How to relieve trigeminal neuralgia pain

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on January 31, 2025
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For patients with trigeminal neuralgia, to achieve pain relief, initially, one can treat the disease by taking medication. Simultaneously, it is also appropriate to combine some physical therapies such as massage, tuina, physiotherapy, acupuncture, and electrotherapy. Acupuncture, in particular, helps significantly in relieving pain and improving symptoms. Moreover, to achieve a complete cure, it is advisable to opt for surgical methods. Clinically, it is generally recommended to choose microvascular decompression surgery for treatment. Most patients with trigeminal neuralgia can achieve desirable outcomes after undergoing surgery. Additionally, patients with trigeminal neuralgia should be careful with their diet and avoid overly greasy, spicy, and irritating foods. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
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trigeminal neuralgia area

The trigeminal nerve, being the fifth pair of cranial nerves, branches into three divisions after emerging from the skull. The first division is the ophthalmic division, which innervates the upper eyelid and superficial parts of the eye and forehead. The second division is the maxillary division, governing the cheek, upper lip, and gums. The third division is the mandibular division, which affects the lower lip and gums. Trigeminal neuralgia is pain that occurs in the areas innervated by the trigeminal nerve, typically affecting one side and primarily involving the second and third divisions, with the second being the most common and the third next, while the first division is rare. The pain of trigeminal neuralgia can be confined to the area of one division or can occur in two or all three divisions simultaneously.

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Written by Liu Hong Mei
Neurology
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Is occipital neuralgia the same as trigeminal neuralgia?

Occipital neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia are different; these are two distinct diseases with different onset times, affected areas, and pain characteristics. Occipital neuralgia generally occurs in the back of the head and is associated with cervical spondylosis, neck muscle tension, spasms, injury, trauma, and inflammation, typically triggering pain in the distribution area of the greater occipital nerve. Trigeminal neuralgia generally affects the distribution area of the trigeminal nerve, causing very intense pain, which may be like lightning or a burning sensation. It is typically triggered by washing the face, brushing teeth, or touching and can start and stop suddenly.

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Written by Feng Ying Shuai
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Where to massage for trigeminal neuralgia?

Trigeminal neuralgia is a stubborn and hard-to-treat condition in clinical practice. Sometimes symptoms can be alleviated through massage. Which acupoints should be massaged? For severe eye branch pain, you can massage Jingming, Sibai, Yangbai, and Touwei acupoints. If the pain is in the maxillary branch, you can massage Yingxiang, Quanliao, Xiaguan, and Tinggong acupoints. For severe mandibular branch pain, massage Chengjiang, Dicang, and Jiache acupoints, meaning the massage technique should progress from gentle to firm.

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Written by Li Pei
Neurosurgery
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How is trigeminal neuralgia treated?

After the onset of trigeminal neuralgia, medication is the first choice of treatment. If the effect of medication is poor, surgical treatment can be considered. There are two methods of surgical treatment. One is radiofrequency treatment, which physically destroys the trigeminal nerve but often relapses after surgery. The other method is microvascular decompression surgery of the trigeminal nerve under a microscope. This surgery requires craniotomy under general anesthesia. Under the microscope, the trigeminal nerve and the blood vessel pressing on it are identified, and then a special material is used to separate the two, so the blood vessel cannot irritate the trigeminal nerve, and thus, the pain is alleviated.

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
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Is trigeminal neuralgia easy to treat?

Whether trigeminal neuralgia is easy to treat must be judged based on the situation at the time. The vast majority of patients with trigeminal nerve pain can find a corresponding cause, such as compression by blood vessels, tumors, or infection factors. For vascular compression, microvascular decompression surgery can be adopted for treatment. For tumor compression, craniotomy and tumor resection can be adopted for treatment. For some infectious factors, treatment such as anti-infection and hormones can be adopted. These are relatively easier to treat, and most can have a very obvious prognosis. However, there are also cases, such as trigeminal neuralgia where no specific cause has been found, called primary trigeminal neuralgia, where active complete treatment is not possible, and only certain methods can be used to alleviate the general symptoms of the patient and reduce their suffering.