Trigeminal neuralgia treatment
Trigeminal neuralgia treatment is always tricky; unfortunately, the success rate is low. There are as many approaches to trigeminal neuralgia treatment as to general health.
An allopathic approach to trigeminal neuralgia treatment
If you are looking into trigeminal neuralgia treatment through mainstream allopathic approaches, you have two options: medication and surgery.
Pharmaceutical drugs
One of the trigeminal neuralgia treatments is medication. Patients need to understand that these medications do not work like painkillers. The therapeutic level of medication needs to be maintained in the blood to relieve the pain effectively.
It is essential to understand that medication will not remove the cause of the pain; it is there to manage the pain. It is advisable not to wait until the medication stops working before you consider other options but to participate in your search for suitable options actively.
It is also crucial that you never self-medicate yourself. Taking the medication irregularly is often impractical. According to your doctor’s advice, the medication is increased or decreased slowly to avoid severe side effects. Abrupt withdrawal can lead to serious side effects.
Five main medication groups are used in trigeminal neuralgia treatment and similar disorders.
- Anticonvulsants (antiepileptic drugs)
- Antidepressants
- Anti-spastic
- Painkillers
- Experimental Drugs
Over time, when the pain becomes more severe than the current dosage can control or when severe side effects are unacceptable, surgery is considered.
Surgical approach: the most aggressive treatment
Various kinds of surgery can be performed, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. The drawbacks can include long-term side effects. Not all surgeries are successes. The success of surgery depends on the neurosurgery team’s experience, expertise, and unique technique. There is considerable evidence that the failure of any procedure is associated with less success when other methods are attempted. The most frequent complications after surgeries are numbness and recurrence.
Following are some of the surgeries that are performed on TN patients:
- Non-Destructive procedure
- Destructive procedures
- Stimulation of the Nerve
Several different procedures are included within each of those categories. It is essential to learn the other risks of each particular treatment.
However, many other treatments for trigeminal neuralgia are available, including natural treatments. Natural treatments have proven to be safe choices.
What is trigeminal neuralgia?
Imagine waking up with constant facial pain in your eyes, lips, and jaw. You go to the dentist because it feels like a toothache. After tooth extractions, the pain is still there, and it is becoming unbearable. You finally go to the doctor, who diagnoses it as trigeminal neuralgia. This article will examine this condition and the various trigeminal neuralgia treatments, trigeminal neuralgia symptoms, and associated forms of trigeminal neuralgia.
Trigeminal neuralgia, or Tic Douloureux, is a nerve condition responsible for causing extreme pain to various parts of the face, such as the eyes, nose, lips, head, and scalp. The pain is a sharp, quick burst and can be very unbearable. The pain is often concentrated on one side of the face and can become too much for some. Before a proper diagnosis, the disease would usually be called suicide disease. This is because people would take their own lives to escape the pain associated with the condition.
With the first onset of trigeminal neuralgia, the individual might feel quick and short pain jabs. Over time, as the condition progresses, the person’s pain can become more frequent and painful. Shaving, applying makeup, or brushing one’s teeth are all activities that can cause trigeminal neuralgia. It is estimated that over 15,000 people suffer from the condition. Other circles have this number much higher, as it is often misdiagnosed. The condition usually affects people in their 40s and 50s, but it has also been noted in young children.
Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain syndrome in the facial area that causes extreme, sporadic, spasm-like, or electric-like face pain that lasts anywhere from a few seconds to as long as 2 hours per episode. Episodes can occur for days, weeks, or months at a time and then disappear for months or years.
The pathology of trigeminal neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia usually occurs when a normal artery or vein contacts the trigeminal nerve located at the brain’s base. When a blood vessel touches a nerve, it puts pressure on it, eventually starting it to misfire.
There have been other indicators that nerve damage and even stress could be one of the first triggers. Once the trigeminal nerve leaves a brain and goes through a skull, it becomes divided into three smaller branches. These three branches are in charge of controlling the sensations that an individual feels in the face area. Each branch controls different parts of a face, such as the eyes, upper eyelids, and forehead, controlled by branch 1. Branch 2 controls the sensation in the lower eyelids, cheeks, nostrils, upper lips, and gums. Finally, the lower branch is responsible for the innervation of the jaw, lower gums, lips, neck, and some chewing muscles.
Trigeminal neuralgia, also known as “Tic Douloureux,” is a disorder of the trigeminal nerve or fifth cranial nerve. The trigeminal nerve is responsible for sensory functions such as pressure, temperature, and pain originating from the face above the jawline.
When any minimal pressure, for whatever reason, is applied to the trigeminal nerve, it triggers bouts of attack in the form of unbearable pain. Such episodes can be triggered by touching a face (while shaving, washing the face, or applying makeup), eating, drinking, talking, or being exposed to the wind.
Trigeminal neuralgia typically occurs on one side of the face. The severity of the pain attacks causes the sufferer to grimace or twitch their face, preventing them from carrying out their routine.
Trigeminal neuralgia occurs most often in people over 50, but it can occur at any age and is more common in women than men. Women are three times more likely to be affected.
Trigeminal neuralgia is more likely to affect people with multiple sclerosis or other diseases that cause damage to the myelin sheath that surrounds particular nerves.
There is some evidence that the disorder runs in families, perhaps because of an inherited pattern of blood vessel formation. Although sometimes debilitating, the disorder is not life-threatening.
Trigeminal neuralgia causes
Trigeminal neuralgia occurs when a normal artery or vein contacts the trigeminal nerve located at the base of your brain. When they touch, pressure is put on one of the nerves, which eventually starts misfiring.
There have been other indicators that nerve damage and even stress could be one of the first triggers. Once the trigeminal nerve leaves your brain and travels through your skull, it becomes divided into three smaller branches. These three branches are in charge of controlling the sensations that you feel in your face. Each branch controls something different, such as the eyes, upper eyelids, and forehead in branch 1. Branch two has the sensation in your lower eyelid, cheek, nostril, upper lip, and upper gum. Finally, the last branch is responsible for your jaw, lower gum, lower lip, and some of the muscles you use for chewing.
Other trigeminal neuralgia causes include:
- The pressure of a tumor on the nerve, or MS, damages the myelin sheaths. The development of trigeminal neuralgia in a young adult suggests the possibility of MS.
- Multiple sclerosis: This is due to the demyelination of the nerve. Trigeminal neuralgia usually occurs in the advanced stages of multiple sclerosis.
- Physical damage to the nerve: This could be due to injury, dental surgery, or infection.
- Family history: The formation of blood vessels is hereditary.
Note: Trigeminal neuralgia can be a very debilitating condition. It is often excruciating and can put individuals in extreme pain. It affects a small percentage of the population, but misdiagnosis might affect many more. Out-of-place nerves in charge of the various facial branches are the cause.
Trigeminal neuralgia symptoms
Trigeminal neuralgia symptoms can include one or more of these patterns:
- Pain in areas served by the trigeminal nerve, including the cheek, jaw, teeth, gums, lips, or, less commonly, eyes and forehead
- Episodes of severe, stabbing, or stabbing pain that may be similar to an electric shock
- Spontaneous attacks of pain or fits caused by touching the face, chewing, speaking, or brushing your teeth
- Pain attacks range from a few seconds to several minutes
- Multiple seizure episodes that last for days, weeks, months, or longer—some people have times when they are not in pain
- Constant pain and burning sensation that can occur before cramping pain occur in trigeminal neuralgia
- Pain that affects one side of the face but rarely affects both sides of the face.
Natural treatment for trigeminal neuralgia
Listed below are natural treatments for trigeminal neuralgia.
While natural remedies for trigeminal neuralgia, such as Yoga, meditation, reiki, aromatherapy, etc., may not be a practical approach to completely healing trigeminal neuralgia symptoms, they can be very beneficial for patients who are waiting for more aggressive holistic medical procedures. No matter where you fall in the range, you’ll be glad to experience relief from your trigeminal neuralgia pain.
Home remedies
Home remedies for trigeminal neuralgia, when regularly utilized, can be helpful in pain relief for trigeminal neuralgia. Listed below are the most popular home remedies for trigeminal neuralgia
- Almond milk is one of the most effective home remedies for trigeminal neuralgia. Admission to almond milk gives you the required supplements for battling trigeminal neuralgia. Almond is a rich source of vitamin B. It contains vitamin B2 (riboflavin), the lack of which impairs iron absorption. Vitamin B3 (niacin) keeps up the nervous system, helps synthesize different hormones, and functions as an antioxidant.
- Setting heat and cold packs over the cheeks and jaws gives instant relief. The packs help alleviate muscle pain by acting as a muscle relaxant.
- Rosemary is a natural treatment for trigeminal neuralgia due to its pain-relieving properties. Its antioxidant properties also boost the immune system, making it heal faster.
- Ashwagandha oil relieves nerve pain; it is also one of the very effective new treatments for trigeminal neuralgia. Its calming properties also ease the pain. Cancer prevention agents help the immune system, making healing quicker. Sedative properties actuate the nervous system to be quiet. Thus, the utilization of this oil will relieve pain.
Relaxation Techniques
- Relaxation techniques are a home remedy for trigeminal neuralgia that has also proven effective. Tune in to music, as this will help to calm the nerves and diminish tension and stress. Develop a few side interests for relaxation, as this will help improve fixation; simultaneously, you will be occupied with something positive, which will help calm down your nerves and help you be imaginative.
Homeopathic remedies
Homeopathic treatment for trigeminal neuralgia acts on the body at the level of immunity and restores lost function. This treatment also helps cure trigeminal neuralgia symptoms without any side effects.
Homeopathic treatment is effective and has shown an overwhelming response in treating trigeminal neuralgia. Homeopathy views trigeminal neuralgia as a constitutional disease; each patient is assessed individually and treated on a deeper level. Homeopathic treatment for trigeminal neuralgia helps to minimize the frequency and severity of trigeminal neuralgia attacks, ultimately leading to remission. Homeopathic treatment for trigeminal neuralgia is perfectly safe, non-toxic, and does not clog other medicines.
The appropriate homeopathy treatment for trigeminal neuralgia depends on the individual’s constitutional type. A constitutional type is a person’s physical, emotional, and psychological components.
- Homeopathy works effectively in most cases of trigeminal neuralgia.
- Homeopathy is also effective in the many resistant cases of trigeminal neuralgia.
- It is compatible with the medications that the neurologist has prescribed.
- It is safe, non-toxic, and does not interfere with other drugs.
- Homeopathic remedies control the underlying process of nerve damage.
- Each patient is assessed based on their medical history, and the remedy is selected based on individual case analysis.
Some homeopathic remedies for trigeminal neuralgia commonly used to treat trigeminal neuralgia are listed below.
Spigelia:
- This is a homeopathic remedy for trigeminal neuralgia made from a plant commonly known as roseroot. The original drug substance is potentiated to release the inherent hidden powers that can be used to treat various disease processes. Spigelia affects the nervous system, particularly the trigeminal nerve. It has a positive effect on the heart, eyes, and head. Spigelia is also a good remedy for heart disease, especially pericarditis, angina, and rheumatic carditis. In addition to being an effective remedy for trigeminal neuralgia, it is also a good medicine for ciliary neuralgia and migraines.
Syphillinum
- Syphillinum is widely used for homeopathic treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, vitiligo, recurrent abscesses, osteomyelitis, alcohol addiction, rheumatic pain, etc. It is a helpful drug in the fight against diseases of a destructive and ingrained nature. Severe, violent, and sharp pains characterize this remedy.
Staphysagria:
- It’s a beautiful, homeopathic treatment for trigeminal neuralgia made from the seeds of a plant known as stavesacre. Staphysagria positively affects the brain, mind, stomach and intestines, lungs, skin, urogenital system, bones and joints, teeth, etc. It is one of the most commonly used drugs for trigeminal neuralgia, lichen planus, vitiligo, eczema, hives, herpes, warts, hair loss, recurrent styes and chalazion, tonsillitis, etc. It is an effective drug for toothache, prostate disorders, etc.
Cinchona officinalis (China):
- Cinchona officinalis is a natural treatment for trigeminal neuralgia made from Peruvian bark. China is widely used to treat neuralgic pain, anemia, bleeding, debilitating diseases, fever, dyspepsia, asthma, etc.
Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese treatment
Acupuncture is a natural treatment for trigeminal neuralgia that offers significant therapeutic and clinical benefits to patients and reduces the length of hospital stays. Recent research has found that acupuncture effectively relieves symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia, with a high rate of cure and an overall effective rate.
Acupuncture is an effective way to improve trigeminal neuralgia; its side effect is almost zero. Acupuncture, as part of traditional Chinese medicine, has been used for 3,000 years and is widely recognized as safe and effective pain relief. Manual acupuncture or electro-acupuncture is usually used to stimulate pain points in the body and release the qi flow for pain relief. Physiological research has reported that acupuncture for trigeminal neuralgia stimulates changes in the nervous system, particularly in pain-relieving pathways.
Acupuncture for trigeminal neuralgia is one of the most effective treatments for this medical condition. While modern Western medicine can only prescribe painkillers and spasmolytic drugs, acupuncture for trigeminal neuralgia often becomes a cure for sufferers.
Acupuncture is #1 on the list of Natural remedies for trigeminal neuralgia
Acupuncture for trigeminal neuralgia stimulates the central nervous system, releasing endorphins into the brain, spinal cord, and muscles. These endorphins work either by altering the experience of pain or by releasing other chemicals and hormones that influence the body’s self-regulating systems.
These biochemical reactions promote health and well-being by stimulating the body’s natural healing abilities.
The three primary mechanisms of natural remedies for trigeminal neuralgia include:
- Conduction of electromagnetic signals.
These points are believed to be strategic conductors of electromagnetic signals. When stimulated, these signals are relayed through the body at a rate that is much faster than under normal circumstances. These electromagnetic signals initiate the flow of immune system cells, endorphins, and other pain-killing biochemicals to those areas of the body that have been injured or are vulnerable to disease.
- Activation of the opioid system.
This stimulates the release of several types of opioids into the central nervous system, thereby reducing pain.
- Changes in sensation, brain chemistry, and involuntary body functions.
The process alters the brain’s chemistry by releasing neurohormones and neurotransmitters. It also affects other parts of the central nervous system responsible for sensation and involuntary body functions, such as immune reactions. In addition, it affects those processes that regulate blood flow, blood pressure, and body temperature.
Being a holistic approach, acupuncture for trigeminal neuralgia treats the entire body while treating a specific condition. Acupuncturists believe that illness results from disruptions or interruptions in the natural flow of energy, and by restoring this energy correctly, the body can heal itself. Clinical trials have shown acupuncture for trigeminal neuralgia to be beneficial, particularly in treating pain syndrome. Still, the field of research is growing to include positive results for respiratory disorders, addictions, and weight loss. Using acupuncture to quit smoking or for weight loss may help strengthen the immune system, reduce anxiety, and provide more strength to continue the process necessary to make those significant life changes.
Acupuncture for trigeminal neuralgia in Philadelphia
Because of the minimal side effects of acupuncture for trigeminal neuralgia and the positive reports from so many patients, it should be considered an alternative or commentary treatment for many disorders in general and for trigeminal neuralgia in particular. Attempts at healing the body and improving function should not target small, precise areas; instead, the healing must address the entire body for the best results. Acupuncture for trigeminal neuralgia can meet that need and help heal the body.
At the Philadelphia Acupuncture Clinic led by Victor Tsan, MD acupuncture for trigeminal neuralgia is provided by licensed acupuncturists David Wu, David Fleischer, and Shuhwei Wang and is usually combined with homeopathic remedies for faster results.
Contact the Philadelphia Acupuncture Clinic to schedule your first appointment for evaluation and treatment.
Telephone No.267-403-3085
