Host-comedian Jimmy Fallon always comes up with wacky ideas for his late-night show. One of the best games they have run on the show is called “Lip Sync Battle.” One of the funniest episodes featured Hollywood icon Tom Cruise lip-syncing to “Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd.
Cruise made the audience roar when he lip-synced the chorus: “I can’t feel my face when I’m with you, but I love it.” As usual, the A-list actor gave an outstanding and compelling performance. By watching him, you would think it was him rendering the pop tune.
People who suffer from trigeminal neuralgia can only wish to sing and mean every word of the song lyrics. For them, all they have is a debilitating feeling of pain in the face that won’t seem to go away. Unlike Tom Cruise’s upbeat rendition, it’s a real battle against the pain that only the saddest songs can describe.
Some people go inside an upper cervical chiropractic office every day to seek relief for all kinds of pain. One of the most urgent cases that need attention is trigeminal neuralgia. People with the condition suffer from hypersensitivity in their trigeminal nerve.
The trigeminal nerve is beneath our face, and it enables us to feel a touch to our face and any pain and changes in temperature. When the pain of trigeminal neuralgia sets in, it could last for a few seconds to several minutes. Some people, however, experience horrible extended bouts of pain that last for days and weeks.
When people visit an upper cervical chiropractic office, they are asked about the symptoms that they experience. Some of the most common symptoms felt by people with this condition include:
As they struggle to bear the pain and discomfort, people with trigeminal neuralgia always ask: “Why do I feel this pain?”
The known cause of trigeminal neuralgia is the compression of the trigeminal nerve root by blood vessels. When blood vessels pinch the nerve root, pain signals are transmitted immediately. This transmission of signals makes them feel sharp stabs on the face. The reason why blood vessels swell and press on the nerve is generally because of the presence of a tumor or a case of multiple sclerosis (MS).
Some of the known triggers of trigeminal neuralgia are so common and are activities we do every day. These triggers include:
People need to get rid of the pain caused by trigeminal neuralgia for people to live more productively. At present, there are three main options to get relief from pain:
By far, the most common approach is to get medications prescribed by a health care professional. Those with very low pain tolerance usually resort to the use of medications right from the start. These medications include:
An injection of a toxin (referred to by its short name, Botox) helps reduce pain caused by trigeminal neuralgia. Cosmetologists more commonly use it to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the face. Botox is used to relax or reduce muscle activity, thus preventing any irritation on the trigeminal nerve.
Some health care providers prescribe anticonvulsants as a means to reduce pain in the face.
Muscle relaxants or antispasmodics help reduce spasms in the face, which also lessens pain sensations.
For some, surgical intervention is necessary to reduce the pain in the face significantly. Specific procedures done to help address pain from trigeminal neuralgia include:
This method entails surgery on the very tiny blood vessels that touch and add pressure to the trigeminal nerve. By surgically removing the blood vessels, the pressure is relieved, and the pain is expected to go away upon full recovery.
This type of surgery involves the use of radiation that is projected by a tool on the surface of the trigeminal nerve. This procedure aims to make the radiation produce a pain-relieving effect.
The third option is viewed as one of the safest approaches to pain relief. Since it is non-invasive, it does not lead to any unwanted side effects. For decades, upper cervical chiropractic has helped millions to get rid of pain from various disorders.
Today, many people with trigeminal neuralgia are finding tremendous benefits in receiving upper cervical chiropractic care. With this natural pain relief, people understood that there could be other reasons or causes of their pain.
With upper cervical chiropractic care, efforts are made to detect any overlooked neck injuries due to trauma and misalignment. Any misalignment in the spine’s neck and topmost bones can lead to nerve irritations, including the trigeminal nerve.
By using precise adjustments of the neck and head, the upper cervical spine’s alignment is restored. The adjustments also relieve a person from all the pressure or compression on the nerve. Over time, the symptoms are lessened, and the pain goes away.
For those who suffer from any kind of pain, upper cervical chiropractic may be right for you. Bring back that pain-free smile on your face today. Check our directory for the list of upper cervical chiropractic offices near you.
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The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.
