A 58-year-old lady, Mrs. S.M. (LFMPL PIN: 24163) was suffering from Trigeminal Neuralgia since 2000. She could get 8-10 episodes of pain which would last for 20-40 seconds. The nature of pain was electric shock-like throbbing, burning pain. Her pain was unbearable which made her impossible to do daily routine things, such as washing the face, brushing the teeth, chewing, drinking, and eating. Her appetite had reduced due to the pain, and she had lost weight. She was taking Tablet. Carbamazepine 800 mg per day. Her complaints would turn worse in the rainy season, by eating starchy foods like potatoes, after bending down when picking up the things, in AC, and due to an emotional state. She opted for online treatment under Dr. Shah on 26^th August 2016.

With regards to her physical general, she was a vegetarian by diet. She was thirsty. She could not tolerate the cold weather.

After studying and analyzing her case in detail, Dr. Shah prescribed her Capsicum-30 along with his research-based medicines for four months.

Follow-Ups:

After 4 months of the treatment on 23^rd November 2016, the patient reported that she had experienced around 20% of improvement in relief. The pain pattern was changed from a sudden lightning-strike, burning, stabbing kind of pain which used to last for 20 to 40 seconds to a continuous mild pain which lasted for hours and sometimes for a half day. The relief from the intensity of pain was better by 70%. She still had difficulty in chewing, eating, and brushing the teeth. Her doctor had replaced her Tablet. Carbamazepine 200 mg with Tablet. Gabapentin 300mg per day as Carbamazepine had started to affect her liver. The doctors had noticed her liver was not functioning properly due to conventional medicines. Dr. Shah repeated the same treatment as she was responding to the medicines.

On 22^nd April 2017, she was better by 70%. The intensity of her pain had reduced to a great extent, and she had stopped taking her Tablet. Gabapentin 300mg completely for the past 2 months. She was only on Homeopathic medicines.

After 16 months of homeopathic treatment, she was completely better. On 13^th April 2018, she reported that, occasionally, she experienced the very low intensity of pain which would last for less than a minute. She had not used any conventional medicines from 1^st February 2017.

Dr. Shah advised on discontinuing the treatment, as she was completely better. She was in a remission period after long-term Homeopathic treatment.

Conclusion:

This case highlights that homeopathy works extremely well in treating Trigeminal neuralgia. The conventional treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia is partially effective, one always needs a supplementary or alternative treatment which is best offered by homeopathy.

• Written by Dr. Mithila K, Associate doctor to Dr. Rajesh Shah (MD)