Fight Trigeminal Neuralgia and Other Facial and Head Pain

Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) is called "the worst pain known to mankind" and "the suicide disorder" by Medical Science. It causes severe unrelenting facial and head pain. It usually attacks one side of the face, but in rare instances can affect both sides. TN is not hopeless, but can be completely life-changing and a challenge, so you need some encouragement. Here are some new ideas for treatment and hope.

Steps

  1. Find a research neurologist. If you can't, ask your regular doctor how many facial pain patients he or she treats. Chances are, the more patients, the more this doctor knows. If you don't get a good response, consider finding a new doctor.
  2. Request an MRI to see if you are a candidate for microvascular decompression surgery. That is done when an offending vein is pressing on the Trigeminal Nerve. During surgery, the surgeon places small "pillows" of teflon between the nerve and the offending problem and brings relief. If you have had this condition less than 2-3 years, you have a high success rate.
  3. Type up your medical report. Write down the history of the disorder, when the first attack came, what precipitated it. Write down all medications you have been on, all the drugs you are taking, as well as herbs and vitamins. Add the names and contact info on all doctors as well as your closest contact person, such as your spouse. Be specific on surgeries.
  4. Take 400 mg of Magnesium per day, as well as Vitamin B complex and very good multivitamins and minerals.
  5. Try Alpha-Stim technology. Your insurance should pay for this, as it is FDA approved, but you may have to fight to get it paid. This is a cumulative treatment and in time you won't need to do it so much. Try it for at least 3 weeks in prescribed physical therapy to see if it will work before you invest in it. It has over 90% success rates with migraines. Headaches make TN worse so treat all headaches.
  6. Avoid touching the facial area; also avoid cold breezes and stimulation of the face by kissing and hugging. Keep your face covered in cold or breezy weather.Wear a pin on your blouse to remind others to kiss you on the other side of your face. Keep some instant warm packs in your purse or pocket. This will help you if you get a sudden chill on your face.
  7. Try Botox injections from a reputable neurologist.
  8. Try heat or ice. Keep your neck muscles relaxed. Roll a hand towel up and try this under your neck instead of a pillow. Keep your head and face covered during sleep. Try not to sleep on the affected side, as that will worsen pain in the morning.
  9. Distract yourself with creative activities. Draw, Paint, Read, do what gives you joy! If you get into some serious concentration, you can have some relief. Quiet, gentle healing music is also useful.

Tips

  • Keep soft foods on hand for attacks, sometimes it is hard to chew normal foods during episodes.
  • Get a group of supportive friends and family if you do not know anyone else with this disorder that you can count on. You will need someone you can call even at 2 am to help you in an attack. When you have it a long time, family can get burned out so an alternate person is helpful. Use a speaker phone so you won't be touching your face during an attack when you are talking on the phone.
  • If you are having a hard time getting a true diagnosis, first keep a pain diary. Write down what precipitates your pain; be body aware. Then, visit an OroFacial Cranial Specialist and a Pain Clinic.
  • Acceptance of this disorder is important to good self care. You can go into remission, it is not hopeless.
  • When you have a remission, don't overdo it, pace yourself. Enjoy every minute of relief with joy.
  • Keep your teeth in good shape. Many sufferers have lost teeth, or had poor dental hygiene due to pain. Get a great dentist who understands TN and he can help guide you.
  • Get enough sleep; exhaustion makes attacks much worse.
  • Rest, relax and pray. Find a comfortable place to be where you feel safe. Do not be alone! Use a speakerphone to talk to others, or visit support sites online; you will feel so much better if you find another sufferer who really knows what you are going through!
  • Keep your prescribed medication with you at all times.
  • Many got this disorder after a root canal. If this is the case, do not get your teeth extracted! Many have sadly discovered that when the teeth were pulled the pain is still there. The pain comes from the Cranial Nerve called the Trigeminal Nerve; if you pull your teeth out, the pain will NOT stop! If you had a severe infection, make sure you were medicated properly with antibiotics because the infection from the abscess can move on to other branches of the nerve. Some of the population got this because of Multiple Sclerosis. Again,get checked out by your doctor. Sometimes, we do not know why, There have been documented cases of even babies with the disorder for unknown reasons. Many times it will begin after age 50 and will start with a dull constant pain. Speak to your doctor.

Warnings

  • Keep guns, knives, anything you could use for suicide out of your House. ALWAYS have someone to call when you are in the midst of a terrible attack.
  • Most doctors approve of narcotic use for this disorder in resistant cases where the anti-seizure and other pain preventing meds do not work. If you do not have an understanding doctor, find another! Morphine is used in some cases to facilitate a normal life! Remember, if you are in pain, and take the narcotic you will be normal, not comatose!
  • Do not let the doctors do destructive techniques on the Trigeminal nerve until you have exhausted all other methods of treatment!
  • Do not overdose on Over the Counter Pain meds! They normally do not help this condition so don't use them. OTC meds for pain can cause a rebound headache.
  • Remember; this disorder won't kill you, but it may make you want to give up and die. Fight and get your medical team and family to help you. This disorder can make you feel as if you want to kill yourself. Get a plan ready, keep your medications up and don't skip your meds!

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