Bollywood superstar Salman Khan recently spoke about his long struggle with trigeminal neuralgia, a chronic nerve disorder that causes extreme facial pain. He shared his experience during the talk show ‘Two Much’ on Prime Video.
What Is Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Trigeminal neuralgia is a rare condition affecting the trigeminal nerve in the face. It can cause sudden, severe pain that feels like electric shocks. Khan described it as the ‘suicidal disease’, highlighting how intense the pain can be.
How Trigeminal Neuralgia Started?
Khan revealed that the symptoms first appeared on the set of his 2007 film ‘Partner’. He joked about the moment, saying, “Wow, Lara, you’re electrifying!” after actress Lara Dutta moved a strand of his hair, triggering the nerve pain. Initially, doctors thought it was a dental issue, but further tests confirmed it was nerve-related.
Life With Trigeminal Neuralgia
Khan described the daily struggles caused by the disorder, “It used to pain every 4-5 minutes. It would happen suddenly. It used to take me about an hour and a half to have my breakfast. For an omelette, I couldn’t chew it, I had to force myself, hurt myself, take as much pain, so I could get rid of the meal.”
He emphasized how severe the condition is, stating, “You would not want your biggest enemy to have that pain. And I had it for seven and a half years.”
Surgery and Recovery
After enduring years of pain, Khan underwent gamma knife surgery, which lasted eight hours. He described the procedure, “They fix screws on your face for 7-8 hours. They make you lie down with the gamma knife…”
The surgery provided significant relief, though Khan noted that an arteriovenous malformation (aneurysm) remains in his brain. He said, “Now the aneurysm is there. An arteriovenous malformation is present. But you have got to live with it.”
Post-surgery, the pain is gone, and Khan hopes to raise awareness for others facing the disorder.
Spreading Awareness
Khan has been open about his condition to educate the public. He stressed the seriousness of trigeminal neuralgia, saying, “It would take me an hour to finish my breakfast; it is also called suicidal disease.” His message encourages patients to seek help and not suffer in silence.
Despite the health challenges, Salman Khan continues to work actively in films. He is currently filming ‘Battle of Galwan’ and continues to make public appearances, including his recent appearance on ‘Two Much’.
