What is 'suicide disease' that Salman Khan had? Why is it in the news now?

In 2011, just a few days before the release of the movie Bodyguard, Salman Khan had undergone surgery in the US. Khan was suffering from a neurological condition called trigeminal neuralgia, which was causing acute pain in his head, cheeks, and jaw, for several years, the actor had revealed later on. The disease originates from the trigeminal nerve, the largest of the cranial nerves, and plays a key role in sending pain, touch and temperature sensations from the face to the brain. Trigeminal neuralgia is often described as one of the most severe types of pain experienced and is hence called as the suicide disease.

85 year old B. Veeraswami underwent surgery at Kauvery Hospital, Radial Road in Chennai, for trigeminal neuralgia. He had been unable to talk, or even brush his teeth due to the severe pain of the disease. Also, as a side effect of the medication he had been taking, he felt constantly drowsy. “For nearly 15 years, even a light touch would trigger a jolt of pain. I would cut calls abruptly and I stopped talking to people. My medicine dosage increased six-fold but so did the pain and my age. As a side-effect of the strong dose, I could not walk properly and was forced to stay indoors,” he told reporters. He underwent microvascular decompression surgery.

Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain disorder characterized by intense, sudden, and stabbing facial pain along the trigeminal nerve, which controls facial sensation. The pain episodes, triggered by mundane activities like chewing or touching the face, can be excruciating and brief but may occur frequently. While the exact cause is unclear, it is thought to involve compression or damage to the trigeminal nerve.

Trigeminal neuralgia is colloquially termed the "suicide disease" due to the excruciating, unbearable pain it inflicts on individuals. The intense, sudden facial pain attacks, often described as electric shocks, can be relentless and resistant to conventional pain medications. The unremitting agony takes a profound toll on mental health, causing severe emotional distress, anxiety, and depression. The term reflects the extreme anguish experienced by some patients, leading to feelings of hopelessness. While not everyone with trigeminal neuralgia contemplates suicide, the label underscores the profound impact of the condition on mental well-being and the urgent need for effective treatments to alleviate the debilitating pain and prevent such drastic thoughts.

Trigeminal neuralgia is managed through medications, such as anticonvulsants or muscle relaxants, to alleviate pain and prevent attacks. If medications are ineffective or produce intolerable side effects, surgical interventions may be considered. Microvascular decompression involves relieving pressure on the trigeminal nerve, while procedures like gamma knife radiosurgery and radiofrequency rhizotomy target nerve pathways to reduce pain signals. In severe cases, nerve ablation or nerve sectioning may be explored. However, treatments vary based on individual responses, and a comprehensive approach, often involving neurologists, neurosurgeons, and pain management specialists, is crucial for tailoring effective solutions and improving the patient's quality of life.​