Trigeminal Neuralgia: What is it?

You wake up every day with constant facial pain, especially in your lips, mouth, and jaw. It feels like you have a toothache, so you visit the dentist. In spite of tooth extractions, the pain persists and is becoming unbearable. Your Neurologist finally diagnoses the condition as trigeminal neuralgia. Throughout this article, we will examine the various symptoms and treatments associated with this condition.

Trigeminal neuralgia can cause severe pain in the face and head due to its nerve condition known as Tic Douloureux. Often the pain consists of a burst of sharp pain. People often suffer from intense pain on one side of their face, and it can become too much for them to handle. In the past, the disease was commonly called the suicide disease. As a result, people would kill themselves in order to no longer suffer from the pain.

How Trigeminal Neuralgia Affects the Body?

An individual may experience short, sharp pain jabs when Trigeminal Neuralgia first begins. It is possible that the pain that the person feels may increase in intensity and frequency as time goes by. It can be triggered by things like shaving, makeup or even brushing one's teeth. Symptoms do not appear at a certain time. The condition affects approximately 15,000 people. The number may actually be higher since it is frequently misdiagnosed in other circles. Affected individuals are typically women in their 40s and 50s, though children have also been reported to suffer from the condition.

Neuralgia caused by the trigeminal nerve often occurs when there is contact between a vein or an artery and the trigeminal nerve. Your brain is divided into two parts by this nerve. When they touch, this will put pressure on one of the nerves, and this will cause it to misfire. Mage and even stress could be one of the first triggers. Following its path through your skull, the trigeminal nerve will split into three smaller branches. They are responsible for controlling your facial sensations. 

There are different branches controlling different parts of the body. For example, branch 1 controls the eyes, upper eyelids, and forehead. Senses are found in lower eyelids, cheeks, nostrils, upper lips, and upper gums in branch two. Last but not least, the last branch consists of the jaw, lower gum, lower lip, and a few of the chewing muscles.

The debilitating effects of Trigeminal Neuralgia are apparent. Individuals can experience extreme pain when they suffer from it. Few people suffer from it, but many more may be affected by misdiagnosis. This condition is caused by out-of-line nerves within the face that control different branches.

Also read: Relief from Neck Pain with Chiropractic Care

Treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia

The drugs used to treat trigeminal neuralgia were originally designed to treat seizures. They are the same drugs used to treat many other nerve pain syndromes.

Despite suppressing pain, these drugs have side effects like dizziness, drowsiness, and liver problems. Skin allergies are also a concern.

If medication does not relieve pain, alternative treatments are available, such as gamma rays, radio frequency waves or gastric injections. However, it can cause long-term discomfort in the face.

Surgical procedures are available to relieve pressure on the nerve.

There are however risks and complications associated with neurosurgical procedures.

Furthermore, you can manage the symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia with alternative therapies or resources. Please seek appropriate medical advice on the appropriate treatment for trigeminal neuralgia.