THE FOLLOWING ARE SYMPTOMS AND CONDITIONS COMMONLY TREATED BY THE WASHINGTON ACUPUNCTURE CENTER. TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA The characteristic symptom of trigeminal neuralgia is intense pain (usually described as stabbing, shooting or lightening-like) of short duration along one or more divisions of the trigeminal nerve in the face. Early in the disease process attacks are short (one to two minutes in duration) and infrequent with asymptomatic periods up to several months between them. As the disease advances, however, the attacks last longer and become more frequent. In extreme cases the patient is seldom free from pain. In some cases hypersensitive areas when subjected to light tactile stimulation (such as shaving, brushiing the teeth, talking or eating) are capable of initiating a full-blown attack of trigeminal neuralgia. The treatment of trigeminal neuralgia is both medical and surgical, but neither is very safe or effective in most cases. Medical management entails the use of various analgesics, carbamazepine (Tegretol) or diphenylhydantoin (Dilantin). The adverse reactions or undesirable side-effects of these drugs, however, can be extremely serious or even fatal. Surgical therapy includes: 98% alcohol injection into the involved branch of the trigeminal nerve or cutting it as it exits from its cranial foramina or insertion of a piece of plastic. These techniques are hazardous and may result in facial paralysis, but have resulted in remission for as long as 24 months. Some patients have their teeth pulled in a desperate effort to rid themselves of this excruciating pain which seem like a severe toothache in some cases. but the pain persists. Acupuncture has a high rate of success for trigeminal neuralgia and is of course safer than drugs or surgery. It has been successful in many cases after surgery has failed to give relief of pain. Usually 6 - 10 treatments are required for relief of pain. next