Trigeminal Neuralgia ? Cranial Osteopathy can Help
What is Cranial Osteopathy?
Cranial osteopathy is a part of osteopathy. Osteopathy is an allied health care profession whose aim is to help people to understand their problem, promote function in an ever changing environment and improve the quality of life by gentle manipulation and mobilisation of muscles and joints.
According to Sutherland Cranial College of Osteopathy (SCCO) cranial osteopathy “is not different to osteopathy, it is the name given to a subtle and refined approach to osteopathy that follows all the principles of osteopathy, and it is used throughout the body not just in the head. The name cranial osteopathy simply refers to the fact that it includes structures inside the head”.
However, the area where cranial osteopathy does differ is the application of the treatment techniques. It is suggested that cranial osteopaths have a very well-developed touch sensitivity which allows osteopaths to diagnose and treat the body by gently feeling for natural movement of the body tissue and its fluids without much movement of the hands.
What is trigeminal neuralgia?
Trigeminal neuralgia is a sudden pain in your face which can be distributed in one or more pathways of the trigeminal nerve. Trigeminal nerve is the fifth cranial nerve which is located in your head. It allows you to feel different sensations in your face such as pain, changes in temperature and pressure. Also, it innervates some of the jaw muscles which helps you to chew, talk and make some facial expressions.
What causes trigeminal neuralgia?
The exact cause of the trigeminal neuralgia is still unknown. However, most of the time it is associated with direct trauma or compression of the trigeminal nerve. This could be caused by:
- Physical damage to the nerve.
- Abnormal bone growth.
- Tumours.
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Family history of blood vessel formation.
- Other conditions which may affect the nerve.
What are the symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia?
Symptom of the trigeminal neuralgia is sudden, sharp, intense pain felt in one side of your face, jaw, teeth or gums. The intensity of pain may vary between individuals and they are episodic. An episode can last between a few seconds to several minutes and it may happen from few to hundreds of times in a day. There are several external triggers which may trigger the symptoms. Those are:
- Rubbing the face.
- Shaving.
- Brushing the teeth.
- Putting on makeup.
- Eating or drinking.
- Talking.
Remission period varies too. It may be from several months to a few years, however, it has been observed that the remission period reduced with time.
What to expect during the cranial osteopathy treatment?
During the cranial osteopathy treatment, you will be asked several questions about your presenting condition. This helps your osteopath understand your complaint better and determine if cranial osteopathy is a safe treatment for you. After that you will most likely be laid on your back and your osteopath will be treating your head and spine. The osteopath will use a very well refined, gentle touch of the hands barely moving them with the aim to have your body relaxed as much as possible.
How can cranial osteopathy help trigeminal neuralgia?
To date, there is no research which could be referred to when determining whether cranial osteopathy can help with trigeminal neuralgia. Overall, as it is mentioned above, cranial osteopathy follows the same principles of osteopathy, hence, if you tried different treatment approaches and still cannot find the one that gives you the most relief, we would recommend you to try cranial osteopathy as this therapy could help you to manage the symptoms.
For further information or contact an osteopath visit: https://www.osteopathy.org.uk/home/
We hope this information is useful for you. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington. We are always happy to help. If you like this blog, please share!
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4191151/pdf/2014-1207.pdf
