While all fans of Salman Khan are eagerly waiting for Sikandar, which is scheduled for a theatrical release on March 30, a lesser-known aspect of the Bollywood superstar’s life is his struggle with a painful health condition, often nicknamed the “suicide disease“- because of the excruciating pain it puts on the individual suffering from it.
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Salman Khan suffers from Trigeminal Neuralgia, a neurological disease that causes facial pain. This chronic neurological disorder affects the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for transmitting sensory information from the face to the brain.
It is characterized by sudden, severe facial pain that can be triggered by everyday activities such as chewing, speaking, or even touching the face. The pain is often described as sharp, shooting, or like an electric shock, typically affecting one side of the face. These episodes can last from a few seconds to several minutes and may occur sporadically or in rapid succession. In several interviews, Salman Khan has described the pain as feeling like continuous punches to his face.
Common causes include compression of the nerve by blood vessels, multiple sclerosis, tumors, or facial trauma. Treatment options for trigeminal neuralgia aim to reduce or block the pain signals sent to the brain. Initial approaches often include medications such as anticonvulsants and muscle relaxants. If medications are ineffective, surgical options may be considered, including Microvascular Decompression (MVD), Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, and Rhizotomy.
Salman Khan began having the symptoms of Trigeminal Neuralgia around 2007 while he was filming for ‘Partner’. He endured severe facial pain for several years before undergoing surgery in the United States in 2011 to alleviate the condition.
Salman Khan’s openness about his diagnosis has brought significant attention to this lesser-known ailment, highlighting its impact and the challenges faced by those who suffer from it.
Other celebrities who were diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia
Apart from Salman Khan, many other celebrities have been diagnosed with this painful condition. Four-time British Prime Minister William Gladstone is believed to have this disease. Author Melissa Seymour was also diagnosed with this condition. American musician Travis Barker, who has a son with Kourtney Kardashian, is also struggling with this disease.