Manage Trigeminal Neurolagia: Path to Pain Relief

Trigeminal Neurolagia is a life-altering but not threatening type of neuropathic pain characterized by episodic facial pain when a blood vessel puts pressure on your trigeminal nerve in the brainstem. It leads to disturbance in everyday activities like chewing, talking, smiling, or brushing. It is a chronic but manageable disorder.

Causes

• Primary Trigeminal Neurolagia- Common cause, blood vessel puts pressure on your  nerve in the brainstem.
• Secondary Trigeminal Neurolagia- Affects younger people with bilateral facial pain , affects total 15 % of people with this disorder,  conditions like multiple sclerosis, tumor, or arteriovenous malformation can damage the trigeminal nerve.
• Idiopathic Trigeminal Neurolagia– diagnosed when there is no clear cause of the facial pains.

Prevalence

It’s more common in females than males typically above 50 and rarely in children 150,000 people are diagnosed  in the U.S. 

Symptoms

Experiencing pain suddenly on one side of the face like being stabbed or getting an electric shock may be accompanied by muscle spasms. 

The following sensation can be felt like 

• Burning
• Numbness
• Throbbing
• Dull achiness

Risk factors

• Smoking
• Female sex
• Aging
• High blood pressure
• Genetic

Types of Trigeminal Neurolagia

It affects mostly one side of the face, if affecting both sides it won’t at the same episode i.e. not simultaneously.

1. Paroxysmal Trigeminal Neurolagia- Intense periodic pain that may leave you feeling pain or a burning sensation for a few seconds to minutes that could continue for 2 hours or have some relief breaks between them.
2. Continuous pain Trigeminal Neurolagia – Pain is less but more frequent, continuous pain with a burning sensation, due to its atypicality it can be difficult to handle.

Triggers

Simple every activity can be its symptom triggers

• Shaving, putting makeup, or washing the face
• Eating, drinking, smiling, talking or brushing
• Application of any pressure to the face

Some Medical treatments

These medications are provided if suffering from primary or idiopathic TN which may have some side effects and this should be properly communicated with a specialist.

• Antiseizure medications– drugs like carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine are given to patients to block pain signals.
• Use of baclofen a muscle relaxant.

Surgery

If the patient is suffering from secondary Trigeminal Neurolagia or if medications didn’t work consider surgery but it may have side effects. Some options can be

1. Microvascular decompression: The most effective but invasive surgery that removes the pressure from blood vessels pressing against the nerve.
2. Radiosurgery: Helps to block pain signals by providing radiation to the root of the nerve, a slow process, the effects may be seen in a month.
3. Rhizotomy: Block pain signals by damage of the roots of the nerve by mechanical balloon compression, thermocoagulation chemical injection, may result in numbness of the face and is not efficient in the long term.
4. Peripheral Neurectomy: Includes damage or removal of the nerve by incision, Alcohol injection, or cryotherapy.

Relaxing activities like yoga, meditation, aromatherapy, psychotherapy, acupuncture, diet filled with antioxidants can also help.

Eating bad food, and aggravating food can also be a result of a compressed or inflamed Trigeminal nerve. A diet chart full of antioxidants can help in possible reversal.

Some dos and don’t

Cereals to be consumed include

• White rice, wheat, millet,sorghum, amarnath
• Avoid: Refined flour and its products.

Fruits

• EAT: apple, Banana, Water melon, Muskmelon, Avocado, Peaches, Pear, Coconut, Pomegranate, Litchi, Custard apple, Sapodilla, Blueberries.
• Avoid: Orange, Pineapple, Strawberries, Mangoes, Lime, Lemon

Vegetables

• Eat: Zucchini, Sweet potato, Pumpkin, Ginger, Celery, Red onion, Coriander, Radish, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale, Mushrooms, Spinach, Carrot, Fenugreek leaves, Potato, Yam, Bottle gourd, Beetroot, Turnip, Bitter gourd
• Avoid: Tomatoes, Lemon, Peas, Okra, Eggplant, Cabbage, Capsicum, Bell pepper

https://unzipcraft.com/plant-sunflowers-grow-your-own-sunflowers/

Flesh foods

• Eat: Egg white, Chicken
• Avoid: Processed and fried meat, Red meat- (Beef, Lamb, Pork)

Drinks

• Consume: coconut water, Homemade soups and juices, Herbal tea
• Avoid: Whole milk drinks, Cream based liqueurs, canned soup and packaged soup, Alcohol, Sweetened drinks, Squashes, Carbonated drinks

Some dieting instruction

• Stay hydrated
• Start the day with lukewarm water/4 soaked almonds/2 Indian gooseberry/aloe vera juice
• Avoid refined sugar
• Avoid packed food
• Avoid simple carbs, saturated and trans fats.
• Consume banana as it has anti inflammatory properties and magnesium that can help with pain relief

Frequently Asked Question (FAQS):-

Q1- Can i eat bananas everyday if i have trigeminal neuralgia

Ans. Yes you can eat banana everyday as it is non inflammatory and will only increase your energy which you would need 

Q2. What are some remedies to treat Trigeminal Neurolagia?

Ans. Some remedies can be

• Pumpkin or carrot juice daily
• 1 tsp of turmeric in milk, daily
• 1/4th tsp. of mulethi with warm water