Trigeminal neuralgia pain
Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from your face to your brain. The trigeminal nerve sends impulses of touch, pain, pressure, and temperature to the brain from the face, jaw, gums, forehead, and around the eyes. The most common symptom of Trigeminal neuralgia is a very sharp pain. It results in intense and extreme episodes of pain in the face. The episodes are sporadic and sudden and often like “electric shocks”, lasting from a few seconds to several minutes. The pain could be fleeting, lasting for a few seconds only, or it could be long and tortuous.
The pain management of Trigeminal neuralgia pain involves the following aspects:
Support and Education
- Patients need to be made aware that the condition is not life-threatening.
- Education as to the causes and potential therapies.
- Reassurance and support groups.
Medications
- Anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine
- Antispasmodic agents such as baclofen
Surgery
- Microvascular decompression – It involves relocating or removing blood vessels that are in contact with the trigeminal root.
- Gamma Knife radiosurgery – This procedure uses radiation to damage the trigeminal nerve and reduce or eliminate pain
- Radiofrequency thermal lesioning – This procedure selectively destroys nerve fibers associated with pain.
- Balloon compression – In balloon compression, your doctor inserts a hollow needle through your face and threads a thin, catheter with a balloon on the end through the needle and inflates the balloon with enough pressure to damage the trigeminal nerve and block pain signals.
Acupuncture
- Acupuncture for trigeminal neuralgia is most effective when applied promptly after the appearance of the syndrome. The insertion of acupuncture needles causes enhanced blood flow to the affected area.
Nutritional Therapy
- Try to eat very live foods like greens
- Avoid foods high in sugar, salt, trans-fatty acids, saturated fats and caffeine.
Vitamin therapy
- Take Magnesium, 400 mg a day
- Take B complex and very good multivitamin and minerals daily.
Herbal treatment
Herbs such as hops, valerian and vervain help treat pain or discomfort and support the health and function of your peripheral nerves.
Homeopathy – It is worldwide popular as safe natural and effective pain management remedy. There are a number of medicines for both acute and chronic pain and are used depending on the type of painful condition. It is very suitable for long term management.
