 Trigeminal
neuralgia (facial nerve pain), also called tic douloureux, is a condition that
affects the trigeminal nerve (the 5th cranial nerve), one of the largest nerves
in the head. The trigeminal nerve is responsible for sending impulses of touch,
pain, pressure and temperature to the brain from the face, jaw, gums, forehead
and around the eyes.
Trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by a sudden, severe, electric shock-like
or stabbing pain typically felt on one side of the jaw or cheek. The attacks of
pain, which generally last several seconds and may be repeated one after the
other, may be triggered by talking, brushing teeth, touching the face, chewing
or swallowing. The condition may become chronic and debilitating, often lasting
for years
Once Western medicine utilizes an MRI exam to
rule out a physical obstruction pressing on the trigeminal nerve, the choice of
treatment is drug therapy to control the pain. Often drugs such as Carbamazepine
(Tegretol®), Phenytoin (Dilantin®), Gabapentin (Neurontin®), and Baclofen
(Lioresal®) can control the pain. If pain becomes more frequent and severe,
increased doses of medications are required. This may lead to intolerable side
effects and/or inadequate pain control. Since trigeminal neuralgia is extremely
painful, but not life threatening, the goal of therapy is to minimize the
dangerous side effects ranging from dizziness and nausea to serious heart,
liver, kidney and blood complications. If medications do not adequately control
trigeminal neuralgia that progressively worsens, surgical procedures are
considered to be the next line of treatment. The major disadvantage to surgery
is that it requires a neurosurgical operation — with all its complications — to
get access to the root of the trigeminal nerve. The success rates of the
surgical procedures vary according to the experience of the surgeon or the
anesthesiologist.
If you suffer from trigeminal neuralgia,
acupuncture can offer complete pain relief naturally without side effects. If
you would like to pursue this form of treatment or information, please contact
Xiaoyan.
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Trigeminal Neuralgia
