Salman Khan has recently opened up about his experience with trigeminal neuralgia, a condition he battled for seven and a half years, during which he experienced immense pain. In the inaugural episode of "Two Much With Kajol And Twinkle" on Amazon Prime Video, featuring Aamir Khan as well, Salman shared details about his journey as a survivor of this excruciating ailment.
The Bollywood superstar pinpointed the beginning of his ordeal to the set of the film "Partner" (released in 2007), where he first felt the symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia. He recounted the specific moment when actress Lara Dutta brushed a strand of hair away from his face, triggering a jolt of intense pain. Initially, he brushed it off, joking about Lara being "electrifying," but that was the start of years of suffering.
Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic nerve disorder that affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from the face to the brain. This condition is characterized by sudden, intense, electric shock-like facial pain. The pain can be triggered by everyday activities like chewing, speaking, or even light touch. Salman described the pain as feeling like constant punches to the face. Due to the unbearable nature of the pain, trigeminal neuralgia is sometimes referred to as the "suicide disease". Salman highlighted the severity of the condition, noting the high suicide rates among those who suffer from it.
The actor revealed how the debilitating pain significantly impacted his daily life. Simple tasks became arduous, and he had to endure immense pain just to finish a meal. He mentioned that it would take him an hour and a half to eat breakfast, and he would often go straight to dinner afterward. Chewing was particularly difficult, and he had to force himself to eat, even if it meant hurting himself. Initially, many believed his problem was dental-related. He was on high doses of painkillers, around 750 mg, but even those provided little relief. He also mentioned that the pain would reduce a bit when he had a drink or two.
Salman underwent surgery in the United States in 2011 to find relief from the condition. He also underwent Gamma Knife surgery, a procedure where screws are fixed to the face for almost eight hours. While doctors told him that the pain would reduce by 20-30% after the surgery, he said that, by the grace of God, it went away completely.
By sharing his story, Salman Khan hopes to raise awareness about trigeminal neuralgia and assure those affected that it is treatable. He emphasized that many people are unaware of the condition and that speaking out can help others seek timely diagnosis and care. Early diagnosis and proper care can be life-changing.
