Neuralgia is burning pain that follows the course of a nerve or nerves.
Trigeminal neuralgia is a condition of recurring pain on one side of the face due to a malfunction of one or more of the three branches of the trigeminal nerve. This nerve is responsible for carrying sensation from the face to the brain. Trigeminal neuralgia is also known as tic douloureux.
Sufferers of trigeminal neuralgia often contract their facial muscles, or wince when in pain, because the pain is so severe when in pain, hence the term tic. Adults of any age can be affected; however, the disorder occurs more frequently as people age, being more common in people over 50. Women are three times as likely to experience trigeminal neuralgia as men are.
Website Disclaimer - for educational purposes only |
If you experience problems with your trigeminal nerve, you may suffer bouts of severe, piercing pain (tearing, darting, or sharp cutting sensation) that lasts from several seconds to several minutes. Painful episodes may recur in days, weeks, or months, and periods of remission may grow shorter as you age.
Common symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia are brief flashes of excruciating pain in the lips, gums, cheek, and chin. Occasionally, pain is also felt in the forehead.
Pain can occur spontaneously or may be set off by touching a particular spot (trigger point) or even by smiling, talking, blowing the nose, brushing the teeth, or chewing. Repeated bursts of closely separated lightning-like flashes of excruciating pain may be felt in any part of the lower portion of the face. The pain is usually felt in the cheek area near the nose or in the jaw area.
Although the pain may be incapacitating, it's not life threatening. In some people, the pain is totally incapacitating, recurring as often as 100 times a day. When the pain is triggered by eating, people often lose weight because they are afraid to eat. The pain can be severe enough to wake people from sleep. Other people have a much milder form.
|
Taken internally, St. John's Wort has a sedative and pain reducing effect, which gives it a place in the treatment of neuralgia, anxiety, tension and similar problems.
If you have suggestions or know of a proven herbal remedy add it here in the comment area.
|
