BOOKS ON FACIAL NEURALGIAS

Medical books on specific medical disorders are usually expensive and difficult to find, especially for relatively rare disorders. When books can be found at all, they often are outdated and can contain information that is no longer valid. Most often, they are geared toward medical professionals and are difficult to understand for the layperson.

This changed recently for those seeking the latest information on trigeminal neuralgia and related facial neuralgia conditions when the Trigeminal Neuralgia Association published "Striking Back!" in the spring of 2000, a book we highly recommend.  Recently, Dr. Wesley Shankland, a dentist specializing in treating facial pain also published a book "Face the Pain" that may also be of interest to face pain patients.

The 2004 revision of this important book, published by the Trigeminal Neuralgia Association is available with updated information on face pain. With chapters on causes, diagnosis, latest  treatment options along with comparative  statistics on outcomes and  complications of  surgical procedures, recommendations on helping your doctor help you, this is a must read book for anyone with face pain.  There is much new information that makes it worthwhile to get the new edition of this book even if you own the first edition.

Striking Back!
      George Weigel &  Kenneth F. Casey, M.D.
      Paperback /  Published 2000.
      Price:  $24.95 ($5 and up for shipping)

Review: This important book, published by the Trigeminal Neuralgia Association, is a must read for anyone with face pain. Written so the average person without a medical background can really understand these tragic conditions, it includes chapters on symptoms, causes, diagnosis, latest treatment options, alternative treatments, what to do when medication doesn't help, questions to ask when deciding on surgery, comparative statistics on outcomes and complications of different surgical procedures, recommendations on helping your doctor help you, tips from facial neuralgia patients, suggestions on how families can help, and so much more. An extensive resources section lists books, organizations and Internet resources and websites about facial neuralgias and related disorders. A glossary includes common medical terminology with easy to understand definitions. Although "Striking Back" focuses on trigeminal neuralgia, other facial neuralgia conditions are covered including atypical facial pain, atypical trigeminal neuralgia, anesthesia dolorosa and glossopharyngeal neuralgia among others. These are rare conditions and most publications are directed towards the medical profession. What a rare find -- finally a book for those who are facial neuralgia patients or who are family members or friends. The authors, one who suffered in the past from trigeminal neuralgia, the other, a neurosurgeon specializing in treating facial pain disorders, write with humor, compassion and hope. The book is well organized with good illustrations and pictures and is an important resource for anyone trying to live with a facial neuralgia disorder.

To order "Striking Back!" 

Face the Pain
By Wesley E. Shankland, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D. 
With James Boyd, D.D.S. and Devin Starlanyl, M.D 
Paperback / Published 2000 
$21.95 (plus $2.50 shipping) 
Available from DrShankland.com

Review:  Face The Pain, The Challenge of Facial Pain, focuses on different facial pain disorders, including trigeminal neuralgia, odontalgia, periodontal pain, sinusitis, myofascial pain disorder, craniofacial neuralgias such as glossopharyngeal neuralgia, NICO (neuralgia inducing cavitational osteonecrosis) and others. Dr. Shankland's book is chatty and personal, directed to the non-medical professional. In a conversational style, he shares his methods of diagnosis and treatment along with suggestions for coping with each disorder. Shankland's perspective reflects both his experience as a dentist specializing in treating face pain disorders and his degrees in human anatomy. Chapters on bruxism (tooth grinding), periodontal pain (gum disease) and TMJ (temporal mandibular joint disorder) are included. . Informative tables comparing symptoms for different disorders, dosage ranges and common side effects for drug treatments etc. summarize complex data into easy to understand charts. Helpful illustrations and pictures appear throughout the book. An extensive chapter on "Alternative Treatments" for face pain includes information on homeopathy, chiropractic, massage, magnet therapy, aromatherapy etc. A chapter on the "Concept of Pain" discusses psychological and physical components of acute and chronic pain. Dr. Shankland writes in a compassionate and informative style but in sharp contrast to other medical/scientific books, his Christian beliefs are reflected throughout the book along with quotes from the bible and this may be disconcerting to some readers.  Nonetheless, there is enough here for most face pain patients, their family and friends to glean valuable information to help make informed decisions about managing facial pain disorders.

FROM   Amazon
The following books on facial neuralgias and related topics can be ordered directly from AMAZON.COM by clicking on the book title. Any books ordered at AMAZON.COM through our website will earn 5% of the sale which in turn will donated to the Trigeminal Neuralgia Association.

These books are listed by publication date with the most recently published books listed first.  Some were published 8-10 years ago and are fairly expensive.   Some are out of print but can be ordered as second hand books.  While we aren't recommending that you purchase any of these books, we want to make you aware they're available through AMAZON.COM. Some of these books are classics and contain valuable background information that can help you understand the mechanisms of facial neuralgia pain. Of particular interest is "Working in a Very Small Place : The Making of a Neurosurgeon" about Dr. Peter Jannetta and his pioneering work on Microvascular decompression.

Please let us know if you've read any of these books or any others that you've found useful. Send comments, recommendations and reviews to  editors@facial-neuralgia.org so we can share information with other FNR readers.

Orofacial Pain : Guidelines for Assessment, Diagnosis, and Management

Jeffrey P. Okeson(Editor) / Paperback / Published 1996

Suggested Price: $28.00 (Special Order)

Review, August 1, 1996
Presents detailed guidelines and descriptions on pain disorders of the head and neck, outlining assessment, diagnosis, and management of all pain conditions associated with the orofacial structures, especially temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Contains sections on diagnostic classification; vascular and nonvascular intracranial disorders; primary headache; neuralgias, nerve trunk pain, and deafferentation pain; associated structures; and mental disorders. Includes a glossary. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

 

Bell's Orofacial Pains

Jeffrey P. Okeson, Welden E. Bell / Hardcover / Published 1995

Suggested Price: $68.00 (Back Ordered) 

Review 08/01/95: 

A revised and updated version of Dr. Welden Bell's classic text for dental students,researchers, and practitioners. The first section presents the normal neuroanatomy and function of the trigeminal system. The second section presents a classification of orofacial pain disorders and outlines the diagnostic approaches for differentiating these disorders. The third section presents management considerations. Numerous case studies illustrate and support concepts throughout. Annotation copyright Book News,  Inc. Portland, Or.

Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia (Pain Research and Clinical Management, Vol 8) 

C. Peter N. Watson (Editor) / Published 1993 

Out of Print. Amazon will search for a used copy at your request 

Comment  Contains a chapter by Gerhard H. Fromm on  Facial pain with herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia and a comparison with trigeminal neuralgia   

Head and Face Pain Syndromes (Pain Series)

Rene Cailliet / Paperback / Published 1992

Suggested Price: $19.95

Comment:   One of 12 chapters discusses facial neuralgias and does not contain current treatment information. 

 

Facial Pain

Parker E. Mahan, Charles C. Alling / Published 1991

Review 04/01/91
Covers clinical aspects of both common and rare painful conditions, focusing on diagnostic basics, the psychopathology of pain and of nutrition, the musculoskeletal system, the temperomandibular joint, the vascular and nervous systems, and oral and nasal cavities and salivary glands. The two authors have made a thorough revision of the previous edition, which was written by 20 contributors. Annotation copyright Book
News, Inc. Portland, Or.

Trigeminal Neuralgia 

Richard L. Rovit / Hardcover / Published 1990 

Suggested Price: $87.00 (Back Ordered) 

Review:  09/01/90: 

Over a dozen experts present their sometimes contradictory experiences with the nervous disorder. They explore the indications and counterindications for particular therapeutic regimens, describe in detail specific techniques, and summarize results, noting successes, failures, and complications. They emphasize practical, clinical concerns, especially the pharmacological and surgical options for primary therapy, but also discuss the anatomy and physiology of the trigeminal nerve, differential diagnosis of facial pain, and the disorder's history.  Annotation copyright BookNews, Inc. Portland, Or. 

 

Trigeminal Neuralgia : Current Concepts Regarding Pathogenesis and Treatment

Gerhard H. Fromm, Barry J. Sessle (Editor) / Hardcover / Published 1990 

Suggested Price: $75.00 (Special Order) 

Review:  02/01/91: 

A painful condition, trigeminal neuralgia is an affliction of the nervous system for which clinicians have good pharmacological and surgical treatments--described here in several contributions. Also included are a historical review, discussion of the anatomic organization of the trigeminal system, and a summary of areas that need investigation. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, 

 

Working in a Very Small Place : The Making of a Neurosurgeon 

Mark L. Shelton, Luann Walther / Paperback / Published 1990 

Paperback - Reprinted 1990 

Hardback - Out of Print. Amazon will search for a used copy at your request 

Review:, 11/01/89: 

Shelton follows the career of Dr. Peter Jannetta who 20 years ago pioneered a controversial, now accepted, medical procedure his patients called a miracle and many of his peers labeled a fraud. No bibliography or index. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or. 

 

Neurosurgical and Medical Management of Pain : Trigeminal Neuralgia, Chronic Pain, and Cancer Pain (Topics in Neurosurgery ; Tins 3) 

Ronald Brisman (Editor) / Hardcover / Published 1989 

Suggested Price: $79.95 (Special Order) 

Review 04/01/89: 

The 24 contributors discuss three areas where the neurosurgeon may provide an important contribution to the relief of intractable pain: trigeminal and other facial neuralgias, chronic noncancer pain, and cancer pain. New techniques include percutaneous radiofrequency electrocoagulation for trigeminal neuralgia, spinal stimulation for chronic noncancer pain, and intraspinal morphine infusion for cancer pain. Annotation copyright BookNews, Inc. Portland, Or. 

 

The History of the Management of Pain : From Early Principles to Present Practice 

Ronald D. Mann (Editor) / Hardcover / Published 1988 

Suggested Price: $58.00 (Special Order) 

 

Medical and Surgical Management of Trigeminal Neuralgia 

Gerhard H. Fromm (Editor) / Hardcover / Published 1987 

Suggested Price: $22.50 (Special Order)

 

 

Trends in Cluster Headache (International Congress Series, No 731) 

Federigo Sicuteri, et al / Published 1987 

Out of Print. Amazon will search for a used copy at your request 

 

Anatomical, Physiological and Pharmacological Aspects of Trigeminal Pain 

B. Matthews, R. G. Hill / Published 1982 

Out of Print. Amazon will search for a used copy at your request