Maybe I can throw some hope your way.

I have been dealing with Tregeminal Neuralgia for 6 months now. Long story but the TN started while I was in massage therapy school last August while learning to repair old injuries on my self. I was getting "popped" more than 50 times per minute and some events would last 5 to 30 seconds. I saw a chiropractor to make sure my neck was where it should be (or just pull my head off if it couldn't be fixed) and he adjusted me, next I went back to school and had one of my instructors work on my neck. Two weeks later the TN was gone...for two months. It came back about five weeks ago in 15 second bursts that put me to my knees.

I am a Certified Massage Therapist now and have been treating my own TN. I have reduced the shocks to two or three pops on my first bite of food in each meal but it goes away after that and I can eat in peace...until the next meal. I would consider it weight control but I'm 6'1" and only 150 lbs and need all I can get.

Look into Trigger Points, I had hundreds of the little knots in my shoulders and neck. As I work the knots out of my neck my TN is getting better. I have enough circumstantial evidence right now to convince me that I am effecting the TN and keeping it at bay for the time being. I expect to have it gone in the next couple of months if my treatments continue to advance like they are right now.

You will need a good medical massage therapist. I have been treating my own but it is not easy, other therapists who I have consulted have been very surprised that I could effect my own trigger points and remove them. It takes relaxation of the specific muscle group and then applying pressure to the point to relieve the cramped muscle location. Its a pat your head rub your tummy type of deal and not easy to do but you can get it done.

At the moment, if I go a day without working on my neck muscles it starts getting worse by day's end, but it is mostly calm with two or three five-minute sessions a day. I believe that as I remove knots in my spinal column and shoulder I'll find the one pressing on the nerve that lights up my cheek, lip, eye, and teeth and I'll be done with this. I'm in northern California and I'd be happy to answer any questions you or others have, right here.

KBCMT