Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) has been termed the Suicide Pain. As stated by the patient in this study, it brings people to their knees by its sharp, sudden, severe, but brief stabbing, recurrent pain. The pain is in the distribution of the fifth cranial nerve. The risk of developing the problem (known as prevalence) for TN is 1/1000 for men and 2/1000 for women. The Incidence of TN is 4/1000 for men and 6.5/1000 for women. TN is approximately twice as common in females as males.
Causes
The trigeminal nerve arises from the brain stem, which is located at the base of the brain and is continuous with the spinal cord. Trigeminal neuralgia begins when this nerve becomes irritated at the root. Irritation can have a variety of causes, including:
Blood Vessel: A blood vessel can press on the trigeminal nerve, damaging the protective coating around it, the myelin sheath.
Disease: Certain diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, can also injure the myelin sheath. A tumor can also press on the nerve.
Injury: Surgery or an accident can place pressure on the nerve.
Stroke: Suffering a stroke can damage the trigeminal nerve.
Symptoms
Many describe a TN attack as pins and needles or tingling sensations that evolves into a jabbing or burning pain, or as an electric shock that lasts a few seconds to a few minutes. Common symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia include:
Recurring episodes of shooting pain similar to electric shocks
Stabbing or shooting pain
A burning sensation on one side of the face
Pain spasms that last from several seconds to a few minutes
Intermittent spasms of mild pain
Pain in the gums, teeth, jaw, and lips
Pain on one or both sides of the face
Numbness in the face
Attacks which worsen over time
Some individuals who suffer TN are sensitive in certain areas of the face, called trigger zones. When touched, these zones bring on an attack. For most people, these zones are near the nose, lips, eyes, ear, or inside the mouth. For this reason, TN is sometimes misdiagnosed as a dental or jaw problem or even as a psychological disorder.
Patients that visit Upper Cervical Chiropractors often report more problems with their Upper Cervical Spine and craniocervical junction (which includes the bas of the skull). Therefore, TN comes up more frequently. The nucleus of the Trigmeninal nerve can get activated via the Trigeminocervical nucleus found in the Upper Cervical Spine, which has a direct nerve connection to the spinal nerves that arise at C1, C2, and C3 in the Upper Cervical Spine. Upper Cervical Chiropractors gently assess and realign C1 and C2 under the skull, to decrease the stimulus into the Trigeminocervical nucleus which fires up into the nerves in the face.
If there has been trauma to the Upper Cervical spine via head and neck injuries, or repetitive poor posture from sitting at a desk for years, it can be a contributing factor or a causative factor of TN. So if this sounds like you, call an upper cervical specialist to be checked for Upper Cervical misalignment.
Other Treatment Options for Trigeminal Neuralgia
Many conventional methods of TN treatment are not only expensive but also incredibly invasive. Not to mention, many of these treatments have adverse side effects that can further impact a patient’s quality of life.
Medical treatment for TN includes:
Nerve inhibitors to limit nerve reaction
Muscle relaxers
Antidepressants
Surgical intervention for TN includes:
Micro-vascular decompression, in which blood vessels affecting the nerve are moved or removed
Gamma knife radiosurgery, which uses radiation to destroy some of the nerves
Balloon compression, which uses a balloon to damage the nerve and block pain signals
Rhizotomy, which destroys nerve fibers
Aside from gamma knife surgery, which uses damaging radiation, these surgeries all utilize a large, hollow needle to pierce through the face into an opening in the base of the skull. These invasive procedures are not only frightening, but can damage neighboring nerves, creating lifelong damage.
Alternative Treatment Options for Trigeminal Neuralgia
There are less invasive methods of reducing nerve pain and stress in the face. Some alternative complementary therapies include:
Acupuncture
Aromatherapy
Meditation
Yoga
