Facial Neuralgia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment in Homeopathy

Facial neuralgia, also called trigeminal neuralgia, is a chronic pain disorder that leads to extreme facial pain attacks. It occurs due to damage or compression of the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensory information to the face.

The pain is often debilitating and intense, like an electric shock.

Facial neuralgia treatment options include homeopathic medication that can help relieve the intensity and frequency of pain attacks.

Symptoms of Facial Neuralgia

If the nerves in the face are hurting, it is likely due to trigeminal neuralgia. The pain attacks are often severe, sudden, and painful, much like stabbing or electric shock.

Mostly, this pain is limited to one side of the face, triggered by talking, eating, brushing your teeth, or when a breeze hits your face. Rarely, the facial neuralgia is bilateral – meaning the pain is on both sides of the face.

Common facial neuralgia or nerve damage in the face symptoms are as follows:

• Sharp, stabbing pain like an electric shock in one side of the face, often in the jaw, teeth, and gums
• Facial twitches
• Numbness

Types of Facial Neuralgia

Based on the root cause and symptoms you experience, there are 2 main types of facial neuralgia:

• Primary (Classic): Primary neuralgia occurs when a blood vessel compresses your trigeminal nerve. The pain attacks are sharp, intense, and burning, lasting for a few seconds or 2-3 minutes. And, this may occur multiple times a day.

• Secondary (Atypical): This type occurs due to pressure on the nerve from conditions like a tumour, cyst, Multiple Sclerosis, stroke, facial trauma, nerve damage due to surgery, arteriovenous malformation, etc. You may constantly feel a dull ache, but the pain is not intense or sharp.

• Idiopathic: This is when the cause of facial neuralgia remains unknown even after diagnostic tests.

Facial Neuralgia Causes

The trigeminal nerve is the largest cranial nerve, carrying sensory information, such as temperature, touch, and pain, from the face to the brain.

Most cases of trigeminal neuralgia, also known as facial neuralgia, are caused by neurovascular compression. It is a neurological condition where a blood vessel (most commonly, a superior cerebellar artery) compresses the cranial nerve at its entry zone or root exit. This leads to intense jolts of pain even from simple activities such as chewing, talking, brushing, or just a light touch.

Initially, the patient may experience mild, short-term pain attacks. As the condition progresses, the episodes of pain get intense and frequent. The attack may last anywhere from a few seconds to 2-3 minutes, and recur multiple times a day.

Risk Factors of Facial Neuralgia

The following are the factors that may increase your chances of having Facial Neuralgia:

• Hypertension
• Ageing
• Family history of facial neuralgia
• Being a female
• Smoking
• Multiple Sclerosis

Homeopathic Treatment for Facial Neuralgia

Homeopathy can provide symptomatic relief from long-term pain linked to facial neuralgia and even reduce the frequency of attacks.

It is 100% effective and safe, as it targets the root cause of the disease without any severe side effects.

Homeopathic doctors prescribe medicines based on the patient’s unique symptoms and health history. Hence, it is important to consult an experienced homeopathic practitioner for proper diagnosis, course of medicines, and the best results.

Apart from homeopathic medication, patients must try relaxation techniques and exercises to relieve anxiety linked to facial neuralgia. And, try to avoid activities that trigger the pain attacks.

Self-medication is not recommended.

Conclusion

Facial neuralgia is a deadly disorder, sometimes called the “suicide disease” due to its intense, electric-shock-like pain. It adversely affects patients’ physical and mental well-being, and they may feel isolated and anxious due to debilitating pain.

Homeopathy can significantly help to relieve the painful symptoms of facial neuralgia. The treatment approach is personalized, where a homeopathic expert doctor will study your symptoms, medical history, triggers, and prescribe medicines that best suit your case.

At PMRI, the homeopathic doctors are specialized and highly experienced in Homeopathic treatment of many disorders.

The treatment is 100% safe and effective with little to no side effects. Since the homeopathic medicines are made from natural ingredients, they are often suitable for patients of all ages.

If you are suffering from facial neuralgia, book an Online Consultation with our highly experienced homeopathic doctor to get a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is facial neuralgia fatal?

Trigeminal neuralgia is not a life-threatening condition, but the pain can be excruciating and affect your daily life. It can have physical as well as emotional impact on your health.

2. How common is facial neuralgia – nerve damage in the face and head?

Annually, facial neuralgia affects 4% to 13% of 100,000 people. It is more common in women than in men and is likely to occur after the age of 50.  And, it is rarely found in children. But if a young person has facial neuralgia, it may be linked to a type of Multiple Sclerosis.

3. What is the frequency of facial neuralgia attacks?

Facial neuralgia pain attacks may last anywhere from a few seconds to 2-3 minutes. In severe cases, the attacks may occur over a hundred times per day.

4. Can you prevent Facial Neuralgia?

No, you cannot prevent facial neuralgia as it generally occurs due to nerve compression or nerve damage. But you can reduce the intensity of symptoms by avoiding triggers and early treatment.