Trigeminal neuralgia is a condition that causes painful sensations similar to an electric shock on one side of the face. This chronic pain condition affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from your face to your brain. If you have trigeminal neuralgia, even mild stimulation of your face — such as from brushing your teeth or putting on makeup — may trigger a jolt of excruciating pain.
Symptoms
- Episodes of severe, shooting or jabbing pain that may feel like an electric shock
- Spontaneous attacks of pain or attacks triggered by things such as touching the face, chewing, speaking or brushing teeth
- Attacks of pain lasting from a few seconds to several minutes
- Pain that occurs with facial spasms
- Bouts of multiple attacks lasting days, weeks, months or longer — some people have periods when they experience no pain
- Pain in areas supplied by the trigeminal nerve, including the cheek, jaw, teeth, gums, lips, or less often the eye and forehead
- Pain affecting one side of the face at a time
- Pain focused in one spot or spread in a wider pattern
- Pain rarely occurring at night while sleeping
- Attacks that become more frequent and intense over time
Causes
In trigeminal neuralgia, also called tic douloureux, the trigeminal nerve’s function is disrupted. While compression by a blood vessel is one of the more common causes of trigeminal neuralgia, there are many other potential causes as well. Some may be related to multiple sclerosis or a similar disorder that damages the myelin sheath protecting certain nerves. Trigeminal neuralgia can also be caused by a tumor compressing the trigeminal nerve.
Some people may experience trigeminal neuralgia due to a brain lesion or other abnormalities. In other cases, surgical injuries, stroke or facial trauma may be responsible for trigeminal neuralgia.
Triggers
A variety of triggers may set off the pain of trigeminal neuralgia, including:
- Shaving
- Touching your face
- Eating
- Drinking
- Brushing your teeth
- Talking
- Putting on makeup
- Breeze lightly blowing over your face
- Smiling
- Washing your face
Diagnosis:
Trigeminal neuralgia mainly based on your description of the pain, including:
- Type – Pain related to trigeminal neuralgia is sudden, shock-like and brief.
- Location – The parts of your face that are affected by pain will tell your doctor if the trigeminal nerve is involved.
- Triggers- Trigeminal neuralgia-related pain usually is brought on by eating, talking, light touch of your face or even encountering a cool breeze.
- A neurological examination
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Panchakarma Treatments
- Nasya, Shirodhara, Tarpana, Shiro Pichu, Mukhabhyanga, Panasa Patra Sweda, Gandusha, kavala, karna poorana, Thala, Ksheeradhara, Pichu, Shirovasti, Ksheeradhooma, Lepana
External oils for Application:
- Karpasathyadi taila
- Mahanarayana taila
- Mahamasha taila
- Saindhavadi taila
- Sahacharadi taila
- Prabhanjanam taila
- Laghuvishagarbha taila
- Vishagarbha taila
- Prasarini taila
- Bala talla
- Ksheerabala taila
- Balaashwagandadi taila
- Dhanvantara taila
- Maharaja prasarini taila
- Vishagarbha taila
- Kottamchukkadi taila
- Nirgundi taila with salt
Ayurvedic treatments:
- Abhyanga: with Ksheerabala or Karpasasthyadi thailam
- Steam fomentation: Medicated steam on the face and neck may reduce nerve pain.
- Nasyam: with Karpasasthyadi thailam or Shadbindu thailam or Anu Thailam
- Rasayana treatment: Narasimha Rasayanam has high anti oxidant properties. It reduces inflammation, stimulates immune system.
Common Internal medicines:
- Mahayogaraja guggulu
- Rasnadi guggulu
- Mahayogaraja guggulu
- Rasnadi guggulu
- Kaishora guggulu
- Dhanvantara Gulika
- Maha Vatavidhwansa rasa
- Ekangaveera Rasa
- Vatagajankusha rasa
- Brihat vata Chintamani
- Sameerapannaga rasa
- Vishamushthi vati
- Dhanvantara Gritham
- Guggulu thiktaka Gritham
- Ashwagandadi Gritham
- Dashamoola Rasayana
- Brahma Rasayana
- Narasimha Rasayana
- Ashwagandadi lehyam
- Ashwagandarishta
- Balarishta
- Dashamoolarishta
- Maharasnadi Kashayam
- Ashtavarga Kashayam
- Dhanadanayanadi Kashayam
- Dhanvanthara Kashayam
- Dashamoola kashaya
- Balajeerakadi kashaya
- Prasarinyadi Kashayam
- Pathyaksha dhathryadi Kashayam.
Single herbs useful in facial paralysis:
- Lashuna-garlic
- Nirgundi- Vitex negundo
- Lavanga -Clove- Syzygium aromaticum
- Sarshapa- Mustard
- Rasna- Alpinia galanga
- Masha- Blackgram
- Bala- Sida cordifolia
- Hingu-Asa foetida
- Guggulu- Commiphora mukul