• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.760-767
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• 2019

Objective: This study reports the efficacy of using integrative Korean medicine treatments for a patient with facial paralysis and accompanying trigeminal neuralgia. Methods: A 45-year-old male patient with left side facial palsy and facial pain due to Bell's palsy with trigeminal neuralgia was treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and cupping for 18 days. The treatment effect was evaluated by measuring the scores for the numerical rating scale (NRS) of facial pain, the House-Brackmann scale, and the Yanagihara scale. Results: After the hospital treatment, the patient's facial pain NRS score was decreased, and the House-Brackmann scale and Yanagihara scale scores improved after the administration of the Korean medicine treatments. Conclusions: The integrative Korean medicine treatments appeared to be effective in treating facial nerve palsy and associated trigeminal neuralgia.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.97-100
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• 1997

We treated a 56 year old male ailing of painful herpetic eruption on his 2nd, 3rd and 4th left cervical spinal segment. On the 18th day, patient also suffered an abrupt left facial palsy, accompanied with ongoing postherpetic neuralgia even though the skin eruption had been cured. This patient visited our pain clinic on his 46th day of illness and was teated with continuous cervical epidural block for 9 days, and stellate ganglion block plus oral analgesics and antidepressant for 12 days. The combination of treatments resulted in marked improvement of facial palsy and postherpetic neuralgia. A possible explanation of facial palsy accompanied with herpes zoster on cervical spinal segment could be related to Hunt's hypothesis that geniculate ganglion forms a chain connecting the high cervical ganglion below. Another possibility may be related to a compression injury of the facial nerve by long-term severe edema on the soft tissue of the face, the periauricular area and parotid gland around the facial nerve, and edema on the facial nerve itself emerging out from the cranium.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2001

Herpes Zoster Oticus is a reactivation of latent varicella-zoster infection associated otalgia, facial nerve palsy, sensorineural hearing loss and vertigo. Facial nerve palsy is rapid in onset, usually severe degree, and poor is prognosis. And pain in the form of acute neuritis and postherpetic neuralgia is by far the most frequent and most debilitating complication of Herpes Zoster. The pain of Herpes Zoster may severe, but it is usually transitory. Some patients, with the elderly at particular risk, go on to develop postherpetic neuralgia. In the two cases, pain (especially postherpetic neuralgia) which is often severe and, unfortunately, refractory to most forms of treatment was reduced using herbal medicine and acupuncture but facial nerve palsy was not improved.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.640-651
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• 2022

Clinical studies on neuromodulation intervention for trigeminal neuralgia have not yet shown promising results. This might be due to the fact that the pathophysiology of chronic trigeminal neuropathy is not yet fully understood. Chronic trigeminal neuropathy includes trigeminal autonomic neuropathy, painful trigeminal neuropathy, and persistent idiopathic facial pain. This disorder is caused by complex abnormalities in the pain processing system, which is comprised of the affective, emotional, and sensory components, rather than mere abnormal sensation. Therefore, integrative understanding of the pain system is necessary for appropriate neuromodulation of chronic trigeminal neuropathy. The possible neuromodulation targets that participate in complex pain processing are as follows : the ventral posterior medial nucleus, periaqueductal gray, motor cortex, nucleus accumbens, subthalamic nucleus, globus pallidus internus, anterior cingulate cortex, hypothalamus, sphenopalatine ganglion, and occipital nerve. In conclusion, neuromodulation interventions for trigeminal neuralgia is yet to be elucidated; future advancements in this area are required.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report the effect of Korean medical treatment on a patient with trigeminal neuralgia during pregnancy. Methods: We treated a facial pain patient diagnosed as trigeminal neuralgia during pregnancy with acupuncture, cupping and herbal medicines. Herbal medicines were prescribed according to the patient's Sasang constitution which was Soeumin. The severity of symptom was evaluated by Numeric Rating System (NRS). Results: After treatment, the patient's facial pain caused by trigeminal neuralgia was improved. NRS score was decreased from 6 to 0. Conclusions: This case report shows that traditional Korean medical treatment and Sasang constitution medicine is effective for the patient with trigeminal neuralgia during pregnancy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.5
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• pp.827-836
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• 2021

Objective : Trigeminal neuralgia is one of the most common causes of facial pain. Our aim is to investigate the efficacy and borders of percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Methods : Between May 2007 and April 2017, 156 patients with trigeminal neuralgia were treated with radiofrequency thermocoagulation. These 156 patients underwent 209 procedures. In our study, we investigated the early and late results of percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation under guiding fluoroscopic imaging in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) pain scale was used for grading the early results. In addition, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to assess long-term outcomes. Of the 156 patients who underwent radiofrequency thermocoagulation for trigeminal neuralgia, 45 had additional disease. Patients with this condition were evaluated with their comorbidities. Early and late results were compared with those without comorbidity. Results : In 193 of 209 interventions BNI pain scale I to III results were obtained. Out of the 193 successful operation 136 patients (65.07%) were discharged as BNI I, 14 (6.70%) as BNI II, 43 (20.58%) as BNI III. Sixteen patients (7.65%) remained uncontrolled (BNI IV and V). While the treatment results of trigeminal neuralgia patients with comorbidity seem more successful in the early period, this difference was not observed in follow-up examinations. Conclusion : Finally, we concluded that percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the Gasserian ganglion is a safe and effective method in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. However, over time, the effectiveness of the treatment decreases. Neverthless, the reapprability of this intervention gives it a distinct advantage.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2015

■ Objectives The purpose of this clinical study is to evaluate the effect of Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) on a patient with pain induced by Trigeminal neuralgia. ■ Methods A patient with pain of one side face diagnosed with Trigeminal neuralgia was treated with herbal medication, acupuncture, electro-acupuncture(EA), and moxibution. Then we evaluated the improvement by Pain area comparison and Visual Analog Scale(VAS). ■ Results Decrease of Pain area, VAS score were observed after the TKM treatment. ■ Conclusion This study proved the effect of TKM treatment on pain due to Trigeminal neuralgia.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.357-362
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• 2023

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is neuropathic pain that affects the trigeminal nerve branches. Facial pain experienced by patients with TN is typically intense and excruciating. The second and third branches (maxillary and mandibular) are commonly affected. This case report focuses on the potential treatment options for acute TN attacks involving these branches. The proposed approach involves extra-oral peripheral blocks using local anesthetics. Pain levels were measured using a visual numeric scale (VNS) with potential side effects and other relevant documented information. The patients showed responses from high pain levels to almost complete remission (from 8 to 2 and from 10 to 2 on the final VNS), with no significant side effects. This technique provides immediate pain relief and complements oral medications by offering comfort and confidence until the desired drug effect is achieved.

• Journal of TMJ Balancing Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report the effect of Korean medicine on trigeminal neuralgia in a patient with systemic sclerosis. Methods: We treated a 49-year-old male patient who has systemic sclerosis and trigeminal neuralgia by Korean medicine. He was treated from October 29th, 2022 to November 12th, 2022. The treatment applied was herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture. The evaluation was conducted by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results: After 14 days of treatment, the symptoms were alleviated. Facial pain and dullness of taste improved. VAS of discomfort was decreased from 10 to 2. Conclusions: These results showed that Korean medicine may have an effect on reducing symptoms of systemic sclerosis and trigeminal neuralgia.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.6
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• pp.747-752
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• 2018

Objective : To prospectively compare facial pain outcomes for patients having either a repeat microvascular decompression (MVD) or percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) as their surgery for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) recurrence. Methods : Prospective cohort study of 110 patients with TN recurrence who had either redo MVD (n=68) or PBC (n=42) from July 2010 until September 2016. The mean follow-up was 45.6 months. Results : After redo MVD, 65 patients (95.6%) experienced immediate relief of pain. After PBC, 34 patients (81%) were immediately relieved of their neuralgia. After 1 month, the clinical effect of redo MVD was better than PBC (p<0.01). Patients who had redo MVD more commonly were pain free off medications (93.4% at 1 year, 78.2% at 4 years) compared with the PBC patients (85.1% at 1 year, 59.3% at 4 years). However, mean length of stay was longer (p>0.05). Patients after PBC who occurred developed herpes simplex (35.7%), facial numbness (76.2%), and annoying dysesthesia (21.4%) more frequently compared with patients after redo MVD who occurred developed herpes simplex (14.7%), facial numbness (8.8%), and hypoesthesia (5.9%) (p<0.05). The symptoms recurred respectively in 15 patients (22.1%) and 19 patients (45.2%) after redo MVD and PBC within the entire 6-year follow-up period. Conclusion : For the patients with TN recurrence, redo MVD was a more effective procedure than PBC. The cure rate and immediate relief of pain were better, and the incidence of complications was lower.