Salman battling three life-altering neurological, vascular conditions
Though Khan underwent surgery for trigeminal neuralgia in Los Angeles in 2011, he continues to live with the burden of the remaining diagnoses. Yet, defying medical odds and excruciating pain, the veteran actor, who made the revelation on The Great Indian Kapil Show, remains active, often charging through intense action sequences.
TN, often described as 'the suicide disease' due to its unbearable pain, causes sudden, shock-like stabs on one side of the face, usually around eyes or mouth.
The condition can be triggered by cold water, cold air or touching specific facial 'trigger points'. While not lethal, it severely impacts quality of life and mental health.
A brain aneurysm, meanwhile, is a ticking time bomb, caused by a weak spot in a cerebral blood vessel that balloons dangerously, threatening to burst at any moment. AVM, a rare condition, involves abnormal blood vessels that bypass the normal capillary system, directly connecting arteries to veins, raising the risk of catastrophic bleeding.
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Dr Anshu Rohatgi, vice- chairperson, neurology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said severe cases could present with intense headaches and sub-arachnoid haemorrhage could potentially lead to limb weakness or unconsciousness.
Dr P Sarat Chandra, senior neurosurgery professor, AIIMS, added, "Brain aneurysm and AVMs are potentially fatal. If blood vessels rupture, the consequences can be stroke, irreversible brain damage, even death."
Khan's situation is particularly complex due to potential interactions between these conditions. Doctors note aneurysms or AVMs pressing against the trigeminal nerve may intensify neuralgia symptoms.
These conditions aren't directly connected. Dr PN Renjen, senior consultant, neurology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, said they occasionally influence each other. An AVM might affect blood flow patterns, causing aneurysm.
Both conditions when near the trigeminal nerve, could cause neuralgia, though TN doesn't cause the other conditions.
Chandra said microvascular decompression surgery offers effective treatment while Gamma knife provides a non-invasive alternative, though pain relief may take longer. Aneurysms and AVMs may need surgery. "Large aneurysms might need bypass procedures. Neuro-intervention has become increasingly viable, though complete elimination of conditions isn't guaranteed. Complex cases may require combined treatments.
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