Year: 2014
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Introduction: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is one of the most excruciating pain conditions. Mirror\ntherapy (MT) is effective in several chronic pain conditions and with a reversing set-up has\nbeen described as effective for facial pain with ongoing benefit five years later.\nCase presentation: a middle-aged lady was offered MT for her long-standing TN. She\nexperienced pain relief repeatedly and reliably after 10 minutes of massage applied by others\nand subsequently also on self-application of the massage. However, after several selfapplications,\nwhich entailed significant strain of the massaging arm, MT suddenly and\ncompletely ceased to show effect.\nDiscussion: The significant and on occasions complete pain relief, albeit only temporary, with\nno side effects experienced, is promising. Whether the reported pain relief is reproducible in\nfurther patients, and whether a spoilt illusion can be restored, needs to be investigated.\nConclusion: The reliable pain reduction seen here suggests further use of MT for TN. The\nbenefit of the illusion appears to have been lost through the strain or the vision of the self administering\narm on the pain-free side of the mirror reflection. Therefore self-administration\nshould be avoided. If this treatment proves effective, a breakthrough in pain relief for chronic\nunilateral facial pain may be achieved.
Source: Figshare
Author: Annegret Hagenberg
Language: English
Subfield: Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2896978