What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) is a painful condition that affects the Trigeminal Nerve. this nerve is one of the most widley distributed nerves in the human head, coursing up to the forehead (V1), down to the cheek (V2), and finally along the jaw (V3). Addititionally, the Trigeminal nerve has a route inside the skull as well.
What's NOT often talked about is the Trigeminal Nerve's proven connection to the neck.
Let's be VERY clear though. Not all TN comes from the neck, just as not all comes from the nerves inside the skull. Never heard that? Well, take a look:
If you've done any amount of Googling, you've likely realized some of this by now. It's also likely that you've read, been told by a friend, or saw in an Trigeminal Neuralgia support group that something known as Upper Cervical Chiropractic has helped reduce the symptoms associated with TN
What is Upper Cervical Chiropractic?
Upper Cervical Chiropractic is a long-standing specialty focus within the larger field of Chiropractic, evaluating what's referred to as the Craniocervical Junction (CCJ). Simply put, it's the upper portion of the human neck where it meets and supports the head.
The spinal segments at this critical area, Atlas & Axis, have unique characteristics that make them the "weakest link" in the spine, and as such, susceptible to injury. Slips and falls, whiplash injuries, sports injuries, car accidents, and poor posture are just a few of the many factors that can contribute to structural and neurological symptoms stemming from the upper neck region.
The goal of on Upper Cervical Chiropractor is to identify and reduce an Atlas Displacement (AD). AD is a condition involving abnormal alignment, mechanics, and nervous system function stemming from the upper cervical region. This seemingly less-than-important misalignment can have a complex of painful secondary symptoms:
