Category: Nervous System Disorders

What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?

Trigeminal Neuralgia is a chronic condition caused by trigeminal nerve pain. Trigeminal Nerve is the fifth cranial nerve carrying various sensations to the face and motor functions as mastication and swallowing. Its 3 divisions-opthalmic, maxillary and mandibular carries sensation to the entire face, eyes, mucosa of sinuses and cheeks

• Ophthalmic branch carries sensation from brain to eyes, upper eyelid and forehead
• Maxillary branch carries sensation from brain to lower eyelid, nose cheeks and upper lip
• Mandibular branch carries sensation from lower lip, jaw, mucus membrane of mouth, throat

Trigeminal Neuralgia results in episodes of severe and intense electric shock like pain generally on one side of the face

Who can get Trigeminal Neuralgia?

Trigeminal Neuralgia  mainly affects women but can affect anyone. It is seen mainly in

• Middle age people
• Elderly people
• Young people with multiple sclerosis

Symptoms of Trigeminal Neuralgia

Person suffering from Trigeminal Neuralgia may experience one or more of the following

• Episodes of sharp, shooting electric shock like pain
• The pain may last from few seconds to minutes
• Pain may start at one point and then spread to other parts of face
• Numbness, tingling, twitching of parts can also accompany the facial pain.
• Pain may get trigger or start following the exposure to

Cold winds

Washing the face

Blow on face

Brushing the teeth

Eating

Talking and others

Why Trigeminal Neuralgia occurs?

Trigeminal Neuralgia can occur if

• The myelin sheath protecting the nerve gets damage
• The nerve is been compressed by adjacent blood vessels or by any kind of tumor
• Nerve injury after dental procedures or any kind of oral surgeries

Diagnosis of Trigeminal Neuralgia

The diagnosis of Trigeminal Neuralgia is been made clinically based on symptoms. There is no test to diagnose the condition however Imaging test can be done to rule out any structural pathology in brain.

Conventional Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia

Conventionally Trigeminal Neuralgia is being treated with the help of anti convulsant drugs or anti depressant therapy. If that does not help, then other treatment options as surgery, Microvascular Decompression, Balloon Compression, Radio Frequency Lesioning, Glycerol injections can be used as a part of treatment.

Role of Homeopathy in Trigeminal Neuralgia

Homeopathic treatment is highly effective in treating Trigeminal Neuralgia and it is safe with no side effects. Homeopathic medicines can be taken along along with other prescribed conventional medicines. Homeopathic medicines are selected according to causation, symptoms similarity, personality of a person that can help to get rid of the pain very effectively and permanently. Some of the common medicines for Trigeminal Neuralgia are

Agaricus Muscarius: Tearing pain in the cheek with facial twitching and stiffness and coldness of the parts. Burning in eyeballs and lids with needle like pricking pain

Heckla Lava: Teeth carries or extraction of the tooth leading to facial neuralgia with marked inflammation

Mag Phos: Pulsating pain after exposure to cold wind. Pain after wisdom teeth extraction. Tearing pain aggravating in night and after exposure to cold. Right side of the face is mostly affected

Rhododendron: Severe jerking pain including whole pain from temple to chin. Pain feels better by eating and by warmth

Rhus Tox: Facial Neuralgia with pain in maxillary joints. Cheeks are sensitive to touch with chilliness of parts. Great restlessness and needs to move about.

Sanguinaria: Neuralgic pain extending in all directions from upper jaw with burning of the cheeks.

For best results contact Anju Gupta of Homeopathy Health Care and we can help you to overcome the excruciating pain of Trigeminal Neuralgia to lead a normal easy pain free life. We serve you from three locations within GTA: Brampton, Etobicoke and Scarborough. Give us a call at 416-854-5941 and we will work with you to get relieve of this pain leading a normal healthy life

Self Care in Trigeminal Neuralgia

• Avoid any kind of stress
• Avoid exposure to cold winds
• Cover your head when going out especially in winter
• Take soft diet and avoid hard chewing
• Identify what triggers the pain and try avoiding it
• Maintain good oral hygiene

 

 

Introduction:

Multiple Sclerosis is an auto immune disease of central nervous system affecting brain and the spinal cord. The myelin sheath covering the nerves gets inflamed leading to the condition.  Myelin Sheath protects and covers the neurons carrying impulses to and fro from the brain to carry out various activities. The inflammation causes the disruption in the nerve impulses to travel and carry out the activities. Substantial damage to the sheath can eventually lead to the damage of the nerve fibres.

Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis affects 1 in 2000 of the population. There is low prevalence of multiple sclerosis in tropics compared to high prevalence in temperate zones of both hemispheres. People living near the equators are less likely to get the disease as compared to those living far from equator.

What are the clinical features of multiple sclerosis?

Multiple Sclerosis can affect anyone from age 15 years to 60 years. More women tend to suffer more than men. The physical signs depend on the area of demyelination with some signs occuring more than others reflecting the site of affection.  50-60% of the time multiple sclerosis may represent itself with weakness of the extremities, 25-30% of the time vision symptoms are presented, 5-10 % of the time sensory symptoms are affected and the rest chances are as other representation.Combination of sign leads to the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and not just one sign or symptoms.

• Weakness or loss of control in one or more limbs
• Muscle spasms
• Tingling sensation in spine and limbs
• Loss of sensations of the parts
• Facial pains
• Vision impairment
• Ataxia
• Speech difficulties
• Sleep disorders
• Fatigue and tiredness
• Urinary incontinence-failure to store the urine or empty the bladder.

The signs and symptoms generally recovers within 3 months of the onset but reoccurrence can always occur. As the disease is progressive in nature eventually can lead to further worsening of symptoms.

 Risk Factors:

Some of the common risk factors closely relations to multiple Sclerosis are

• Lack of Vitamin D
• Smoking
• Type 1 Diabetes or inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Close family member with similar condition.

Diet:

Healthy diet is very important to prevent other health conditions. One should regularly consume low fat and high fibre diet. Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables should be consumed and junk food and sodas on a regular basis should be avoided.

Role of Homeopathy:

Multiple Sclerosis is a progressive illness. Early interventions through homeopathy in the early stages of the disease can stop or slow down the progression of the illness and further detoriation of the condition.  Constitutional medicines are been prescribed taking into consideration the mental and physical make up of the person.  Consult the homeopathic doctor  or homeopath for best results.