Trigeminal neuralgia might not be a medical term you frequently hear from doctors, but it’s definitely a condition you should know about. This neurological condition affects thousands of people worldwide. It’s a debilitating and frustrating condition that causes searing facial pain when you move your face, mouth, or jaw. Sometimes, it also triggers severe depression and anxiety as the painful episodes develop with just slight movements of the facial muscles.

Many patients desperately seek the help of a trigeminal neuralgia chiropractor, neurologist, and other professionals to experience a normal life. Others also call for help as they struggle to cope because their symptoms worsen when they sleep at night. 

If you’re among the thousands of people diagnosed with this painful disorder, you might find our discussion insightful and valuable. Feel free to scroll down and learn the answers to popular questions like: 

• Why does trigeminal neuralgia worsen at bedtime?
• How do you cope with trigeminal neuralgia? 
• Are there natural options for relief? 
• Can a trigeminal neuralgia chiropractor help?

Trigeminal Neuralgia Feels Like 10 on the Pain Scale

Typically, if you ask someone with trigeminal neuralgia pain scale symptoms, you would get a rating of around 10 out of 10 (or even higher). That’s because the searing sensation on the facial muscles occurs without warning, and they can linger for minutes or hours, depending on the damage to your nerves. The worst part is that it can get triggered by many things, including routine activities like brushing your teeth.

Many doctors believe that while only a tiny fraction of cases get reported each year, trigeminal neuralgia is a prevalent health problem. That’s because it’s so easy to confuse its symptoms with usual dental health problems such as: 

• Trigeminal neuromas (trigeminal nerve tumor)
• Acoustic neuromas (vestibular tumor)
• Meningiomas (tumor in the meningitis or brain)
• TMJ disorder/jaw pain
• Temporal arteritis (blood vessel inflammation)

Why Trigeminal Neuralgia Feel Worse at Night

Studies explain that trigeminal neuralgia doesn’t go away. So, if you get diagnosed with this neurological condition, you will need to make a few adjustments to your routine. For starters, we suggest avoiding common trigeminal neuralgia triggers. As we have mentioned earlier, trigeminal neuralgia flare-ups can happen due to various things, including: 

• Talking
• Smiling 
• Shaving
• Washing your face
• Blowing your nose
• Eating cold or hot food

Besides these activities, your symptoms can also worsen at night time. Studies say that neuropathic disorders like trigeminal neuralgia may get worse at night because of the following:

• Fluctuating body temperature – Decreased body temperature at night slows blood circulation, a critical factor that affects how fast your damaged nerves heal. 
• Lessened distraction – During bedtime, you have lesser things to worry about. As a result, your pain becomes more noticeable. 
• Poor sleep quality – Pain and poor sleep often come hand in hand. The lesser quality sleep you get, the more pain you feel during a trigeminal neuralgia flare-up. It also increases your risk for hypertension, another risk factor that can aggravate your condition. 

How to Cope with Nighttime Trigeminal Neuralgia Flare-up

Because nighttime trigeminal neuralgia flare-ups are quite inevitable for some individuals, it’s essential to make a few changes to your sleeping habits. Here are some things you can try:

• Change your sleeping position - As trigeminal neuralgia worsens lying down, find one position that doesn’t trigger your trigeminal neuralgia symptoms. Experts suggest trying to sleep with your spine extended to decompress your pinched trigeminal nerve.
  
• Try calming teas – Chamomile and lavender tea make an excellent herbal concoction to drink before you hit the sack. That’s because they have calming properties that help induce sleep.
• Manage your stressors – Understandably, many things can serve as stressors, especially during these troubled times. That’s why we suggest finding a relaxation technique that works for your case. You can try relaxation tactics such as the following:
• Focused deep breathing
• Guided imagery 
• Mindfulness exercise
• Tai chi
• Yoga
• Repetitive prayer
• Reduce potential sources of nerve compression – Your trigeminal neuralgia symptoms likely occur because of nerve compression. It might be because of a cervical subluxation, poor sitting posture, or repetitive stress on the spine. That’s why, it’s worth it to consider the following remedies to release the pressure on your trigeminal nerve:
• Working on your body posture, especially when sitting
• Improving your workspace 
• Investing in pillows or mattresses that provide ample support to your spine
• Working with a physical therapist 
• Scheduling regular stretching exercises
• Taking short breaks during long work shifts
• Seeking upper cervical care

How A Trigeminal Neuralgia Chiropractor Can Help

Indeed, it’s hard to cope when you have a debilitating health problem like trigeminal neuralgia. It can slowly deteriorate your relationship with your family and friends, impact your performance at work and dampen your spirits. 

Thankfully, effective and promising natural remedies like upper cervical care show much potential for ailing patients like you. This specific method of healing involves correcting cervical bone misalignments, especially on the C1 and C2 bones. 

Suppose you hurt your head or neck during an accident years ago, have poor body posture while sitting, or have degenerative disc disease. In that case, we highly recommend seeing an upper cervical care practitioner. 

Many patients with a similar medical background have found great relief after getting their neck bones adjusted by a trigeminal neuralgia chiropractor. After completing their procedure, some patients eliminated their searing facial pain, while others experienced lesser flare-ups and improved health.  

Do you suspect having a cervical subluxation? Do you want to confirm if your misaligned neck is the reason behind your trigeminal neuralgia pain? Schedule your appointment with a nearby trigeminal neuralgia chiropractor to start getting answers.

FAQ’s

Why is trigeminal neuralgia worse at night?

Pain from trigeminal neuralgia may be more severe during the night because of factors such as increased blood flow and changes in body position that exert pressure on the afflicted nerve.

What is the main cause of trigeminal neuralgia?

The intense facial pain known as trigeminal neuralgia is caused by the trigeminal nerve being compressed or irritated, usually by a blood vessel.

Is trigeminal neuralgia worse at night?

Nighttime is a particularly difficult time for those who suffer from trigeminal neuralgia because, as previously mentioned, factors including increased blood flow and changes in body posture can aggravate the illness and heighten discomfort.

What causes trigeminal neuralgia to flare up?

Chewing, speaking, chilly air, or even gentle touches on the face can all activate the damaged nerve and bring on an attack of trigeminal neuralgia, causing sudden, excruciating pain.

What is trigeminal neuralgia?

Disorders of the trigeminal nerve, such as trigeminal neuralgia, cause significant facial pain that seemingly innocuous facial motions or touches can trigger.

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