UCSF offers the most comprehensive pain management program in Northern California. The Department of Neurological Surgery's Pain Program focuses mainly on surgical management of painful disorders. Patients receive comprehensive assessment of painful conditions, including consideration of direct surgical intervention for their problem (spine or nerve surgery) as well as consideration of the use of pain-reducing procedures (physical therapy, exercises, etc.). Medical management is provided mainly by the UCSF Pain Management Program and by certain members of the Department of Neurology. Procedures performed include placement of spinal-cord stimulators, implantation of pumps to deliver morphine and other agents directly into the spine, percutaneous rhizotomy, dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) lesions, and percutaneous cordotomy for cancer pain. Patients with trigeminal neuralgia are given high priority in scheduling their evaluation. Surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia includes microvascular decompression (Janetta procedure), percutaneous rhizotomy, and Gamma Knife® radiosurgery.
 
FAQ for patients: Surgical Treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia