(+65) 8438 9550
help@vitalitychiropracticcentres.com
Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) is a severe pain condition which is sometimes called ‘TN pain’.
This painful condition often presents as a recurrent stabbing pain, with discomfort felt in the upper neck, jaw, teeth or gums. While it commonly affects a small number of nerves, it can feel like it is causing problems throughout the entire body.
This can be so severe it has been described as suicide pain and named the ‘Suicide Disease.
If you are trying to find relief and looking for a natural alternative to the traditional route of pain medications, Upper Cervical Chiropractic care may be for you!
It has been proven to improve overall health — by correcting misalignment in the upper cervical spine and spinal cord that may be an underlying cause of trigeminal neuralgia pain.
Interested? Keep reading to learn more!
Reach out to our chiropractor clinic today for professional help.
What is the Fifth Cranial Nerve?
Running along the temporomandibular joint, the fifth cranial nerve is the trigeminal nerve that is connected to the trigeminal nucleus. This is the main nerve supplying information to the face for sensation (like pain) and function (such as for moving the muscles).
What does this have to do with trigeminal neuralgia?
Well, the compression of the trigeminal nerve usually causes trigeminal neuralgia. Also, upper cervical spine problems are often related to this part of the central nervous system as well.
Whenever a painful condition occurs, it is detected by one of the two nerve branches that run down the left and right of the skull. These cranial nerves are responsible for facial sensation.
What is the Cause of Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Upper Cervical Misalignment
As part of the central nervous system, the trigeminal nerve sends pain sensations from the face, teeth and mouth to the brain.
However, if you suffer from upper cervical problems (upper cervical misalignment), it is commonly the main causative factor of TN. This misalignment can be caused by head and neck injuries (cervical spine), or repetitive poor posture from sitting at a desk for years.
These injuries or postures will lead to changes in the alignment of the bones in the upper neck (Upper Cervical misalignment). This mechanical change results in uneven pressure on the joints, muscles, and nerves of the neck.
Think of it a bit like the foundations of a building being uneven. The floors, walls, and ceilings may become out of balance and develop problems.
Similarly, this happens in the neck. The changes in balance pressure the nerves, particularly to the face.
Therefore medication may only be helpful short term, whereas correcting the misalignment (such as with Chiropractic care) helps to correct the problem in the long term. This can also be triggered by stress or chemicals.
Pressure on the Fifth Cranial Nerve
Trigeminal neuralgia can also be caused by a blood vessel pressing on the part of the fifth cranial nerve inside the skull.
This compressed blood vessel pressing on the nerve results in facial pain or motor problems. In some rare cases, this may be due to a congenital problem leading to this problem with the blood vessels.
However, it is more common that the Upper Cervical misalignment (also called Subluxation) changes the position of the bones, resulting in the blood vessels being out of place and thus pressing on the nerve.
In these cases, correcting the Upper Cervical spine helps to reduce the pressure the blood vessel puts on the nerve, leading to less pain.
Multiple Sclerosis
Another potential cause of trigeminal neuralgia pain can be the pre-existing condition of multiple sclerosis (MS), where intermittent pain is experienced as neck pain or nerve interference. This is because of how MS affects the blood vessels (vascular system).
What are the Symptoms of Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Trigeminal neuralgia pain may occur in one or more of these forms:
- nerve pain
- chronic pain
- upper cervical pain
- neuropathic pain
- a feeling of electrical shocks from the upper lip
- a feeling of bugs crawling or shock throughout the body
- ‘electrical shock’ sensation along the jawline, head and neck
How Do I Get a Trigeminal Neuralgia Diagnosis?
If you suspect that you have trigeminal neuralgia, you should seek a healthcare professional immediately.
After proper communication between the patient and doctor, a proper diagnosis can be obtained, discussing overall symptoms and potential causes.
After the initial evaluation, doctors may look for a causative factor in order to determine the best way for the patient to obtain long-term relief.
What are the Treatment Options for Trigeminal Neuralgia?
One of the treatment options for trigeminal neuralgia is using cold packs, a solution often used for neck injuries and similar issues.
Anti-seizure medications and tricyclic antidepressants are common treatments to restore nerve function, assisting those with chronic pain related to trigeminal neuralgia.
Radiofrequency ablation is another technique for dealing with trigeminal neuralgia pain. This method involves removing tissues and tumours via surgery.
Such an invasive procedure is carried out to reduce chronic pain for those who don’t respond to medication. Successful patients report that the ‘electrical shock’ sensation disappears or is significantly reduced after surgery.
But if you’re looking for non-invasive and drug-free treatments for trigeminal neuralgia, these methods may not work for you.
Can I Seek Chiropractic Care for Trigeminal Neuralgia?
For those experiencing trigeminal neuralgia along the fifth cranial nerve, ‘TN pain’ may become a thing of the past.
Patients who visit upper cervical Chiropractors may find relief for atypical trigeminal neuralgia, reducing nerve pain and spinal misalignments. If there are problems in the upper cervical spine, this can be the DIRECT cause of trigeminal neuralgia pain.
The physical therapy done throughout Chiropractic care has been noted to stimulate the nerve system, restore nerve function, and ease pain commonly associated with trigeminal neuralgia pain.
Our primary care physicians are experts in nerve system problems, specialising in Chiropractic care for cranial nerve-related issues, such as facial pain and trigeminal neuralgia.
Under Upper Cervical Chiropractic care, chronic trigeminal neuralgia sufferers have reported reduced neck pain due to nerve interference (subluxations).
Upper cervical specialist Chiropractic care focuses on correcting misalignment in the spinal cord, using Chiropractic adjustment techniques to offer relief.
Furthermore, upper cervical Chiropractic care acts as physical therapy to reduce severe shocking pains. The progressive plan is flexible — allowing cervical spine adjustment to be done safely in enclosed environments.
manage trigeminal neuralgia symptoms with Vitality Chiropractic Centre today!
For those seeking help for trigeminal nerve pain, Vitality Chiropractic Centres offer a hassle-free experience. Their doctors understand this problem and how much of an impact it makes on patients’ lives.
As the first Chiropractors in Southeast Asia to carry out this Upper Cervical Specific Chiropractic Care, trigeminal neuralgia and severe shocking pains may become a thing of the past.
Our Chiropractors’ protocol has a proven track record with nerve problems, like trigeminal neuralgia.
We start with a systematic review of your history, followed by special tests and nerve scans using the latest technology to accurately identify your source of pain before proposing a suitable trigeminal neuralgia plan.
Are you ready to take your life back and live without pain?
Book a consultation with us today!
Written by
Shaan Rai (Chiropractic, Singapore)
Shaan (UK) is based in Singapore. He is a GCC registered Singapore Chiropractor, completing a 5 year course at AECC, attaining his Masters in Chiropractic. His career has been specialised in neurological cases, such as migraines and vertigo. He is the Chairman for Outreach and Charity for Alliance of Chiropractic (AoC) and is a founder of Vitality Chiropractic Singapore and the NeuroPro method, combining Upper Cervical techniques with Functional Neurology Rehab.
