Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a rare cranial nerve pain disorder that can cause sharp, electric, one-sided pain in the throat, tonsil area, base of the tongue, or deep ear. Because its symptoms often resemble ear, throat, dental, or tonsil problems, it is frequently missed or misdiagnosed. This article explains the key symptoms, diagnostic approach, difference from Eagle syndrome, and treatment options including medication, nerve blocks, and microvascular decompression.

Author : Prof. Dr. Andrew J. Fishman, M.D. Board-Certified Surgeon in Otology, Neurotology, Skull Base, Head and Neck, Facial Reconstructive, and Sinonasal & Maxillary Surgery Trigeminal neuralgia is sometimes called “the suicide disease” — a label that captures the severity of the pain and the desperation it produces in patients who have not yet found effective treatment. The good news is that this label belongs to a previous era. Modern treatment of trigeminal neuralgia is

Author : Prof. Dr. Andrew J. Fishman, M.D. Board-Certified Surgeon in Otology, Neurotology, Skull Base, Head and Neck, Facial Reconstructive, and Sinonasal & Maxillary Surgery If You Are Reading This After Years of Pain Facial Pain and Headache: Treatment for the Pain Syndromes Most Often Misdiagnosed by Prof Dr. Andrew Fishman You may have already seen a number of physicians. You may have been told your pain is “just” migraine, or TMJ, or sinus, or stress. You may have been

Being told that you may need ear surgery can feel overwhelming. Many patients leave an appointment with questions they did not have time to ask, or with uncertainty about whether surgery is truly necessary. You may wonder: “Do I really need surgery?”“Is this the right procedure for my condition?”“What happens if I wait?”“Should I get another opinion before making a decision?” These are reasonable questions. In many cases, getting a second opinion before ear surgery can help y

Ear, hearing, and balance symptoms can be difficult to judge. Some patients notice mild changes, such as ringing in the ear or occasional dizziness, and wonder if they should wait. Others experience sudden hearing loss, repeated infections, or facial weakness and are unsure whether they need urgent care or a specialist opinion. If you are asking yourself, “Are my symptoms serious enough to see a specialist?”, the safest answer is this: symptoms that are new, persistent, one-s

Cochlear implantation has transformed the lives of children with severe to profound hearing loss. For many families, it represents the beginning of access to sound, speech development, communication, and deeper participation in daily life. As surgeons and hearing specialists, our responsibility does not end with placing the device. We must continue improving how precisely, safely, and reliably we place cochlear implant electrodes inside the inner ear. That is why I am pleased

Otosclerosis is a complex condition affecting the bones of the middle ear, leading to progressive hearing loss. As someone deeply involved in the field of otology and skull base surgery, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges patients face when navigating treatment options. This guide aims to provide a thorough understanding of the best treatments for otosclerosis, combining clinical insights with practical recommendations to assist those affected by this condition. Unders

A Neurotologist is a surgeon who specializes in disorders of the ear and hearing, and brain tumors that originate from the cranial nerves or structures adjacent to the temporal bone portion of the skull. The most common tumors include acoustic neuromas, meningiomas, glomus tumors and advanced parotid gland and ear skin cancers. A Neurotologist performs cochlear implants. A Neurotologist also treats Bell’s Palsy and performs facial nerve surgery. A Neurotologist treats inn

Lecture presented at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Learning Center on Treatment of Hearing Loss. Lecture was sponsored The American Hearing Research Foundation.

It started with a face twitch. Mary Broderick, of Elgin, didn't think much of it until her face began drooping on one side. After living with a misdiagnosis of Bell's palsy for three years, Broderick was determined to find out what was really going on. An online search led her to Northwestern Medicine cranial base surgeon Dr. Andrew J. Fishman; and finally a correct, but alarming diagnosis. Broderick had a cancerous tumor in the parotid gland, the main salivary gland. It was

A Cranial Base Surgeon is a member of a multidisciplinary team which includes specialists in the field of neurotology, neurosurgery, otolaryngology-head & neck surgery, radiation oncology, neuro-oncology & interventional neuroradiology. Patients with complex tumors and disease will often be operated and cared for by a number of specialists simultaneously, each with their own highly specialized contributions and roles. Cranial Base Surgery is also often referred to as Skul

This educational video by Prof. Dr. Andrew J. Fishman (@AFMedico) explains otosclerosis, a condition that causes progressive hearing loss, and the stapedectomy procedure used to restore hearing. Dr. Fishman provides a clear, step-by-step explanation of the anatomy of the middle ear, how otosclerosis affects sound transmission, and the surgical technique used to replace the fixed stapes bone with a prosthesis. Designed for both patients seeking to understand their diagnosis an