In some cases of cranial neuralgia, the pain fades with time and without any treatment. In other cases, treatment is necessary to reduce a patient’s symptoms. The type of treatment used depends on the cause of a patient’s cranial neuralgia, the severity and location of the pain.

There are many medications available to help reduce the pain of cranial neuralgia. Treatment may begin with recommendations for over-the-counter analgesics. If they do not work, the physician may prescribe stronger pain medications, including:

• Antidepressants. These medications are involved in regulating the neurotransmitters of the brain. They are typically used to reduce the symptoms of depression, but they also work to reduce pain associated with cranial neuralgia.
  
  
• Anticonvulsants. Medications that reduce the electrical activity in the brain. They also help reduce pain due to cranial neuralgia.  

In most cases, patients and physicians will need to work together to monitor the patient’s response to the medication. It may take some time to find the proper medication and dosage to treat the patient’s symptoms. In some cases, the medication will not cure the cranial neuralgia and may not reduce the pain. In these instances, other treatments may be necessary. They may include:

• Rest. The simplest treatment may be reducing physical stress and allowing the body to respond to the cause of the pain.
  
  
• Injection therapy. Local anesthetics may be injected into the area near the damaged nerve to reduce pain.
  
  
• Physical therapy. Exercises may be recommended by a physical therapist that can help reduce the occurrence of pain related to cranial neuralgia.
  
  
• Massage therapy. Manipulation of the skin and tendons around the damaged nerves may help reduce the compression responsible for the patient’s pain.
  
  
• Surgery. In some cases, treatment may require removal of a tumor or adjusting the position of a blood vessel that is compressing the nerve. In other cases, all or part of the nerve may be removed to reduce the pain. This often works, but patients may also lose other sensations related to the nerve.