María José: the end of years of trigeminal neuralgia thanks to microvascular decompression

The onset: a searing pain that changed everything

María José is 67 years old and, before that 21 July 2020, had led a very active life with no significant illnesses. That day everything started with a tremendous, searing pain in her left cheek. At A&E she was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia and prescribed medication that, in her case, had no effect.

The illness transformed her life and that of those around her. She went from being able to make plans to living completely governed by pain and, in pain-free moments, by the fear that it would return.

"The pain destroys you physically and the fear destroys you psychologically."

Years of treatment with no result

The least invasive options were tried first. María José underwent two rhizotomies that produced no result. Medication continued to have no effect and she had to be admitted to hospital on more than one occasion, with stays of more than a week due to acute pain.

She describes the crises with a raw frankness that helps convey the magnitude of the condition: first a lightning bolt shooting through the cheek; then a sensation like a drill pounding with intense pain. Even the brush of a strand of hair could trigger a discharge.

"On many occasions I told my husband I wanted to die. I could not bear the pain."

Arriving at Dr. Roldán: from neurologist to neurosurgeon

It was her own neurologist who explained that she needed a neurosurgeon. After reviewing several profiles, María José chose Dr. Roldán. She was convinced by his record and, above all, by the didactic and empathetic way in which he explained what was happening to her.

"He struck me as an empathetic, understanding person who told me the truth. I felt heard on an emotional level too."

For her, this aspect was decisive: a good doctor must attend not only to physical suffering but also to the emotional component that, in trigeminal neuralgia, is so important.

The surgery: microvascular decompression of the nerve

María José went into theatre in January 2026 convinced that this was her definitive solution and that she had nothing to lose. Dr. Roldán performed a microvascular decompression: the trigeminal nerve was in contact with a blood vessel, and separators were placed to eliminate that contact and, with it, the cause of the neuralgia.

Her memory of waking up sums up the success of the procedure.

"My first memory is opening my eyes in the ICU and having no pain. The first thing I said, elated, was: I have no pain."

Reclaiming life and peace of mind

With the decompression complete, María José has no pain. And with that she has recovered something that seemed lost: the ability to plan and to trust in the future.

"I can buy a theatre ticket ten days in advance or arrange to have dinner with friends the following week."

Before, she never had the certainty of being able to do anything, because she did not know whether the next day she would be in hospital or prostrate with pain. Now she faces each day with calm, good spirits and eagerness to do things.

The value of feeling cared for

María José also wanted to highlight the human care received during her admission, at a time when the patient feels particularly vulnerable.

"The fact that they look after you, that the staff are there for you, that they come in and greet you, is very gratifying."

For her, the decompression of the trigeminal nerve has simply been a life-changing event.