right diagnosis,' said Dr Kar. TN is often mistaken for dental or ENT problems. Diagnosis is typically clinical, supported by MRI to rule out other causes, which may cost ₹5,000–₹15,000.
Treatment options include:
Medications: Anticonvulsants like carbamazepine
Surgery: Microvascular decompression
Minimally invasive: Gamma knife radiosurgery, radiofrequency ablation
Carbamazepine may cost a few hundred rupees monthly, while surgery can cost ₹1.5–₹4 lakh depending on hospital and technology.
Mental health support is also vital, given the toll of chronic pain.
Salman Khan's story puts the spotlight on TN
Despite living with the condition, Salman Khan continued to act and host TV shows. While promoting Sikandar in Dubai, he called it 'one disease that basically has the highest rates of suicides,' highlighting its severity.
Trigeminal neuralgia may be invisible, but its pain is real. Salman's story is a reminder to take unexplained facial pain seriously—early diagnosis and proper care can be life-changing.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Time of India
Man cured of rare facial pain with advanced radiosurgery in Gurgaon
Gurgaon: For this 41-year-old native of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, life became a daily battle against invisible torment. For over a year, he endured sudden, electric shock-like pain on the right side of his face — pain so intense and unpredictable that even brushing his teeth or speaking could trigger a storm of agony. He was suffering from Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) — a condition so cruel, it is often called the "suicide disease." Trigeminal Neuralgia affects only about 4 to 13 people per 100,000 annually, making it an uncommon neurological disorder. It strikes without warning, causing recurrent facial pain that can last for seconds or minutes, and repeat dozens of times a day. In most cases, the right side of the face is affected. The condition is more prevalent in women and people over 50, though it can occur at any age, even in children, though extremely rarely. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon To treat the patient, the medical team at Medanta chose CyberKnife radiosurgery — a non-invasive, high-precision treatment — that uses focused radiation to target the affected nerve without harming surrounding brain tissue. Within 48 hours of the surgery, the patient reported a reduction in pain. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like local network access control Esseps Learn More Undo A month has passed since, and he lives on with minimal medication. "It is a rare disease and patients suffering from it face severe headaches, inability to swallow even water, and spasms. The pain is intermittent. It can happen to anyone. After CyberKnife radiosurgery, which helps 60-90% patients, they may not feel any pain for 5 to 8 years. Earlier, just 50% of the patients used to get temporary relief after surgery," said Dr Tejinder Kataria, chairperson, radiation oncology, cancer care, Medanta. Explaining the disease, she said, "The trigeminal nerve, also known as the fifth cranial nerve, is one of the 12 pairs of cranial nerves and plays a vital role in facial sensation and motor functions like chewing. In cases of trigeminal neuralgia, a blood vessel—often an artery—compresses the nerve root near the brainstem, leading to localized, electric shock-like pain. This neurovascular conflict disrupts normal nerve signalling," she said. "Trigeminal neuralgia is primarily diagnosed through a patient's description of pain and its triggers. MRI imaging helps confirm if a blood vessel is compressing the trigeminal nerve. It's a diagnosis that blends clinical intuition with precision imaging," she added.
News18
3 days ago
- News18
Salman Khan Is Battling Three Serious Medical Conditions: What Are They? Explained
Last Updated: 'I'm working despite having trigeminal neuralgia, there is an aneurysm in the brain, yet I'm still working. There's also an AV malformation,' said Salman Khan Actor Salman Khan, during his recent appearance on The Great Indian Kapil Show on Netflix, revealed that he was battling three major medical conditions – brain aneurysm, trigeminal neuralgia, and arteriovenous (AV) malformation. 'I'm out here breaking my bones every day – ribs are fractured, I'm working despite having trigeminal neuralgia, there is an aneurysm in the brain, yet I'm still working. There's also an AV malformation, and still, I'm carrying on," said the 59-year-old actor. WHAT IS BRAIN ANEURYSM? A brain aneurysm, or cerebral aneurysm, is a potentially life-threatening condition involving a weak spot in a blood vessel in the brain that balloons outward, forming a bulge. This outpouching can look like a small blister or balloon, and while many remain harmless and undetected, others can rupture and lead to bleeding in or around the brain. This bulge occurs due to the continuous pressure of blood flowing through weakened arterial walls. Over time, this pressure stretches the vessel, thinning it out and increasing the risk of rupture, much like an overinflated balloon that may suddenly pop. If it ruptures… A ruptured brain aneurysm leads to a subarachnoid haemorrhage – a type of stroke caused by bleeding in the space surrounding the brain. This sudden bleed can cause brain tissue to swell and raise intracranial pressure, which can be fatal or severely disabling. The hallmark sign of a ruptured aneurysm is a sudden, intense headache, often described as the worst headache of one's life – a 'thunderclap headache." Other symptoms may follow rapidly, including loss of consciousness, nausea and vomiting, seizures, sensitivity to light, vision disturbances, neck stiffness, cognitive confusion or sudden behavioural changes. WHAT IS TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA? In trigeminal neuralgia, the nerve misfires, sending sudden, severe, and shock-like pain signals to the brain, often without any external trigger, or in response to light touch or movement. It usually affects one side of the face and most often involves the cheek, jaw, teeth, gums, lips, or eye area. The symptoms Sudden, intense facial pain (often described as stabbing, electric-shock-like). Episodes last seconds to a few minutes, but may recur in rapid succession. Pain is often triggered by simple actions such as brushing teeth, shaving, talking, eating, or even a light breeze. It has two types Type 1 (Typical TN) – Sudden attacks of severe, shooting pain with symptom-free intervals. Type 2 (Atypical TN) – Constant, aching or burning pain that may be less intense but more widespread and persistent. The causes Often caused by compression of the trigeminal nerve, usually by a nearby blood vessel. Can also result from multiple sclerosis, tumors pressing on the nerve, facial trauma or at time with no identifiable cause (idiopathic). WHAT IS AV MALFORMATION? An AV malformation (AVM) — short for arteriovenous malformation — is a tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries and veins, bypassing the normal capillary system. It disrupts the normal flow of blood and oxygen, and can occur in many parts of the body, but is most serious when located in the brain or spinal cord. The symptoms Sudden, severe headache Seizures Vision problems Muscle weakness or numbness Difficulty speaking or understanding speech In many cases, first symptom is a brain haemorrhage The complications Haemorrhage (bleeding): The most serious complication. Brain AVMs can cause stroke or death if they rupture. Seizures Headaches Neurological deficits (e.g., weakness, numbness, vision or speech problems) Heart failure in newborns with large AVMs The causes Usually congenital (present at birth), though often not inherited. May remain asymptomatic for years. top videos View all They can occur in Brain (cerebral AVM) – most common and serious Spinal cord Lungs, liver, or other organs Skin or soft tissues About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ...Read More Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Salman Khan Location : Mumbai, India, India First Published: June 23, 2025, 15:56 IST News explainers Salman Khan Is Battling Three Serious Medical Conditions: What Are They? Explained
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Economic Times
Salman Khan battles 'suicide disease' and 2 deadly brain conditions; What these 3 disorders are and what doctors say
Salman Khan shared his health struggles on The Great Indian Kapil Show. He is battling trigeminal neuralgia, a brain aneurysm, and arteriovenous malformation. He had surgery for trigeminal neuralgia in 2011. Doctors say these conditions can be dangerous. Treatment options include surgery and focused radiation. Regular check-ups and a healthy lifestyle are important. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What is trigeminal neuralgia? What is a brain aneurysm and AVM? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Can these conditions be related? Treatment options for Salman Khan's conditions Microvascular decompression: A surgery to reduce pressure on the trigeminal nerve. Gamma knife therapy: A non-invasive procedure that uses focused radiation, though it takes time to work. Neuro-intervention or brain surgery: These may be used for aneurysms and AVMs, depending on size and location. Daily challenges and the road ahead In a recent episode of The Great Indian Kapil Show , Bollywood superstar Salman Khan shared a personal and painful truth that left many viewers stunned. Behind his cheerful smile and powerful on-screen presence, the 59-year-old actor is quietly fighting three serious medical conditions: trigeminal neuralgia (TN), brain aneurysm , and arteriovenous malformation (AVM).Salman revealed that he had surgery in Los Angeles in 2011 for trigeminal neuralgia, a condition often called 'the suicide disease' because of how painful it is. It causes sudden, sharp, electric shock-like pain on one side of the face, usually around the eyes, jaw or mouth. Even light wind, cold water, or touching the face can trigger an attack. While it is not fatal, TN can deeply affect a person's mental and emotional health due to the severe pain.A brain aneurysm is a weak spot in a blood vessel in the brain that bulges out. It can burst suddenly, leading to life-threatening bleeding in the arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a rare condition where the blood vessels are tangled and abnormal. These vessels skip the usual flow pattern of blood between arteries and veins, increasing the risk of bleeding in the explain that both these conditions are dangerous and, if untreated, can cause strokes, loss of movement, or even death. Some symptoms include severe headaches, limb weakness, or sudden TN, aneurysms, and AVMs are different in nature, doctors say that sometimes they can affect each other. For example, an AVM or aneurysm near the trigeminal nerve might worsen TN symptoms. Some experts believe that vascular issues in the brain can lead to the development of more than one of these Sandhya Koche noted that such a combination is rare but possible, especially in people with high blood pressure, inherited disorders, or a history of head injuries. She said treating such patients is complicated and requires multiple scans, tests, and coordination between different to doctors, there are a few treatment options:Some cases may require more than one kind of treatment, and the success rate depends on how early the condition is found and how well the patient stress the importance of regular check-ups, following prescribed medicines, avoiding stress, and leading a healthy lifestyle. Smoking and high blood pressure can worsen these living with such serious health issues, Salman Khan continues to perform in action films and stay active. His courage and willpower show that his fight is not just to stay in the limelight, but simply to live fully, and that makes his journey all the more from TOI
