Trigeminal neuralgia treatment by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Trigeminal neuralgia symptoms

Trigeminal neuralgia is also known as tic douloureux. The condition is characterized by pain often accompanied by a brief facial spasm or tic. Pain distribution is unilateral and follows the sensory distribution of cranial nerve V, typically radiating to the maxillary or mandibular area. At times, both distributions are affected.

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Diagnosis of Trigeminal neuralgia
The diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia is based the history of symptoms. Signs of cranial nerve dysfunction or other neurologic abnormality exclude the diagnosis of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia and suggest that pain may be secondary to a structural lesion.

Trigeminal neuralgia treatment
Patients with trigeminal neuralgia pain have three options: Medications, surgery, or a combination of the two. Some of the prescription drugs used to treat trigeminal neuralgia include: Anticonvulsant drugs may be effective initially but many patients cannot tolerate the side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, double vision, and nausea. Some doctors prescribe muscle relaxants but they are not very effective and could lead to mental confusion and drowsiness to the point of being non-functional. The goal of surgery is to damage or destroy the part of the trigeminal nerve that is the source of the pain. A common surgical side effect is facial numbness.

Trigeminal neuralgia questions
Q. Do you have anything natural that helps trigeminal neuralgia? Any herbs or supplements?
   A. Not at this time. However, kava, Good-Night-Rx, hops tea, or valerian may be tried in the evening.