Trigeminal Neuralgia (facial nerve pain)

Trigeminal Neuralgia Diagnosis:

Pain in the face that can last from seconds to days. This intense pain can effect the forehead, scalp, nose, lips, ears, jaw, teeth or one whole side of the face.  Trigeminal neuralgia as it's name imples, is a problem of trigeminal nerve.  As this disorder is easily misdiagnosed an approxmiate 1 in 15,000 or more will have this disorder diagnosed.  It is most common in females over 50 years of age but can be present in males and females at any age.  

Trigeminal neuralgia pain is sudden, shocking and extrememly painful.  The pain is sometimes triggered by as litle as a soft touch from a finger or other object, in some cases there is no direct contact and the pain is triggered.   Since this disorder has been around for some time and has been difficult to treat many patients suffering chronic Trigeminal neuralgia have comitted suicide, because of this, it is often known as "suicide disease" in newspapers and in the public.  

This condition is most commonly caused by pressure on the 5th cranial nerve.  This pressure may be caused by a blood vessel, tumor, cyst, ...

Chinese Medicine and Trigeminal Neuralgia

Acupuncture points to help treat this disorder can provide relief and in theory a cure.  The following are popular acupuncture points to help treat this painful disorder. 

BL 2, GB 8, 14, LI 4, St 8, St 4 , ST 2, SI 18, LI 4, 20, GB 3,Ren 24, Jia Cheng Jiang,  SJ 17, ST 44, LI 4, GB 20 , SP 6, LR 3

*Sedating methods- do not over manipulate, longer calmer stimulation.  Do not puncture on trigger points as this will cause extreme discomfort.  Try to find out other causes for the triggers such as diet or emotional stress and treat according to pattern.  

Alternative Treatment Methods for Trigeminal Neuralgia

Auricular Acupuncture- facial, mandible, frontal, shenmen

injection- vit B1 and B12, Yan Hu Suo, preference is to inject subcutaneously on the trigger point