Since there are not a lot of options medically, people have sought out additional relief. Here are a few things my family uses. I would love to hear what you use.My mother, grandmother, hubby's grandfather and I all have or had TN.
1) Update Jan 20/13- I just found this site that leads to different treatments in many different areas of healing. Worth looking at. http://www.livestrong.com/trigeminal-neuralgia/
2) Hot peppers (even the mildest ones) or even hot pepper powder in a capsule, so you don't feel the heat, has helped me and at least 4 others on the site that I've shared this info with. It has really lessened my TN pain and I'm so grateful. Here is the article where I learned that it dissolves the substance P that settles in the trigeminal nerve.
1) My Mother (has TN) and brother (who has Bell's Palsy) swear by vitamin B sublingual tabs (they melt under your tongue and have folic acid in them, because vitamin B is not well snythesized in the body without folic acid. Before they found that, they got vitamin B shots with folic acid tablets. It settles the irritability of damaged nerves.
2) CHINESE MEDICINE http://bit.ly/aacYiP
3) HOT SOCK- put rice in a tube sock about 1/3 full, tie a knot in it. put it in the microwave for a minute, then up against your face. For those who experience burning, this may not be for you. For those with burning, cold packs are better. I also made a rice pack by folding a washcloth in half, sewing 2 lines down it to divide it into 3 sections, then put rice into each section and sewed the open end closed. I put it in the microwave for 1 minute, then apply to my face, and it stays warm for a long time. I have even taken it with me to the E.R. so I could get enough relief to get to the E.R. Often the pain becomes too bad for me to get there so I have to just fight it out at home.
4) A couple of days ago I found 2 very ingenious scarves at www.endthepain.org . One you put the cheapy hand warmers in pockets that were sewn into the scarf. There are 4 pockets, but I think you only need one, depending on where your face pain is. Avon sells these storm/skiing masks that go over your whole head and neck that only leave your eyes exposed, and has a cord that is adjustable to each face size.
5) I also use acupressure, pressing on a certain spot seems to relieve the pain a bit during an attack. I also massage right on top of my jaw joint. It loosens the tightened muscles.
6) I keep foam earplugs in my pocket or purse. When cold gets into the ear on that one side, or when a lot of noise, such as high pitched kids yelling, or noisy public areas hit that ear, I almost end up on the floor. The little foam earplug helps.
7) My friend has long hair and finds a way to wear it up and away from her face each day because hair touching that nerve is too much for her. I asked her about short hair, and she said there is no way to pull back short hair from that area of her face without using barretts or hair combs which hurt just as much.
8) Many are helped by a TENS unit (electrical stimulation). You can usually try the machine used in a doctors office first.
9) Video of woman who found her cure naturall, with face and neck exercises prescribed by a chiropractor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00FTlUET_YM
10) Acupuncture. This has helped me, but after a few years, I developed scar tissue in that area so the needle did not help as much. I would highly recommend this and acupressure though.
11) Many people use medical marijuana for their pain.
12) KRATOM An asian herb that is as effective as opiate painkillers. I saw a very good article about Kratom on this site somewhere. I'll post it when I find it. Until then, you can read more about it here (click on colored words)I googled where to buy it, and there are places in almost every country. You can order online.
13) I found this online, Ayurvedic (India natural medicine)
http://www.survive-and-prosper.com/?p=8378
14) many people says cranio-sacral massage, a specialized type of chiropractic massage is her first line of defense.
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