Student and Therapist Newsletter Archive
   - Trigeminal Nerualgia

+ Trigeminal neuralgia. - March 07

Dear John,
I am a Cranio Sacral Therapist. I studied with The Upledger Institute and have been a Therapist for nearly 2years. I truly am amazed at what this therapy can achieve.  The reason I am writing to you is because I have recently been introduced to Trigeminal Neuralgia which I had never heard of until now. I just wanted to inquire when you treat this problem what areas do you treat for success. I would appreciate any feed back on this you may give me.
Thank you so very much.
H.I.
Australia.

>>>MY COMMENTS:

   To get an understanding of trigeminal neuralgia you need to study the structure of the trigeminal nerve.
   I'll run through it briefly here.
   The Trigeminal nerve is the largest in diameter of the cranial nerves.  It is predominantly a sensory nerve receiving sensory input from the face and scalp.  It also provides some motor supply to the mylohyoid and the anterior belly of the digastric.
   The two trigeminal nerves leave the pons and travel anteriorly for about two centimetres under the tentorium.  The trigeminal then forms a ganglion out of which it branches into the 3 divisions.
   OPHTHALMIC DIVISION
   The ophthalmic division receives sensation from the eye balls, the lacrimal glands and the skin of the forehead, eyelid and nose.  It enters the orbit through the superior orbital fissure.
   Just before it enters the superior orbital fissure, it sends some sensory fibres to the tentorium.  That's why pain behind the eyes can be an indication of tentorial tension.
   MAXILLARY DIVISION
   This division is entirely sensory and receives sensation from the skin of the middle portion of the face, lower eye lid, side of the nose, upper
lip, roof of the mouth, gums and teeth. 
   The Maxillary branch exits the cranium through the foramen rotundum which is formed in the sphenoid.
   MANDIBULAR DIVISION
   This is the largest of the three branches of the trigeminal.
   It receives sensation from the lower lip, lower face, inner cheek, tongue, lower teeth and gums and the temporomandibular joint. 
   It also has a motor aspect supplying the temporalis, the masseter, pterygoid, mylohyoid and the anterior digastric. 
   It exits the cranium through the foramen ovale which is also located in the sphenoid.
   So that is the rough geography. 
   If you are treating someone with trigeminal neuralgia trace the pathway of the trigeminal nerve with your intention. 
   Pay particular attention to the areas of vulnerability which are, for the ophthalmic division - the superior orbital fissure. 
   For the maxillary division - the foramen rotundum, the maxilla, palatine, sphenoid and zygomae.
   And for the mandibular branch, the foramen ovale, the TMJ area.

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