A new article in Headache looks at Neuromodulation and devices in Trigeminal Neuralgia.  There is a very successful device with a 50 year record for safety and efficacy in treating trigeminal nervosu condition.  It is the Myomonitor, an Ultra Low Frequency TENS designed to relax muscles innervarted by the 5th (trigeminal) and 7th (facial) nerves.  The myomonitor is also a stimulator of the autonomic nervous system, specifically the Sphenopalatine Ganglion.

Neuromuscular Dentistry actually corrects many of the underlying issues that elicit trigeminal neuralgia,  it will not alleviate neurovascular compression though it may relieve much of the pain.  Patients stories about neuromuscular dentistry can be seen at:  https://www.reddit.com/r/NeuroMuscularDent/

In spite of the tremendous success of neuromuscular dentistry it has been under attack for many years.  The scandal at the FDA over it’s abuses are well known.  These abuses have been well documented and information is easily available t this link..  https://www.sleepandhealth.com/articles-on-fda-abuses-of-myotronics/

 

 

 

Headache. 2017 Nov;57(10):1648-1653. doi: 10.1111/head.13166. Epub 2017 Sep 14.

Neuromodulation and Devices in Trigeminal Neuralgia.

Abstract

PREMISE:

Trigeminal neuralgia is a severe facial pain disorder that has been studied for decades. Classical trigeminal neuralgia (CTN) is either idiopathic or caused by neurovascular compression. The related painful trigeminal neuropathies are often secondary to other causes, such as multiple sclerosis or trauma.

PROBLEM:

Therapies for trigeminal neuralgia and neuropathy have often been pharmacologic or surgical. Pharmacologic therapies are not effective in some cases and often cause side effects, some substantial. Surgery can have comorbidity (such as anesthesia dolorosa, or painful differentiation of the affected nerve distribution) and also is not always effective. There is a desire, as in all chronic conditions, to find effective treatments with minimal morbidity and side effects.

POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS:

We review several devices including neuromodulation, ranging in invasiveness, for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia and neuropathy. We review existing data on sphenopalatine ganglion blocks, transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcortical direct stimulation, deep brain stimulation, spinal cord stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, and transcutaneous electrical stimulation for CTN and pain trigeminal neuropathies. We also offer hope for further research in this area with the goal of discovering a device that can provide treatment for many with few side effects and minimal morbidity.

The myomonitor addreses not just neurological aspects of pain but also affects the somatosensory side and reduces Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction based on a physiologic approach that encompasses orthotics and physical medicine applied by dentistry.

KEYWORDS:

deep brain stimulation; devices; neuromodulation; sphenopalatine ganglion; spinal cord stimulation; transcortical direct stimulation; transcranial magnetic stimulation; transcutaneous electrical stimulation; trigeminal neuralgia

PMID:
28905370
DOI:
10.1111/head.13166