massage

[still searching]

I have discovered, when I get the crushing pain high on my cheekbones, that massage helps. I rub the spot right in front of my ear, higher than the jaw joint, where the cheekbone seems to start, or just over that little bump and under the temple. It seems to me that if the pain was from a nerve, then massage wouldn't do much good? This only helps with the crushing, boring pain. It does nothing for the tooth/ mouth or cheek pain.

What do you think of this?
What ways do you have of coping?

[allih]

Massage or pressing on some of the spots that hurt does help as it sends the nerve a different kind of signal that overrides the current pain signal.

The only way I can put on facial cream is to rub it in FIRMLY. A light touch just brings on pain. When my jaws hurt, rubbing or pressing helps for a few minutes, but I also have to stop chewing, talking or the worst!!, laughing, until it lets up.

Have you gotten the book "Stricking Back" yet. It is the bible for facial pain. It has a ton of great information for facial pain coping and medications. I still refer to it, especially before I go see my doctor.

Some people use ice or heat packs for relief and that takes some trial and error to see if it helps. Neither helps me unless I also have a migraine and then ice is my life saver.

Peppermint oil rubbed into my forehead right over my eye and into the eyebrow helps with the pain that I get there. DO NOT get it into your eye. This sometimes helps in other places but it can burn a bit so be careful. I have Bilateral Type II so I don't have the "normal" TN pain, I get every kind of pain that a nerve can produce. It can be a bit annoying at times trying to find something that works.

Good Luck
Alli

[dbobsnodgrass]

dear Searching; When I budget my finances properly, I afford a massage establishment every week and a half. Having right side ataxia and being right handed, I don't get much comfort from my awkward left. Besides, being a male, it is more than relaxing to have a decent looking female massage me. My honesty is only exceeded by my sexist ignorance. The other days, I take cold showers...wait, long walks! My very best to you. bob

[grace.mackay]

I found that massage helped with my atypical pain, but it was more pushing with all my might with either hot or cold compresses than typical massage. For the lightening stuff it doesnt help. I also found that aromatherapy oils have helped with the calming aspect but not much more than that.

But I am truly glad that it is working for someone, all the best with it, and pain free days to all,

Gracie x x x

[chasingmytoddlers2]

I have always found that pushing really hard on the area helps me or maybe distracts me or maybe it makes it hurt worse and it runs its course and finishes faster.....I don't know, but I have always done it! The first doctor that diagnosed me said that no one with TN would push on their face to make it feel better. But he still told me I had TN.
Oils and scents calm me too!
As with Grace, pushing just for the crushing, drilling, boring pain not for the shocks.
stephanie

[allih]

One of the things I read in Striking Back that really stuck with me was the "trick" of pressing firmly on the area that hurts to change the signal that the nerve was receiving, thereby sometimes releiving the pain. It obviously works and maybe more doctors need to read that book!

When my jaws ache, that is the only thing that allows me to continue talking. I look a bit silly pressing on my face, but the alternative is to not talk and be in pain.... Not an option, I love the sound of my own voice too much!

Alli

[still searching]

That makes sense now! I really have to look into this book. I'm afraid to jinx myself though, into making the pain come back. The crushing pain is all but gone right now for about a week. I have a lot of zaps, about 20X/day, but they are very mild. It just keeps things interesting for now :)

Speaking of those zaps... When I first complained of facial pain to my doctor last year, he kept asking if my pain was electrical in nature. I said no way, it fells more like I'm being cut with a dozen tiny scalpels at once. It felt very superficial to the skin. I think I understand more how it feels like electricity now, even if it doesn't hurt any more than the cutting sensations did. It feels deeper, and seems to branch out like a lighting bolt from the main area of shock as it fizzles down. Is that how you would describe your shocking pain?

[still searching]

dear Searching; When I budget my finances properly, I afford a massage establishment every week and a half. Having right side ataxia and being right handed, I don't get much comfort from my awkward left. Besides, being a male, it is more than relaxing to have a decent looking female massage me. My honesty is only exceeded by my sexist ignorance. The other days, I take cold showers...wait, long walks! My very best to you. bob

Thank you so much for the laugh! I can understand why the people of this forum enjoy your sense of humour so much. :p All the best to you too, Bob, and I wish peaceful and pain free days ahead for you.

[Maeve]

I get a lot of what I call 'nose pings'. Sometimes it will get so bad that it will make me sneeze for minutes... often I'll rub my nose just to change the sensation. Often it will distract my brain and other times it can make it worse.
Sometimes I'll touch or use pressure on something that is active, my touch is usually firm and I make sure my hands are warm. Anything cool - and I'm over the edge.
What really bites is when both sides are hurting (yeah, I'm bilateral).
So, I concur with your statement that a change of sensation, albeit not a pleasant thought, can work at times...
Any other tricks for the pain?
Maeve

[Fizzbw]

When you bash a leg on something - you rub it firmly to help stop the pain! Rubbing seems to interfere with the pain signals.

In essence this is what motor cortex stimulation is - an electrical signal (rubbing) to the motor nerves to the face, to interfere with the sensory nerve pains. Why is still very unclear, but it works (hopefully for me too!!).

I have had a couple of aromatherapy massages recently, and even let the therapist massage my face - she did so gently, but with a firm touch, and it was lovely.

I once suggested to my consultant that a constant pain was maybe a muscular pain, due to constant tenseness from pain - but he said not, that although there would be some muscle tension, but the steady, sharp but dull pain was nerve pain. I bet all of us in pain, will have muscular tension in our faces - try and relax now to see! I think it is inevitable.

Niki x x x

[crysopac]

I dont know about helping but what a great excuse to get a massage! LOL

"Honey I am having pain. I am going to go get a massage. (preferrable from someone tall dark and handsome ;) LOL Love it!

Crystal

[Maeve]

I've had a couple of sessions of massage therapy and made sure to tell my therapist not to 'send energy' into me as I relate it to putting more electricity into an already hot wire. It does help to relax.

For a few weeks I was trying Sacral Cranial Massage. It can either work for you or not. The first two session helped as I was starting to feel pain in T1, which was new for me. The first session nipped it in the bud!

The second session we discovered one area near the jaw where there was a spot (near the ears) that didn't like to be messed with.

The third session, when he went back to the aforementioned area, it made it hurt worse.

I heard that can happen sometimes with SCM, so I'm giving it a break.

With the weather changes here in the midwest, well, the TN is starting act up beyond it's normal background pings and tings. It's most annoying as it constantly feel like my the skin of my jaws is on fire.

Nonetheless, I hope you continue to have success with massage. If nothing more than elevate some of the stress would be most beneficial!

Here's to your pain today is less than yesterdays!
Maeve

When you bash a leg on something - you rub it firmly to help stop the pain! Rubbing seems to interfere with the pain signals.

In essence this is what motor cortex stimulation is - an electrical signal (rubbing) to the motor nerves to the face, to interfere with the sensory nerve pains. Why is still very unclear, but it works (hopefully for me too!!).

I have had a couple of aromatherapy massages recently, and even let the therapist massage my face - she did so gently, but with a firm touch, and it was lovely.

I once suggested to my consultant that a constant pain was maybe a muscular pain, due to constant tenseness from pain - but he said not, that although there would be some muscle tension, but the steady, sharp but dull pain was nerve pain. I bet all of us in pain, will have muscular tension in our faces - try and relax now to see! I think it is inevitable.

Niki x x x