Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia

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Dr. Raymond Sekula with a patient in his office

The Columbia University Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia Center provides comprehensive diagnostic, surgical, and follow-up care for individuals suffering from glossopharyngeal and vagoglossopharyngeal neuralgia. These rare disorders affect individuals of all ages and result in a profoundly diminished quality of life. Our mission is to deliver the highest quality evidence-based treatment for individuals with glossopharyngeal and vagoglossopharyngeal neuralgia. The Center is led by Raymond F. Sekula Jr., MD, an internationally recognized cranial nerve surgeon with extensive experience treating rare glossopharyngeal and vagoglossopharyngeal neuralgia.

Columbia Neurosurgery's Facial Pain Expert, Raymond Sekula, MD explains Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia

Our Approach to Care

Using cutting-edge technology, Columbia radiologists will collaborate with our neurosurgery team to determine if there are structural problems compressing the glossopharyngeal and vagoglossopharyngeal nerves. We also collaborate with an expert team of otolaryngologists to rule out other issues that may be causing your pain. This multidisciplinary evaluation helps confirm the diagnosis and determine whether microvascular decompression is the most effective long-term treatment option.

Treatment Options

We collaborate with the world-class neurology team at the Neurologic Institute at Columbia to provide expert care for individuals with this debilitating disorder.

Surgical Treatments

Effective treatments are available for patients with glossopharyngeal neuralgia:

Microvascular Decompression Surgery - A surgical procedure that involves moving a blood vessel away from a nerve and interposing a felt cushion between the blood vessel and the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves through a small incision behind the ear. For many patients, this offers durable relief while preserving normal swallowing and throat function.
Ablative - In rare cases, the glossopharyngeal nerve may be surgically interrupted to disrupt pain signals.

Our Expertise

Patients with this rare condition often travel from across the country to seek Dr. Sekula’s expertise, especially after delayed diagnosis or unsuccessful prior treatment. Dr. Raymond F. Sekula, Jr. has performed more than 100 MVDs for glossopharyngeal and vagoglossopharyngeal neuralgia and continually refined the procedure so that most patients will spend just one or two nights only in the hospital without the need for the intensive care unit prior to discharge from the hospital.

Dr. Sekula saved my life after years of worsening glossopharyngeal neuralgia, which had become excruciating and debilitating. Thanks to my son reaching him, Dr. Sekula dropped everything, got me through Columbia’s emergency department the same day, and expertly moved two blood vessels off my glossopharyngeal nerve. I wish I had sought help sooner and want others with this rare condition to know there is a solution in surgeons like him.

Because diagnosis is often delayed, early specialist evaluation can help patients avoid years of unnecessary suffering.

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