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Veerle (Belgium) on 09/02/2006
5 out of 5 stars

After trying several regular treatements for trigeminal neuralgia in all 3 branches on boh sides of my face, like antidepressants and anti convulsion medications, I ended up with no less pain and a truely scary list of side effects. Not wanting to undergo surgery due to the amount of my face involved and my still young age, I was about 18 when it started, I decided to start looking for alternatives without having to resort to iffy branches of alternative medicine.

In cooperation with 2 friends of my parents, a doctor and a physical therapist, we did a lot of research and ended up with a combined treatment of stimulating and strengthening my facial and neck tissue and high doses of B12 vitamins and omega3.

In addition I started on an extensive, but non straining exercise program to regain my overall health wich had suffered from years of severe pain that often prevented me from doing anything for days or sometimes weeks on end. I also dropped the regular medication since the side effects were so severe they were a problem in itself. Although my recovery was not speedy, I started to notice improvement after about 3 weeks. The pain was still a prominent factor in my life, but was less and less out of control. After about 2 months, I had a virtualy painless period that lasted for about 2 weeks and a half. This may not seem like much, but to me that was the first real painless period in 2 years. The pain came back, but from then on periods were shorter and the pain didn't peak as often. After about 6 months, I had gotten to a point where I could start picking up my life again. severe pain periods only occured about once a month or less and only lasted 2 to 3 days. Verry mild background pain was still present though. I continued the treatment and am now virtualy pain free, not needing the facial stimulation treatment and on far a lower dose of B12 and omega3. If I do feel pain comming up again, it is never as severe and it is enough to up my daily dose of B12 for about 2 weeks to be completely free of symptoms.

Replied By Martha (Baltimore, Maryland) on 10/18/2008

I was wondering what kind of exerciese you did, how much b12 and fish oil did you take. I have TN and looking for alternative treatment. Docs not put me on meds and after reading about them I really don't want to go there.

Replied By Bridget (Hamilton, NJ) on 03/10/2009

I have been using acupuncture to successfully treat Trigeminal Neuralgia. Was on medicines but the side effects were too much to handle. The constant pain from TN have been greatly reduced by acupuncture. 25 points, once a week. At first it took three times a week to produce a change, then twice a week, I am now down to once per week. Give it a try.

Replied By Jackie (Cape Coral, Florida) on 03/01/2010

Dear Veerle (from Belgium)

I read your post regarding the use of Omega3 & B12. My wife suffers from TN. I have passed on the info gleaned from your post. She is taking two capsules of Omega3, twice a day. Plus one B12 capsule in the morning (1500mg).

She isn't one to take medication if at all possible. However, the pain associated with TN forces her to take 75mg (three tabs) at bedtime. If she would follow the doctors advice the dosage would be far greater.

Thanks a million for the info. Please feel free to share any other info that you come by. We will continue seeking info and relief. Spoke to her about acupuncture, but she's not leaning in that direction. We'll see! Thanks again, and good fortune in your search for relief. 'JR'

Replied By Luca Cazzaniga (London, United Kingdom) on 01/21/2011

Dear Veerle, My name is Luca and I am writing you because my 26 years old girlfriend is experiencing trigeminal neuralgia associated to cluster headache. Since the 31st December 2009 she had headache everyday. The several exams did not evidence any specific cause and despite different medication she's still experience an unbearable pain and too many side effects. Obviously her quality of life is largely influenced and she is currently not able to work, practice sport and live with serenity her life. I have been really impressed by your words and your story and I am wondering if you could give us your mail contact just to ask you some advices. I am a physiotherapy student and to realize that I may potentially help her is fantastic. I am aware that this post is really old but I hope that you may answer. This is my mail: cazza67(at)live(dot)it.

Many thanks. Luca and Manu

Replied By Patty (Brockton, Ma) on 06/14/2011

b12 is important so is Krill but what I found that got rid of TN "face pain" after 40 years was Cervical Chiropractor. thank God I tried the Chiropractor!!

Replied By Nathalie (La-london, Us/england) on 06/22/2011

This is directed to Luca and others who suffer from Tn as well as cluster headaches. I was diagnosed with both conditions, August 2010. Unfortunately, I suffered in pain without any relief for 9 months prior, as the doctors could not get a handle the fact that I had multiple conditions.

Firstly, Oxygen on level 7 works miracles for my clusters. I am also on Topamax but have reduced the dosage from 275mg to 50 mg over the year. Secondly, the TN did settle a little with Lyrica, but is wasn't until I started vitamin therapy that I started a significant change in my pain level. I still react to certain food enzymes and odours as well as cold air... However, I have gone from a daily pain threshold of 6-7 to a 1-3 from Glutathione and Meyers IV infusions. I recommend them. N

Replied By Sarah (London, Uk) on 07/14/2011

Hi,

I've had TN for about 6 years now, for the first 3 it was non stop, and doctors put me on the brain surgery waiting list after all of the drugs didnt work, I was 22 so not to keen on the idea of surgery, and refused to go on anti depressants.

But everything changed when I started having weekly sessions of acupuncture and cranial osteopathy. The accupuncture just treated the stress the condition had put on my mind and body (as I was seriously depressed and had been in therapy for a while) and the cranial osteopathy treated the actual pain. After each osteopathy session I experienced a very bad attack for a couple of days, as my osteopathist had warned me. I continued this treatment for about 2 months, and couldsay for definate that I have been 95% cured since and its been 3 years. When I told my neurologist he actually laughed at me, but with a combination of that and a healthy lifestyle and a relaxing environment (going home to the beach from the city helped a lot) I could carry on life as normal again.

My pain only now flags up if im really stressed or in extreme weather environments.

One more piece of advice is speak to the acupuncturists and osteopathists first and find someone who understands it and is confident they can help.

I hope this helps someone, dont give up there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

Replied By Chris (Sammamish, Wa) on 02/16/2013

Can you tell me specifically what kind of facial stimulation you did... E.G., Scenar. Also, can you be more specific on B12?

Replied By Nan (Jakarta, Indonesia) on 05/17/2013

oh my god, yea, me too! I'm 18 but I think I have this terrible symptom.. how could teenager get this symptom? First time this disease came is when I have wrong sleeping position. ah :(

Replied By Daisy (Greenville, Pa) on 05/19/2013

I also have Type 1 TN but for the past couple of years, when I have the shock-like pains in my right temple, it almost always seems to be connected with having a lot of pain in my right hip and thigh (I also have fibromyalgia). Sometimes a chiropractic adjustment will completely relieve the pain, but other times it doesn't help at all. Has anyone else experienced this?

Replied By Wanda (Saint Helena Island, S.c.) on 09/21/2016
Yes I have sharp pain at the temple on the right side also. Hoping and praying to find something to help with the throbbing pain. So anyone know if I can get disability for this? I have applied once and was denied. I find it hard to work on this condition especially as a rural carrier and when the weather changes so does the pain.

Replied By Wendy (Swaziland) on 05/01/2014

Hi, my husband had a operation to stop the whole pain shock waves he got, He lost his job etc due to this. It was too good to be true, and the pain is back after about 3 years. We are just starting on tissue salts and hope it will work. Any other suggestions? Thanks, Wendy

Replied By Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 05/01/2014

Wendy, hello.

Trigeminal Neuralgia some sources say is caused by a virus. If me, I'd apply Colloidal Silver mixed with DMSO, 50/50 and apply topically with a white cloth on affected area. I'd repeat four times a week for a month. The DMSO is a penetrant and carrier and will deliver the CS inside the nerves to kill the virus. Also DMSO is anti inflammatory.

Google "DMSO Dr. Jacobs 60 Minutes" and you'll find a great 3 part series that played on 60 Minutes about DMSO. Also on Earth Clinic under Remedies, there are two articles on CS. Helpful.

Replied By Andrew (Toronto, Canada) on 12/14/2014

Hi Veerle;

What are the neck and facial exercises that you did to relieve the facial pain?

Best regards, Andrew

Replied By Elena (Austin, US) on 12/25/2014

Hi Dave, I've read that one of the possible side effects of CS is that it would stain this side of your face, like a silver/gray colour. Any information about this? Thanks million

EC: You will find some information here:

https://www.earthclinic.com/supplements/colloidal_silver.html

https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/colloidal-silver-blue-man-or-miracle-supplement.html

Replied By Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 12/26/2014

Dear Elena,

Thank you for your question.

You mention that you have heard that CS will stain the side of face that the CS is applied to.

Well, I've used CS many times (100 ?) in topical applications and have no stains of grey or silver. Here's a test: Try a bit of the DMSO/CS on a white cloth and apply to some part of body that isn't normally seen...inner thigh for instance. No stain. But satisfy yourself first that such assertions are more misinformation by ill informed folks who just don't know what they are talking about.

Of course, I am talking about CS and not a Silver compound. But even silver creams are applied topically...so .... unless one is making Silver Nitrate I just don't see how Colloidal Silver...99.9 percent water with only a few atoms of silver per million molecules of water... can stain. But try a little using the test I outline. Goodness....even iodine stains when applied topically but disappears after an hour or so. But I've never seen any stain whatsoever with CS. Good luck attacking the Tri Gem. My theory is that it's a virus so the topical App of CS/DMSO could at least halt the progression. I liken it to shingles.

Replied By Jorgen (Thailand) on 01/28/2015

Would appreciate if you could give me the daily dosage of b13 and omega 3.
Thank you

Replied By Nikki (Tampa, Fl) on 07/07/2015

What doses did you use and what type of stimulation? Thanks :)

Replied By Laura (York, Pa) on 11/25/2015

I have the same issue. Can you please explain the facial stimulation and strengthening exercises?

Replied By Anne (Texas) on 01/04/2016

Are you still pain free? I am looking desperately for some relief for my son who has had atypical TJN for three years. He is depressed and feels there is no end to it.

Replied By Bob Mcdaniel (Katy, Texas) on 09/07/2016

I have dealt with TN for about 4 years. This is the regimen that I followed for relief. B-Complex, Magnesium Citrate, Lecithin. Take Daily.

Stop all caffeine and sugar as it aggravates/excites the nerves.

It has been 18 months since the last time it fired and that was a relatively calm period. A year prior to that which caused me to find solutions.

When I fires, I would use Capsaicin cream(high potency strength from Walgreens) on my face. I applied it every four hours and relieve comes over time/use. My face would get red but I don't care. Another critical thing that I did was to use a TENS unit electrical stimulation on my face. I would place the simulators, one on my left temple and one on left cheek by my mouth. This would help dissuade the trigeminal nerve from firing as much.

The final key that I learned was to poke my lower jaw out. This would break the electrical connection and stop the firing of that nerve.

Hope this helps!!!

Replied By Wanda (Saint Helena Island, S.c.) on 09/21/2016

Can this be done at any chiropractor? I have tn and suffer from time to time with pain on the right side of my face.

Replied By Steve (Nv) on 09/21/2016

Check out cold laser therapy. There is some good research that shows it can definitely help with TN. DMSO is also helpful in relieving TN pain.

Replied By Sam (Cape Town) on 09/30/2017

Comment by Dave on 12/26/2014 - I totally agree with you that TN probably has a viral connection similar to Shingles. I wish some research would be done into this. My mother has had TN for 15 yrs and when I had Shingles a year ago, the commonalities were so obvious. It is an area that needs investigation.

What has helped my mother is Complex Vit. B injections weekly. If she misses a week, TN is back with a vengeance. Vit. B is water soluble and it not stored in the body. The other very helpful thing is natural GABA - NOT Gabapentin which is a pharmaceutical version that can be addictive and has other downsides. Be sure to get an unadulterated form of this naturally occurring Amino Acid, which works in the brain to calm down 'spikes' be they physical (as in pain) or mental (as in stress)

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