Tens unit for facial nerve pain?

Posted by sdgoddard10 @sdgoddard10, Nov 15, 2022

I’ve had chronic pain for most of my life. Had radio frequency ablation in September. Still have chronic swelling on left side of face, and it can get unbearable at times. Doctors have prescribed several pain meds and migraine meds such as amitriptaline, nothing is effective. Started using wife’s tens unit on forehead. This has been strongly advised against by physicians, but if it’s effective I’ll keep doing it. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

@sdgoddard10 How about a different approach? I understand that your doctors don't want you zapping your brain with electric current and they are the ones with the advanced training that says that's not a good thing to do. No one here on Connect is going to be able to support that idea because you're going against medical advice, and that would be against the community guidelines.

Another great approach to treating pain is myofascial release. Often pain results from overly light tissue that causes body misalignment which can then compress nerves that travel through some very small spaces. If you work with a physical therapist who is trained in these methods, you can open up the spaces and get the body moving better and improve function and alignment. Some therapists can help lymphatic drainage with massage. You'll find a provider search for MFR at http://mfrtherapists.com/

Here is our discussion about myofascial release thereapy that may be of interest.
— Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
Have you heard of Myofascial Release Therapy?

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Thanks for responding. I’ve only tried doing tens unit because I’m starting to get desperate. When you have a chronic condition and nothing responds to it you start doing things you wouldn’t normally consider. I’ve tried telling people that until you have to live with something and it will not go away, you wouldn’t understand. I know most people are well meaning, but they can just get on with their lives, but I cannot. Another thing, after I had this ablation, the pressure and pain did go away, but it would return with a vengeance. I wonder if anybody has experienced this sort of thing, and if they have I feel very sorry for them. I wouldn’t put my worst enemy through it. When it’s bad I scream obscenities and want to bang my head against the wall until it stops. I am not exaggerating. My poor wife has witnessed this and she is becoming very concerned for me. Like I said if anyone has any thoughts I would appreciate it.

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Who does this myofascial release therapy? Is it a chiropractor or an alternative?

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I had a terrible attack of pressure on my left side where the ablation was done. I told my poor wife I wished I’d never been born. That may have been extreme, but when you feel like absolute hell, you just want it to end.

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@sdgoddard10

I had a terrible attack of pressure on my left side where the ablation was done. I told my poor wife I wished I’d never been born. That may have been extreme, but when you feel like absolute hell, you just want it to end.

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@sdgoddard10, I moved your discussion to the Chronic Pain group.
You might be interested in reading the experiences of @hazelblumberg @jenapower and @marylou705 in this related discussion:
- TENS unit for TMJ pain?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tens-unit-for-tmj-pain/

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