Should people with trigeminal neuralgia avoid certain foods?

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on September 12, 2024
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Patients with trigeminal neuralgia need to be cautious about their diet. In daily life, try to avoid oily, spicy, and irritating foods, as these types of foods may trigger an attack of trigeminal neuralgia or make the existing attacks more frequent, thereby causing great pain to the patient. It is recommended to choose a light diet in daily life, low in salt and fat, especially for patients with high blood pressure or diabetes, who need to be more cautious. It may be beneficial to appropriately include some fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet, and it is also suggested to supplement with some multivitamin drugs, which might enhance the effects. If trigeminal neuralgia attacks frequently, it is still recommended to visit a local hospital in a timely manner and consider undergoing microvascular decompression surgery for treatment.

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Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
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Trigeminal neuralgia pain level

The World Health Organization classifies pain into five levels. Level zero is no pain. Level one is mild pain that does not require medication. Level two is moderate pain that requires medication. Level three is severe pain that necessitates medication. Level four involves severe and intense pain, often accompanied by changes in vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse, and respiration. Trigeminal neuralgia is a type of severe pain that occurs repeatedly in the trigeminal nerve area. It is recognized globally as one of the most painful diseases, often referred to as the "world's greatest pain" and "the cancer that does not kill." Patients often live in a state of feeling better off dead, which indicates the extreme level of pain associated with this disease. The pain level for this condition is classified as level four, the highest level.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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How to relieve trigeminal neuralgia pain

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 Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
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Trigeminal neuralgia prodrome

Trigeminal neuralgia does not have very obvious precursors. This is because trigeminal neuralgia often occurs suddenly, especially with the concept of trigger points. That is to say, once the trigger point is activated, it immediately induces pain without any warning signs. Trigger points vary from person to person, usually located primarily on the cheek. Patients who frequently suffer from trigeminal neuralgia often know these areas. Typically, the pain occurs during activities like brushing teeth with cold water or chewing hard foods such as peanuts or walnuts, triggering severe pain instantly. Thus, in the case of trigeminal neuralgia, there are no precursors, only immediate triggers and immediate pain.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Causes of Trigeminal Neuralgia

At present, there is no consensus on the specific causes of trigeminal neuralgia. Most scholars believe that the main cause of trigeminal neuralgia is still due to the presence of a local responsible blood vessel around the trigeminal nerve, which compresses the trigeminal nerve, leading to abnormal discharges of the trigeminal nerve. This results in sudden attacks and sudden stops of severe, knife-like or burning pain, also known as trigeminal neuralgia. In terms of treatment, it mainly involves active drug therapy and some physical therapies, such as massage, manipulation, physiotherapy, and acupuncture. Most patients who experience poor results from conservative treatments can opt for microvascular decompression surgery, which often achieves good therapeutic outcomes.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Does trigeminal neuralgia cause dizziness?

For patients with trigeminal neuralgia, they generally do not experience dizziness. Trigeminal neuralgia is mostly due to the presence of a significant culpable vessel around the trigeminal nerve, which continuously compresses the nerve, leading to abnormal discharges of the trigeminal nerve. This is manifested as severe headache pain in the area distributed by the roots of the trigeminal nerve, most often characterized by sharp, stabbing pain, resembling a knife cut or tearing, which is often unbearable for patients. As the condition progressively worsens, the frequency and occurrences of trigeminal neuralgia attacks also gradually increase, often causing extreme pain for the patients.