Trigeminal Neuralgia, "the suicide disease" Helped by Upper Cervical Care

The Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research published a study on June 23, 2014 that documented the case of a woman suffering from trigeminal neuralgia (TN) who was helped by chiropractic care. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons describes TN as "Trigeminal neuralgia, also known as tic douloureux, sometimes is described as the most excruciating pain known to humanity. The pain typically involves the lower face and jaw, although sometimes it affects the area around the nose and above the eye. This intense, stabbing, electric shock-like pain is caused by irritation of the trigeminal nerve, which sends branches to the forehead, cheek and lower jaw. It usually is limited to one side of the face."

The study authors note that medical management of TN usually involves medications possibly followed by surgery. They also report that approximately 50 percent of TN cases managed medically will ultimately have surgery for their condition. The authors point out that the medications commonly used to treat TN have a long and serious list of side effects including double vision, involuntary eye movement, dizziness, extreme fatigue or drowsiness, headaches, involuntary muscle movement, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, skin rashes, and hypertension.

In this case, a 30-year-old woman went to the chiropractor with a chief complaint of left-sided facial pain. She had previously received a diagnosis of TN. She described her condition as the worst pain she had ever experienced, listing it as a 10 out of 10 in severity. She described her pain as dull, aching, and burning down the left side of her jaw and cheek. Additionally, the woman reported that she was also suffering from left-sided neck pain, bilateral shoulder pain, TMJ pain, mid-back pain, and right-sided low back pain.

In her history, the woman reported that her TN started about eight months ago which seemed to be immediately after a visit to the dentist. She had also had a car accident several months prior to the onset of her TN. Some of her medical doctors even suggested that her problem arose from "mental stress onto her from her young son." This suggestion infuriated the woman.

A chiropractic examination was performed on the woman that included palpation, leg length analysis, and specific spinal x-rays of the upper neck. From these, it was determined that vertebral subluxation was present in the upper neck. The authors explain subluxation and the chiropractic approach by saying, "Chiropractic has one goal: to reduce or eliminate the vertebral subluxation. The vertebral subluxation has been described as follows: Loss of juxtaposition of a vertebra with the one above, the one below, or both. It must consist of occlusion of an opening. Nerve impingement. Interference with the transmission of mental impulses."

The results of the care reported that the woman experienced less pain from the onset of care. She did experience a flare-up of her TN around her 5th chiropractic visit. However, by her 10th visit the woman reported that she was no longer having any pain.

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

Resolution of Trigeminal Neuralgia Following Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care

A case study published in the scientific periodical, the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research, documented the resolution of Trigeminal Neuralgia in a patient following chiropractic care. Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) is  a nerve disorder characterized by episodes of intense pain in the face.  The study published on August 12, 2013, was titled, "Resolution of Trigeminal Neuralgia Following Subluxation Based Chiropractic Care: A Case Study & Review of Literature."

The authors begin by noting, "Since the first century A.D., trigeminal neuralgia (TN) has been regarded as one of the most painful and enigmatic diseases known to man. It has been generally accepted that patients will never be completely free from the condition regardless of the therapy." The authors set out to show that based upon case study and literature review, chiropractic offers a more permanent solution. Other names for this disorder have included "tic douloureux" and the "suicide disease", due to the severe nature of the pain it causes.

In this case, a 40-year-old woman came to the chiropractor with a diagnosis of TN that she had been suffering from for six months. The history notes that by the time the patient had gone to the chiropractor, she had already been to the emergency room twice, had seen five different specialists (EENT, neurologist, and neurosurgeons), as well as three dental specialists. When describing her pain on a scale of one to ten, with ten being the worst, the pain was described as a ten double plus.

In a failed attempt to help this problem, the woman had one tooth extracted, and she was prescribed a total of 15 different medications including morphine, oxycontin, and percocet. The case history also noted that due to the severity of the pain every aspect of this woman's life was affected; including work, sleep, recreation, and daily routines.  Because of this condition and the mounting financial burden from doctor and prescription costs, the woman was also severely depressed.

A chiropractic examination and x-rays revealed the presence of subluxations at the first and second cervical vertebrae located inthe upper neck. Specific adjustments were given to address the subluxations. Adjustment frequency was initially three visits per week for the first month, and then slowly the frequency of visits was reduced. 

The study notes that immediately after starting chiropractic care, the woman had complete resolution of all symptoms including spasm, pain, and swelling. Her range of motion had returned to normal and all spinal tenderness was gone.  She was able to return to her normal activities and remains free of her problems. The authors wrote in their conclusion, "It has been over 8 years since the patient in this case study first received chiropractic treatment. In addition to her receiving 100% resolution after one adjustment, it has been remarkable to observe that no attacks have occurred since then."

 

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

Trigeminal Neuralgia, The Patient and Upper Cervical Care

Trigeminal Neuralgia Relief found in Upper Cervical Care

by Dr. Geoffrey Besso

Trigeminal Neuralgia is a very painful condition, often called the “suicide disease”. This chronic condition affects the fifth cranial (trigeminal) nerve, causing sharp, painful, and shooting pain in the face. We have had great success helping patients find relief from this condition in the past, and last fall Thomas T. entered our office in great pain. This is his story.

    "I was diagnosed with having Trigeminal Neuralgia, which is painful condition that causes a false signal to the right side of my face. The smallest things, such as washing my face, brushing my teeth, eating, talking and even walking, would cause a “taser-like” shock to happen. A neurologist prescribed anti-seizure medicine and I was told to do a follow-up appointment in 6 months. I began doing a lot of research, and after awhile I read that Upper Cervical care could help alleviate my terrible pain.

    Although I am still taking the anti-seizure medicine, I haven’t had one Trigeminal Neuralgia attack since I’ve been seeing Dr. Besso. I’m sure all that pressure and misalignment was causing the frightening and awful scary facial pain.

    As a side note, I’ve had bad back, neck, and joint aches for the last 20 years. After my first NUCCA adjustment at the Besso Clinic, my back pain was greatly reduced. It didn’t happen overnight but after a few months of treatment my neck, back, and joints hardly ever ache. I just thought all these pains were part of aging, I had no idea I could feel this good again.

    My hopes are that I can discontinue using that medicine, and plan on writing a follow up when that happens, so this is to be continued….."

-T.T. Cleveland, Ohio

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

Upper Cervical Care and The Suicide Disease

The Problem of Trigeminal Neuralgia and Other Chronic Pains


by Dr. Ward

Popular web resources on the facial pain Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) only have drugs, injections, and surgeries as possible treatments. But they’re missing a potential important ingredient to resolving TN symptoms: upper cervical chiropractic care.

Trigeminal Neuralgia is the #1 cause of facial pain, with 4 to 5 persons per 100,000 having the disease. Some authorities say that more might be suffering, but aren’t counted because of misdiagnosis.


According to the National Pain Foundation, 1.7 millions have been diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia. TN’s reputation as one of the most severe body pains makes that 1.7 million too many. In many cases TN grows to be a debilitating and chronic pain that threatens the livelihood of the one who suffers with it.

In the past TN has been called Tic douloureux, and also the suicide disease, because the suffering it causes some patients drove them to take their life. Modern medicine has improved pain management through drugs and surgical procedures, and takes credit for reducing TN’s deadly reputation.

Yet, medicines don’t always work, and the idea of a cranial surgery can be too expensive, or downright scary for many. Some choose to seek help from alternative treatments. Indeed, popular web sources like Mayo.com list some of those therapies, like acupuncture, biofeedback, and vitamin therapy.

Still, there is one glaring omission of what might help TN. Upper cervical care.

There are several theories on what causes, or possibly exacerbates the symptoms of facial nerve pain. The most popular is a mechanical explanation: there is pressure on the facial nerve, inside the skull, most likely cause by a blood vessel. Pain then occurs with little or no warning, often just with moving the head, eating, or touching the face.

It’s thought that the pressure actually occurs at the base of the brain stem, where the roots of the facial nerve are.

What’s interesting about the facial nerve is that it’s not just found at the brain stem. There are actually cell extensions of the facial nerve which descend down into the spinal cord to the level of our second cervical vertebra. So, reach back to just about the back of your hair line, at the back of your neck. You have cells hooked up to the trigeminal nerve which are nestled less than a few inches away from your finger.

If there was a doctor who could do a surgery and take away small amounts of pressure at the top of the spinal cord, in between the second vertebra and the bottom of the head, do you think it might relieve the pressure on the facial nerve?

Now what if that doctor wasn’t doing surgery, but was gently improving the balance between the head and neck? Balance that affects nerve pressure and blood flow into the brain stem. Would you think that might relieve pressure on the facial nerve?

And what if I told you that non-surgical doctor was a chiropractor, practicing upper cervical chiropractic?

Upper cervical chiropractic worked for one TN patient of an upper cervical doctor in St. Louis. And it did for James Tomasi, who you can read about here, or listen to his story in the recording above. I have personally  seen improvement in facial pain in 3 different patients in the last 45 days.

So, why haven’t you heard about this before? Good question. Here’s one answer: when you search the current National Institute of Heath’s clinical trials, there are only 3 TN studies. And not one of them is examining Trigeminal Neuralgia and upper cervical care. There is very little funding for upper cervical research period, let alone research into a non-back-pain related condition.

Here’s a second answer:  Mayo and other authorities are  comfortable reporting on the potential of acupuncture, vitamins, and biofeedback, because it’s not upper cervical care. You simply haven’t heard about Trigeminal Neuralgia and upper cervical care because of bias.

And it’s not just limited to facial pain, but other chronic pains as well. Thankfully patient advocacy groups like the Facial Pain Association are willing to tell others about facial pain and upper cervical chiropractic.

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for tinnitus or any other condition, disease or symptom.)