Trigeminal neuralgia is a neurological condition caused by damage to the trigeminal nerve, a large nerve that extends from the brain and branches out across both sides of the face. A light touch, movement, or breeze can trigger intense shock-like stabbing pains in the jaw, teeth, gums, behind the eyes, or across the face.
Trigeminal neuralgia is a truly debilitating condition that may bring searing pain anytime a person talks, chews, swallows, brushes his teeth, or washes his face. This can make it very difficult for someone to go about his daily routines and activities. Making matters worse, patients with trigeminal neuralgia often experience a great deal of stress between bouts of pain.
If you or someone you love has been recently diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia, you may sometimes feel hopeless. Keep in mind that some treatments and interventions can help. Here are some ways you can cope with trigeminal neuralgia.
1. Take Care of Your Mental Health
Knowing that a painful attack of trigeminal neuralgia can strike at any time can cause anxiety and depression in many people. In addition, people who suffer from chronic pain can feel very isolated and may attempt to withdraw from the things they enjoy and the people they love.
As you talk to your healthcare provider about treatments, don’t forget to include a plan to deal with your mental health. A counselor or chronic pain support group may be able to help you deal with the mental and emotional pain that comes with trigeminal neuralgia.
In addition to professional care, don’t give up on the people or things in life that you love. Seek support from friends and family, and take your mind off your troubles by indulging in pastimes. Take up activities such as meditation or journaling to help you get through the rough days.
2. Keep Up Healthy Habits
As difficult as trigeminal neuralgia is in general, it is even more difficult if you add to your health problems and concerns. While trigeminal neuralgia is painful, it is also manageable and not life-threatening. Taking your overall health more seriously and working in conjunction with your healthcare team will help you make the most of your life and the health that you do have.
Keeping in shape will help you manage trigeminal neuralgia and improve your quality of life overall. A healthy, balanced diet, a good exercise plan, and a proper night’s sleep are all essential elements of a healthy lifestyle. Keeping up with your physical health can also contribute to improving your mental state.
3. Avoid Triggers
One of the worst things about TN is how suddenly an attack can occur. trigeminal neuralgia can be triggered by different things in different patients, so the only way to learn your triggers is by paying attention. When you do have an attack, take note of what might have caused it. Perhaps bouts of pain are more likely to occur when you drink a cold beverage, eat a spicy meal, or chew something hard. Awareness can help save you a lot of pain in the long run.
4. Seek Alternative Treatments
Some patients with trigeminal neuralgia have found alternative treatments that can help. Current research has shown promise in managing trigeminal neuralgia with upper cervical care.
Any jolts to the head or neck can cause the vertebrae of the upper cervical spine to become misaligned, resulting in swelling and inflammation around the brain stem. This may cause compression or damage to the trigeminal nerves. Some patients have found chiropractic care helps reduce swelling and alleviates nerve compression, resulting in fewer and less severe attacks of trigeminal neuralgia.
At Los Angeles Upper Cervical, our upper cervical specialist is Dr. Alex Bello. The doctor specializes in the Blair Chiropractic Technique, a safe, non-invasive-drug-free treatment that may help sufferers of trigeminal neuralgia. Dr. Bello utilizes advanced 3D diagnostic imaging tools to calculate the angles of the spine so that precise corrections can be made using gentle, swift manipulations.
If you’re suffering from trigeminal neuralgia, contact Dr. Bello to discuss your case and see if upper cervical care can bring you some relief. He offers upper cervical chiropractic care to patients in Brentwood, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Westwood, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, West Los Angeles, and the surrounding areas.