Trigeminal Neuralgia

Are you looking for Trigeminal Neuralgia treatment in Croydon? Trigeminal neuralgia can be one of the most painful and horrific pains a person can feel. The pain can be so intense in your face, that it can stop you from eating, drinking or exercising. It completely drains your mental state and energy levels because you are constantly dealing with the threat of pain. Trigeminal neuralgia usually comes in waves of intense toothache like, sharp pain.

Trigeminal Neuralgia has been known in the scientific world for many years but no clear solutions have been found. People have surgery performed, try various drugs and alternative therapies to try to assist with their intense facial pain. Even surgery is not always effective and can cause other issues on top of the existing neuralgia. Sometimes multiple sclerosis or a head knock can start the symptoms of trigeminal Neuralgia.

Trigeminal neuralgia impacts more women than men but the cases for the crippling disease are very small. Only 70 people per 100,000 will experience intense facial pain.

To be diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia one must have had three attacks of one sided face pain that occur within the trigeminal nerve pathway without having pain in other areas. The pain must be severe, electric shock like, stabbing or sharp pain. Trigeminal Neuralgia comes with no other different nerve issues when described on its own.

Other things that mimic trigeminal neuralgia are tumours, multiple sclerosis or herpes virus.
The medication used for trigeminal neuralgia is generally epileptic medication from a pharmacy, however medication is few and far between for this condition. Muscle relaxants have been tried and studied but their effectiveness is unclear. Surgery is often considered for patients who are suffering from trigeminal who have not had any luck with normal medication. Decompression surgeries are generally used however these surgeries carry the risk of major sensory loss in the face, meaning you will not be able to feel your face after some of these procedures.

The biggest hope on the horizon for people suffering from trigeminal neuralgia is something called neuro modulation. This is technology that has been created to deal with trigeminal neuralgia however, these devices are also poorly understood in the way that they can help with pain.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)- there has been scientific study on the use of TENS units for people with trigeminal neuralgia where 26 out of 31 participants reported a significant improvement in their pain levels. Treatment with the machine needs to be daily for patients to get relief for between one and three months.
Chiropractic care is one of the additional modalities that has been tried for people suffering from trigeminal neuralgia. In general, our Chiropractors role is to remove spinal dysfunction and correct joint position errors in your spine as well as identify any movement disorders in your jaw that maybe stretching your trigeminal nerve or creating a compression. Your Chiropractor will be able to remove these dysfunctions and then we just hope that your body is able to stop sending pain signals into your face.

Our Chiropractors at The Innate Connection Croydon are capable and willing to consult with people suffering from trigeminal neuralgia, so then the Chiropractor can identify problem areas, create a management program which includes Chiropractic care, exercises and lifestyle changes. For more information email or call us at the clinic.

10 Facts About Trigeminal Neuralgia

1. Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic pain condition that causes intense, stabbing or electric shock–like pain in the face.

2. It is often described as one of the most painful conditions known to medical science.

3. Trigeminal neuralgia is more common in women than men and usually begins after the age of 50.

4. It is caused by compression of the trigeminal nerve, which supplies sensation to the face.

5. The most common symptom is pain on one side of the face, usually in the cheek or jaw area.

6. The pain may come and go in short bursts, or it may be constant.

7. Treatment for trigeminal neuralgia includes medications, nerve blocks, and surgery.

8. Stress and certain activities such as brushing teeth, chewing, or talking can trigger or worsen the pain.

9. Trigeminal neuralgia is also known as tic douloureux.

10. Despite its severity, trigeminal neuralgia can be effectively treated and managed.