What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Trigeminal neuralgia, sometimes also known as tic douloureux, is a type of chronic nerve pain. It involves the fifth cranial nerve, or trigeminal, which runs through the head and is one of 12 pairs of nerves that attach directly to the human brain. Three branches of the trigeminal nerve run through the different parts of the face and mouth. Trigeminal neuralgia can be triggered by nerve injury or by lesions to the nerve.
Who Gets Trigeminal Neuralgia?
The condition most often presents in women or in people who are over 50 years of age. However, it can affect anyone of any age, and about 12 out of 100,000 people are diagnosed with it every year. Across the United States, an estimated 20 million people have some kind of peripheral neuropathy, most usually because of damage to the nervous system. This can manifest in pain, numbness, or weakness. Many of these are treated by ultrasound therapy, and ultrasound therapy for pain has become a widely-accepted and effective treatment.
What is the Result of Trigeminal Neuralgia Pain?
If left untreated, nerve pain can be debilitating. Nearly 60% of those who suffer from chronic pain have a lower enjoyment of life overall as a result. Chronic pain is officially classified as pain that continues beyond 12 weeks.
How Does Ultrasound Help?
Ultrasound therapy uses energy to target affected parts of the brain without invasion or surgery. The ultrasound is typically delivered in the frequency range of 0.8 to 3.0 MHz, and since human hearing can only detect sounds between 16Hz and 20,000 Hz, the ultrasound does not adversely affect the hearing of those who undergo it.
Is Ultrasound Healing Safe?
This type of therapy has been used since the 1940s, with no adverse consequences. For some people, it provides significant relief of pain without the need for any type of invasive surgery. It also carries no risk of infection or wound healing and does not damage any of the surrounding tissue. And while prescription painkillers or anticonvulsants must be taken in larger and larger doses to remain effective, ultrasound therapy can be repeated without causing any problems.
Ultrasound treatment may not be effective for everyone, but for anyone suffering from trigeminal neuralgia, it provides a safe and cost-effective possibility for non-invasive treatment.