Glossopharyngeal neuralgia

What is glossopharyngeal neuralgia?

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia, also known as GPN, is an uncommon and painful condition that includes recurring episodes of intense pain in the throat, tongue, tonsil, or middle ear. It’s believed to result from irritation of the ninth cranial nerve, located in the brainstem at the bottom of your brain. Patients living with GPN turn to Penn Medicine for the latest, most advanced treatment options because our neurosurgeons use innovative methods to help you achieve the best possible health outcome.

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia symptoms

The symptoms of glossopharyngeal neuralgia may include severe pain in the throat, tongue, ear, or jaw that is intermittent and extreme with periods of relief in between. The severity and frequency of GPN symptoms may vary from person to person. Patients often describe the pain as stabbing, sharp, or like an electric shock. The pain can be so severe and debilitating that it has a significant impact on quality of life, making it important to pursue treatment. If left untreated, glossopharyngeal neuralgia can worsen, causing longer, more frequent attacks of pain. 

What causes glossopharyngeal neuralgia?

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia may occur due to the abnormal positioning of blood vessels or tumors putting pressure on the glossopharyngeal nerve which starts at the base of the brainstem and passes through the neck and throat. The pain from GPN is typically caused by a damaged or injured nerve. In some cases, the cause of glossopharyngeal neuralgia is unknown. Various factors or actions can trigger GPN and may vary from person to person. 

  • Swallowing 
  • Talking or laughing 
  • Yawning 
  • Coughing or sneezing 
  • Touch or pressure 
  • Temperature changes 
  • Stress or anxiety 
  • Throat or neck cancer 

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia diagnosis

There is no single test for glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia can also mimic several other medical conditions that have similar symptoms, including ear infections, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), tonsilitis or throat infections, and trigeminal neuralgia, making it important to seek an experienced provider for diagnosis. At Penn Medicine, your doctor will conduct a thorough evaluation which may include neurological exams, blood tests, and diagnostic tests to assess your glossopharyngeal nerve function and ensure a swift and accurate diagnosis. 

Does glossopharyngeal neuralgia go away on its own?

GPN typically does not go away on its own. It’s a chronic condition characterized by recurrent and intense episodes of pain caused by the compression or irritation of the glossopharyngeal nerve. While you may experience periods of relief between episodes, GPN pain may worsen, last for longer periods, or occur more frequently if left untreated. 

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia treatments

There are several options for GPN treatment. Your Penn Medicine care team will work with you to choose the most appropriate treatment option based on the underlying cause of your neuralgia and the severity of your symptoms with the goal of controlling GPN pain. You may be prescribed anti-seizure medications, or these medicines may be combined with a tricyclic antidepressant medication to help manage your pain. Your doctor may also recommend that a pain management specialist inject a local anesthetic, such as lidocaine, near the glossopharyngeal nerve to provide temporary relief from pain. Penn Medicine offers these and other advanced GPN treatment options to enhance your quality of life and help you get back to living pain free. 

Related specialties

Patient stories 

Tool measures tumor growth for less uncertainty between scans

Neuroradiologists have developed the first-ever tool that gives a real-time assessment of an individual’s tumor, and relieves anxiety between scans.

How pickleball (and Penn Medicine) saved one patient’s life

With teamwork and determination, specialists at Penn Medicine solved Ronnie Recchia’s life-threatening medical mystery and got him back in the game.

Epilepsy surgery gives patient a new lease on life

Minimally invasive laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) surgery reduced the epilepsy symptoms a patient had experienced for more than 30 years.

A cancer dietitian, a survivor herself, keeps patients moving

Breast cancer treatments can upend a fitness routine. Cancer dietitian Dorris Piccinin, a survivor herself, is inspiring patients to keep at it.

Patient puts national spotlight on cancer clinical trials

As Kate Korson recently shared on Good Morning America, both she and her mother participated in clinical trials at Abramson Cancer Center.

Finding triple-negative breast cancer at 33, she chose ‘Team Penn’

Shocked to learn she had stage III breast cancer, Kate Korson knew just where to go. She flew home to Penn Medicine, where a clinical trial saved her life.

The road to recovery begins at home

Penn Medicine’s SNF at Home pilot program offers a seamless transition from the hospital to home with extra support to recover in familiar surroundings.

A new way to treat Afib: Pulsed field ablation

Rick Smith chose pulsed field ablation for its precision and faster recovery. One month later, he’s back on the road, grateful for the care he received.

Home-assisted ventilation for autoimmune disease: Kim’s story

A rare autoimmune disease kept Kim Day from his favorite outdoor hobbies, until he met doctors in the Fishman Program for Home Assisted Ventilation.

CNN anchor Kasie Hunt had brain surgery at Penn

Before starting her own daily news show, journalist Kasie Hunt came to Penn Medicine for a growing brain tumor that was causing painful headaches.

Schedule an appointment

We can help you schedule an appointment or you can search our directory of specialists.