Rapid treatment of Orofacial pain is very important because of the deleterious effects on your quality of life. According to an article in Cranio (abstract below) Journal SPG Blocks are “Sphenopalatine ganglion block: a safe and easy method for the management of orofacial pain.”
Orofacial pain is often related to the autonomic nervous system. The lack of homeostasis or balance between the sympathetic division and the autonomic division division of the autonomic system often leads to problems with anxiety, stress overload, panic attacks and other Axis 2 events involving the limbic system.
The Limbic system is where we feel both good and bad emotions as well as pain. Pain is an emotional response secondary to nociceptive input to the brain.
Sympathetic overload is a common element of all orofacial pain patients. Many patients in chronic stress end up in a constant state of reflex “fight or Flight”
SPG Blocks or Sphenopalatine Ganglion Blocks are often rapidly effective in decreasing Orofacial Pain conditions. Utilization of a diagnostic neuromuscular orthotic often gives almost immediate relief. though some groups object to occlusal changes even when they dramatically improve patients quality of life.
Combination of these two treatments can give rapid dramatic improvement. Self-Administration of SPG Blocks is especially important in orofacial pain patients due to strong emotional effects of this type of pain.
Over 100 video orofacial pain testimonials: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk9Bfz6pklC7_UluWFHzLrg/videos
Shimshak showed in his lanfmark study that orofacial pain patients who carry TMJ diagnosis have a three fold increase in utilization of medical services in all fields of medicine. Side effects and costs of orofacial pain are enormous as is their effect on Quality of Life.
Sphenopalatine Ganglion Blocks
Cranio. 1995 Jul;13(3):177-81.
Sphenopalatine ganglion block: a safe and easy method for the management of orofacial pain.
Peterson JN1, Schames J, Schames M, King E.
Author information
Abstract
The sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) block is a safe, easy method for the control of acute or chronic pain in any pain management office. It takes only a few moments to implement, and the patient can be safely taught to effectively perform this pain control procedure at home with good expectations and results. Indications for the SPG blocks include pain of musculoskeletal origin, vascular origin and neurogenic origin. It has been used effectively in the management of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, cluster headaches, tic douloureux, dysmenorrhea, trigeminal neuralgia, bronchospasm and chronic hiccup.
