Trigeminal neuralgia is a condition of the nerves that results in sudden, sharp, electric shock type facial pain. It is a condition that involves the trigeminal nerve, one of the 12 cranial nerves that descend down either side of the face directly from the brain, feeding into the forehead, cheeks and jaw. An irritation or compression of this nerve causes the most commonplace of activities, brushing your teeth, chewing, or even a chill breeze outside, to trigger a jolt of pain that lasts a few seconds, but is far more unbearable than the initial event.
It is typically found on one side of the face but sometimes it may be present on both sides. In comparison, the pain is often experienced in sudden outbreaks or flares, rather than as a steady ache, making it unpredictable and highly worrisome to anyone who experiences it.
It's important to understand that trigeminal neuralgia is extremely severe, but is treatable with the right kind of care if you're seeking trigeminal neuralgia treatment in Pune. When nerve irritation is treated, not merely controlled symptom by symptom, most patients experience long lasting relief.
Symptoms of Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia can be fairly specific in its symptoms if you know what to look for:
- Sharp, stabbing pain that occurs suddenly in the face (like an electric shock).
- Short attacks (several seconds to a couple of minutes but several times during the day).
- Pain that occurs with routine activities such as: brushing teeth, chewing, talking, or even a gentle breeze on the face.
- Unilateral pain, usually around the cheek, jaw or forehead area.
- Remissions, when it goes away for weeks or months, followed by periods of exacerbation (flares).
- If not corrected, will increase in frequency and intensity with time.
The pain lasts for a short time and is localized, which can lead to misdiagnosis as the initial stage of a dental issue. If the facial pain is recurrent and is short, sharp and associated with touch or movement it might be worthwhile to examine the nerve itself.
Common Causes & Risk Factors
Trigeminal neuralgia typically occurs when there is irritation, pressure or compression on the trigeminal nerve. In Ayurveda, it is similar to Ananthavata, which is caused by aggravated Vata dosha disturbing the nervous system and disrupting the subtle energy called Prana Vayu which is related to sensory and neural functioning. The most common causes and risk factors are:
- Compression of the nerve(s) such as by an adjacent blood vessel that is compressing the trigeminal nerve.
- More common in those over 50, but can be seen earlier, age.
- Diseases that affect the nerve such as multiple sclerosis that can destroy the protective coating of the nerve
- Vata aggravating life style factors: Irregular sleep, excess cold exposure, high stress and poor diet which affects the nervous system as per ayurvedic principles
- The blocked or obstructed sensory transmission through the srotas (channels) is believed to be the main cause of disturbance in the face according to Ayurveda.
- Injury to the face or dental work, in some instances, can cause nerve irritation.
Prevention of Trigeminal Neuralgia
While it's not always possible to avoid getting trigeminal neuralgia, it's possible to better manage your risk of experiencing a trig trig flare-up and to slow the progression of trig:
- Avoid cold wind and temperature changes, which are known triggers for flares.
- Be consistent in stress management as it is a great aggravator for Vata dosha and nerve pain.
- Maintain regular sleep and food habits as they upset Vata in time.
- Once you have identified which areas to avoid contact with, try to avoid known personal triggers such as specific chewing patterns or touch to the trigger areas.
- If a facial pain is present and these are short, early onset ones, do not ignore them or they will be more difficult to treat.
- Have pain from nerves diagnosed – don't assume it is dental or sinus pain.
About Dr. Rajeev Keloth Nambiar
One of the more distressing conditions that Dr. Rajeev Keloth Nambiar, a BAMS doctor and MD, treats at Dr. Nambiar's Advanced Ayurveda is the trigeminal neuralgia, which is a condition that is very painful to patients despite the fact that the duration of the pain is very short. Treatment of trigeminal neuralgia in Pune is based on his principle of reducing the aggravated Vata dosha and release the blocked srotas that cause disturbance of nerve signalling in the face.
People are usually treated with specific Ayurvedic medicines and nerve-soothing and circulation-enhancing therapies. Diet and lifestyle correction is a real factor as well because the tendency to aggravate the condition through diet and lifestyle often persists whether or not medication is effective.
A significant change is typically apparent early on. Most people have 30-40% relief of hypersensitivity and pain within the first month, and 50-80% within the second month; for those who are treated longer, improvements can lead to normal functioning of the nerve. Dr. Nambiar has practiced for more than 26 years, working with patients who found that traditional treatments were not providing them with lasting relief from their nerve and spine conditions, particularly trigeminal neuralgia, and they experienced recurrence of symptoms every few months.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's):
Many cases react well to treatment and a large number of patients recover long-term with no symptoms after treating the underlying nerve irritation.
Brushing your teeth, chewing, talking or exposure to cold wind are examples of routine activities that can trigger, as they involve light touch or motion in the area around the affected nerve.
Trigeminal neuralgia causes brief, sharp, shock-like pain that comes and goes suddenly, while a toothache is usually a more constant, dull ache localized to a specific tooth.
Many patients notice 30 to 40% relief within the first month, with further improvement to 50 to 80% by the second month, and continued treatment often leads to lasting recovery.
Yes. Stress aggravates Vata dosha, which is considered central to this condition in Ayurveda, and can make flare-ups more frequent or intense.
It's rare, but possible. Most cases affect only one side, which is actually one of the features that helps distinguish it from other types of facial pain.