Trigeminal neuralgia is a type of neuropathic pain involving the facial region. The disease, which is known as the “disease that makes you mad” among the people, can lead to suicide.
The disease occurs when the trigeminal nerve, which provides the sense of the face as well as the chewing muscles, is damaged for any reason. It is sudden, usually unilateral, severe, short-term pain that develops in the area covered by one or more branches of the trigeminal nerve. Patients describe this pain as burning, stinging, numbness, tingling, freezing, electric shock, stabbing, lightning. It can start with factors such as face washing, touching the face, eating, brushing teeth, shaving, putting on make-up, talking, swallowing, chewing, hot and cold foods. It makes the person able to take only liquid foods.
Pain is usually seen in the lower and upper jaw parts of the face. Trigeminal neuralgia pain is a constant, burning or aching pain, which can put the patient in distress. Some patients cannot eat or drink water due to this pain.
It comes in the form of recurrent pain. Pain intervals may become more frequent. Severe pain can cause deterioration of the mental state of the person. In this case, mental therapy support should also be given. The person’s quality of life deteriorates.
Diagnosis can be made with the history taken from the patient. However, it should be checked with examinations whether there is a formation that will compress the trigeminal nerve. In the vast majority, no organic cause can be identified. The cause of the disease in these is unknown.
The incidence of trigeminal neuralgia has been reported to be between 5 and 25 per 100,000. It is known that it is 2 times more common in women. It is usually seen over the age of 50.
Precautions:
Activities such as eating, brushing teeth, drinking water, shaving or putting on make-up, or a breeze that comes into contact with the face in the cold can trigger the sudden onset of pain.
In case of going out to cold weather, the face should be protected with a scarf.
Air conditioning and ventilation should not be exposed directly.
Very hot or cold drinks should not be drunk, and in case of drinking, a straw should be used to avoid touching the sensitive area of the mouth.
Trigeminal Neuralgia Treatment with Acupuncture
Trigeminal neuralgia treatment can be performed with acupuncture. Success in treatment depends on how many years the disease has been.
Acupuncture is successfully applied in trigeminal neuralgia as well as in body neuralgias.
Acupuncture provides a powerful stress treatment and prevents the disease from increasing with stress. It improves the patient’s quality of life.
