|
COPING
SKILLS
READER TIPS
|
DENTAL WORK |
DENTAL HYGIENE | EATING | FACIAL
MASKS | HOT BATHS
| ICE PACKS AND/OR HEAT
| PRESSURE | SIGN
LANGUAGE | SCALP MASSAGE
| SLEEP | SPONGE
| TIPS ON TAKING TEGRETOL | JAW
EXERCISE | MUSIC
| TOOTHPASTE |
Disclaimer.
This page contains
some practical tips for dealing with facial neuralgia pain, culled from
the experiences of many facial neuralgia patients. None of the
hints are dangerous, as long as they are used with a grain of common
sense. Many may seem self-evident, but it can occasionally take a long
time to hit upon even the most obvious-seeming solutions. One
thing applies to even the most stupid-sounding tips here: someone
out there is using them. One person commented that:
"Although some of these techniques may not make sense, they appear
to fit the definition of "sensory overload."
Basically, a confused nerve (or nervous system) gives up and calms
down."
DENTAL WORK
Dr. Parker Mahan, member of the TNA advisory board
recommended these tips at the 1998 Trigeminal Neuralgia Association
convention
DENTAL HYGIENE
Dr. Michael Pylon, DDS, a dentist in Ottawa, Canada, shares
strategies for taking care of your teeth when a facial neuralgia
disorder interferes with normal brushing and flossing.
EATING
HINTS
For many, eating triggers facial pain and can thus become next to
impossible. This is an extremely difficult problem for many,
resulting in major weight loss. No perfect solution exists, but
liquefying the food with a food processor or juicer often helps
somewhat.
FACIAL MASKS
Facial neuralgia pain is often triggered by the cold or especially by
cold drafts. A neoprene ski mask is used by some to protect
against the cold. When the use of a mask is impossible because the
pressure triggers a TN attack, a scarf wrapped several times around the
head can have a similar effect. Also, a coat with an oversized hood can
help.
HOT
BATHS
For many people, taking a VERY hot bath during a bad facial neuralgia
attack can make it feel less bad. In general this means very hot,
almost enough to scald the skin. Running in the hot sun can have
the same effect, except that then the pain may worsen, possibly because
of the rise in blood pressure. A sauna can also have the same
effect.
ICE
PACKS AND/OR WARM POULTICES
Paradoxically, although facial neuralgia pain can be triggered by the
cold, the use of ice packs can help control the pain. The apparent
reason is that it numbs the nerve. The trick is to combine pressure with
ice cold. Strangely enough, others find it more helpful to use use warm
poultices. And still others switch between hot and cold
packs. This is something that each person must test for himself.
One person commented that he finds relief by applying an ice-pack
(possibly alternating with a warm compress) to a remote region, such as
the knee(!). He explained that he started using this technique for
severe headaches where he could not tolerate the touch, weight and
pressure of an ice pack on his head.
For ice treatments,
the following "Ice Protocol" may be found useful:
- Ice is an
effective tool in reducing inflammation, pain and/or
spasm, and is important in your daily pain management routine.
You will be frequently reminded to use ice, in
combination with other pain control measures prescribed.
- There several
varieties of ice packs:
- Commercial ice
pack purchased through local pharmacy or physical therapy
center
- Frozen
vegetable packages: peas or corn. Refreeze after each
use (and it wouldn't hurt to mark the package so you would
remember not to eat them due to freezing and thawing
numerous times)
- Homemade:
using ziplock bags (quart or gallon size) Mix 1 part alcohol
to 3 parts water and place in freezer. Refreeze after each use.
- It is not
recommended that you use ice cubes or crushed ice. Not only are they
uncomfortable to lay or lean on; but they melt quickly and make a
mess.
- Follow these
instructions:
- Place in a
pillowcase, to absorb and contain moisture. Do not use a
terrycloth towel. Towels absorb too much of the cold and make the
ice application less effective.
- Expose the area
for ice application. Place ice pack (in pillowcase) on bare
skin of the affected area. Leave ice pack in place for at
least 30 minutes with each use. Only the first 3 minutes are
uncomfortable (if at all) after this time you will be numb.
- Apply ice
pack every 2 hours as needed for control of pain and discomfort,
and/or swelling or spasm. You cannot overdose on ice!
PRESSURE
Paradoxically, even though even a light touch can sometimes trigger
facial neuralgia pain, pressure applied steadily over a large area may
relieve it. The pain-relief mechanism is probably similar to that
of ice packs. "One thing I have found to help-- I press my palm
against my face and clench my teeth for 10 to 15 seconds and let go
fast. If it starts to hurt, I repeat the same procedure until I get
relief." "Flash".
SIGN
LANGUAGE
Some people, especially those with trigeminal neuralgia find that their
facial pain is triggered by talking. Learning some basics of sign
language would be helpful in these cases. It will not take long to
learn a few basic signs and also teach them to the people close to
you. The sign alphabet is also quite simple and and a handy way to
communicate. On the downside, sign language requires so much
motion of the body that it can be impossible to manage during a bad pain
attack.
SCALP
MASSAGER
Several people have reported that applying a scalp massager (or similar
vibrating object) firmly to the side of the face affected by the pain
can decrease the pain. This has been reported both for classical
and atypical TN. Another possibility is to use it on the side opposite
to the pain. This is another paradox similar to the ice and
pressure treatments; even though a light touch can trigger the
pain, a heavier touch can mask it.
SLEEP
Sleeping can be a major problem for some facial neuralgia patients,
because even a slight touch of a pillow on a trigger point may launch
off spasms of pain. Luckily, facial neuralgia pain is usually not
triggered during sleep (though of course this varies); however,
managing to fall asleep is still a problem. One possibility is to try to
sleep in a sitting position, but most people will find this difficult or
impossible. Another possibility has been suggested: "I
fold up a pillow and place it under my chest to raise my shoulders and
rest my forehead on the bed". Others report that pressing
the affected cheek firmly on a pillow may actually help to
prevent major pain attacks (the effect is most likely related to the one
discussed above). But on the whole, there seems to be no perfect
solution.
A SPONGE IN THE MOUTH
This one may sound strange, but it has been reported by at least one
person that putting a sponge (or possibly some similar soft object
such as a moist wash cloth) inside the mouth on the side of the pain can
alleviate the pain for a while. This will more likely be the case
for someone suffering from atypical TN or atypical facial pain, as a
typical TN sufferer will most likely be unable to put anything in his or
her mouth.
MUSIC
One of our readers claims listening to heavy metal rock music
consistently relieved her pain in minutes. Believe it or not her
experience is backed up by scientific research. Take
a look for yourself.
TOOTHPASTE
FOR SENSITIVE TEETH
One of our readers reports that when her 95 year-old grandmother
began using Sensodyne Toothpaste it brought her great relief from her
pain.
Tips from the TMJ Society
Excellent suggestions
for self-care strategies in managing facial pain which might be
useful to people with facial neuralgias.
TIPS ON TAKING TEGRETOL
A TN patient's hints and experiences coping
with high doses of tegretol.
JAW EXERCISE
A facial neuralgia patient's pain relief using a simple jaw
exercise.
Acknowledgements.
Since these hints come from so many sources, it is impossible to
acknowledge everyone. Therefore, a collective acknowledgement and
thank-you to everyone who has contributed will have to suffice.
Dr. Parker Mahan's
remarks on dental work were excerpted from the Spring 1999 TNA Alert
newsletter.
|
