Unfortunately, as many of us know, relieving the pain from trigeminal neuralgia is a little more involved than taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. For many people, part of the frustration of TN is that there seems to be little to do to bring any relief at all. However, there are things that people have tried with varying success to alleviate some of their pain.
The idea behind many of these tips is to “scramble the signals” of the affected nerves so that they do something besides cause pain. Whether medically or scientifically sound or not, many people out there are finding some level of relief from these tips and none of them are harmful. While most people say that none of these techniques completely eliminate their discomfort, they do claim to experience a reduction in the pain. To me, this sounds better than nothing and worth a try.
Apply Heat
During my mini-TN attacks, I find that a very hot shower brings me a little relief, although this approach can crank up some of my other MS symptoms (like fatigue and loss of proprioception). Others take hot baths or sit in saunas. If you try this, do so safely - have someone nearby that can help you if you get wobbly. Ideally, this is something to try if you can rest afterward.Others recommend applying heat locally in the form of a warm/hot compress or hot pack. I read one person’s suggestion to heat up a beanbag and put it up high on the jaw, next to the ear, on the affected side for 10 minutes. I have dampened a washcloth, wrung out the excess water, folded it and put it in the microwave for 45 seconds. I then wrapped it in a thin cloth and used this for my hot compress.
Apply Cold
Although some people find that their TN pain is triggered by exposure to cold (such as a cold wind or draft), many people get relief by applying pressure to the face with a cold pack wrapped in a pillowcase or a thin floursack-type towel. Hold it in place for at least 30 minutes each time with the goal of numbing the area.Some report that alternating hot and cold packs works great.
Apply Pressure
Some people are helped by applying considerable pressure to a large area of their face with the palm of their hand.During sleep, a light touch from a blanket might also set off your TN pain (although, fortunately, most people are not affected by TN during sleep). Some people find that pressing the affected side firmly into their pillow prevents the pain from being triggered.
Topical Pain Treatments
I encountered one suggestion for applying Anbesol (the ointment that is used to reduce baby teething pain or other oral pain) to the outside of the face. This person recommended covering up the Anbesol with a thick cream, such as a diaper cream. Other things that I have seen suggested are: Vicks vapor rub, Noxema face cream, and Blue Star ointment. I would recommend doing a “patch test” before smearing anything all over one side of your face (just dab a tiny amount in a non-obvious area and wait for a couple of hours to make sure that you don’t have any sort of reaction).Identify and Avoid Triggers
Clearly, if we knew what it was that caused our TN to act up, then we could avoid doing those things and life would be dandy. Sometimes the pain flares up for no reason.Other times, it is triggered by fairly essential activities, like eating or talking. However, even these actions can be modified to prevent some of the pain – I have seen suggestions to eat different kinds of food that do not require chewing. I have also heard of people carrying around a tiny note pad to avoid talking (and even one suggestion that people experiencing TN learn sign language).
People who feel like their TN is triggered by drafts might want to take a look at where their air conditioner vents are pointed and avoid sitting in the direct air flow. Wind can be avoided to some extent by wearing a scarf wrapped high on the face.
One person tracked her pain onset closely and found it was triggered by peppermint candy.
I’ll be the one to also say that it is worth taking time to note how you feel after talking to or being in the company of different people. You may find that some people provide excellent distraction, whereas conversations with other people just happen to frequently “coincide” with TN attacks. I truly believe that negative people or unpleasant interactions can bring on or worsen my MS symptoms, so I try to gravitate towards the people that boost my mood and limit my contact with those who have the opposite effect.
A great source to check out is TNA: The Facial Pain Association. You have to register as a member to access most of the information, but it is worth the effort. You will find a number to contact for support, a database of doctors who treat TN, and a wealth of articles about the various aspects of TN. I highly recommend consulting this resource in your search for relief.
Sources:
Facial Neuralgia Resources website: Reader Tips. Accessed November 2009.
