ACUPUNCTURE
Alternative Treatments for Facial Neuralgias

Disclaimer.

 Acupuncture has long been a somewhat controversial treatment. It is almost impossible to make controlled double-blind studies with acupuncture, which means that acupuncture is often viewed with skepticism by the medical community. However, acupuncture is a safe and riskless treatment when done by a qualified professional, and it is not unheard of for qualified doctors to suggest it for pain treatment. This is especially true when traditional medicine fails to work.

For facial neuralgias specifically, the evidence for or against acupuncture appears to be purely anecdotal. Some have reported pain relief for long periods of time, others have had their pain worsen. (As a personal observation, which may or may not be true, we would say that people with classical TN seem to have very little success, whereas people with atypical TN report success slightly more often). Anecdotal information also suggests that acupuncture has been used for TN connected with multiple sclerosis, with some success; again, reliable statistics cannot be found.

Sites with a very positive attitude:

Acupuncture.com.
Quite New Age, but well written if you're into that sort of thing.

Sites with a roughly neutral attitude: 

Some Thoughts on Efficacy
Does not make any fantastic claims about acupuncture, but does raise some interesting questions about alternative treatments in general

Sites with a very critical attitude:

Skeptic's Dictionary - Acupuncture
Skeptical approach to acupuncture

Skeptical Inquirer, Sept 1995.
Highly critical, sharply written.

Informal information

Positive experiences
	I Have suffered with trigeminal Neuralgia for twenty years. In the beginning it was hard to get a diagnosis. Then a dentist friend suggested it I saw a neurologist who gave me a prescription for Tegretol which worked for a while then I got a severe attack that put me in the pain center of Massachusetts General Hospital. They suggested that I investigate acupuncture. I have received acupuncture treatment once a week together with 300mg of Tregretol (I had been taking 900mg) and I have had only mild twinges for the last four years. Also pinching the soft flesh between the index finger and thumb on the side of the attack will relieve the pain. >I have been getting acupuncture for four years. Used together with tegretol I am free of pain, except for minimal twinges now and then, for four years. Competence of the acupuncturist is fundamental. With acupuncture I need 300 mg without 900mg wasn't holding it.
	"Yes, I have tried acupuncture and acupressure, which have offered some relief, but are not covered by the insurance, so I cannot afford them. " "Julie"
	"My acupuncture treatments helped, because the pain level and intensity dropped over the ten days of treatments." "Flash".
	"I have been a sufferer of TN for 20 years, and I am only 37 years old now, I have been through every route of medical treatment known to Doctors.  The ONLY relief I have found was from acupuncture.  I have read on the  treatments page that some have not had as much luck with it than I have.  I do firmly believe that it can be all to do with your own mind set and how your own acupuncturist treats this disorder.  I have now lived pain free for over 4 years, and live each day to its fullest but without the pain."  "Kim"
Negative experiences
	"I tried acupuncture. That just seemed to make the pain worse." "Winston".
Mixed experiences
	"In March, I decided to try acupuncture. It seemed to increase the episodes initially, but gradually the episodes came less often...." [however, long-term outcome uncertain]. "LeVonne"

Acknowledgement. Many of the links on this page were kindly contributed by Al Stone.