Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal Neuralgia

As all of us know, headache is the most common health issue for people. Headaches, above all things, are subjective events. They can be a sign of acute (short-lived) or chronic (continuous) diseases. If the headache is a sign of a disease (brain tumor, tonsillitis=inflammation of the tonsils, myopia, acute mesotitis, etc.) the first thing required is to remove the reason for this, and medical treatment is a must.

For this reason, headache ends with the removal of the reason. Thus, in which situations should acupuncture be used? Acupuncture can be safely used in the following situations:

1- All kinds of migraine and other vascular headaches,
2- Tension (muscular contraction) headaches,
3-Sinusitis (acute or chronic) antibiotic may be added or not added,

Trigeminal neuralgia is the 5th of nerves that we call 12 pairs of nerves that are attached to the Brain.
It is the sensation nerve of the face (ache, touching, pain, etc.).
Trigeminal neuralgia is a pain which is in the form of very intensive streak of lightning that happens in seconds in the face and very sharp (it is the harshest pain that humans have). It can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. If it were to last for much longer, it could push the person to commit suicide. After a while, pain stops this very serious position and may turn into a more full-feeling form. Usually it is on one side of the face. The reasons are usually unknown.

It rarely appears in people below the age of 30. Usually it appears after age 50. It obstructs all daily activities of the patient. He/she may not even wish to wash his/her face. Cold weather can also cause pain. The patient cannot shave. He/she cannot brush his/her teeth. Sometimes even eating may trigger pain. Trigeminal nerve has 3 main branches. The first is around the eyes, the second is the upper jaw and cheek area, and the third part forwards the sensations of lower jaw to the brain. Besides, the third one is responsible of some chewing muscles of the lower jaw. In trigeminal neuralgia, most widespread ones are the third and second branches.

Acupuncture treatment:
Acupuncture is applied successfully in facial pains as it is used in other body neuralgias. Here, 10 sessions are applied for 2 or 3 times a week for 30-40 minutes. Then, 10 days of intervals are given, and it is finished by applying treatment once a week and later once in a fortnight. According to studies, the success rate of results are 70%. It is advised that vitamin B in high doses are given to the patient in addition to acupuncture.

Body acupuncture points:
GV 20,GB14,BL2,Taiyang, BL 2,ST 8,ST 7,ST 41,ST 3,SI 17,SI 18,LI 4,TE 5,TE 17,SI 18,LI 20,ST 2,ST 6,ST 7,LR3,KI 6,SP 6,LI 20,TE 23,ST 36

Ear acupuncture points:
Shenmen, heart, forehead, temporal, sympathetic, kidney