Head, Face & Jaw
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Severe, brief, electric facial pain — a medical condition requiring medical management.
Trigeminal neuralgia is a medical diagnosis involving sudden, severe, electric-shock-like facial pain, usually brief but capable of recurring frequently. It is managed medically, and chiropractic care does not treat it.
Because the pain can be triggered by ordinary activities like chewing, talking, or touching the face, it can have a significant impact on daily life, which is part of why prompt medical evaluation matters.
Why this matters
Where neck or jaw findings are present alongside trigeminal neuralgia, those can be evaluated on their own terms, with clear expectations about what that evaluation can and cannot address.
Anyone with this pattern of facial pain should already be working with a medical provider, and any additional evaluation here is meant to complement, not replace, that care.
The brain & nervous-system connection
Where the nervous system fits in
Facial sensation pathways converge with upper neck input in the brainstem, which is part of why the two are sometimes discussed together, even though the underlying causes are usually distinct.
An evaluation of neck function in this context is limited to what the neck itself may be contributing, separate from the trigeminal nerve pain, which remains a medical matter.
What we look at
We look for patterns, not a single test
- Detailed health history and consultation
- NeuroInfiniti Stress Response Evaluation
- Posture and movement
- Balance and coordination testing
- Eye movement or neurological screening when appropriate
- Grip or motor-function testing when appropriate
- Palpation and spinal function
- Other examination procedures based on the individual
Not every person receives every test. What we perform depends on your history, your age and what the examination shows as we go.
Scope of care
What this does — and doesn't — mean
What we do
- • We evaluate chiropractic and musculoskeletal function.
- • We look at nervous-system-related functional findings that fall within our scope.
- • We assess movement, balance and coordination findings.
- • We measure stress-response patterns with the NeuroInfiniti evaluation.
- • We make individualized chiropractic care recommendations and re-measure over time.
What we don't claim
- • We do not diagnose, treat or cure diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a treatment for dementia, Alzheimer's disease or other neurological diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a replacement for medical care, testing or medication.
- • No outcome is promised. Results vary from person to person.
This is a concern where medical evaluation, imaging or co-management may be the right first step. Dr. Mike Geran will say so plainly if that is what the history and examination suggest.
Common questions
- Will I be adjusted on the first visit?
- Generally no. The first visit is an evaluation visit. Dr. Geran reviews the findings and makes recommendations at the follow-up visit.
- Do I need imaging before I come in?
- Not usually. If your history or examination suggests imaging is needed, we will say so and help arrange the right next step.
When medical evaluation may be needed
Facial pain of this kind needs medical evaluation. We will refer rather than attempt to manage it.
Related at Foothills Chiropractic
- Headaches — Headaches have many drivers. Understanding which ones apply to you is the point of the evaluation.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome — Hand numbness and tingling associated with the median nerve at the wrist.
- Cervical Radiculopathy — Arm symptoms that follow a nerve root pattern from the neck.
- Cervicogenic Headache — Headache arising from structures in the neck.
Think Foothills Chiropractic might be right for you?
Start Here walks you through what the process looks like, so you can decide whether taking the next step makes sense for you.