TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA
Understanding Facial Pain Through the Brainstem & Upper Cervical Connection
The Brain & Body Clinic – St. Petersburg, FL
Dr. Theo Berlingeri, DC
Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) is often described as:
“The worst pain I’ve ever felt.”
“Lightning bolts through my face.”
“Sharp electrical shocks that stop me in my tracks.”
“A deep ache or burning on one side of my face.”
It’s intense, frightening, and often unpredictable.
But what most people don’t know is that TN often has a neurological component tied to the brainstem and upper cervical spine — specifically involving the trigeminal nucleus caudalis, which extends down into the upper neck.
This is why many people experience facial pain along with:
Neck tension
Jaw dysfunction or TMJ pain
Headaches
Eye pressure
Ear pain
Sinus-like pressure
Dizziness
Postural imbalances
TN is more than a “facial nerve problem.”
It’s a brainstem and sensory processing problem.
The Trigeminal Nerve + Brainstem Pathway
The trigeminal nerve is the largest cranial nerve and controls:
Facial sensation
Jaw muscles
Pain perception
Eye + sinus sensation
Portions of the autonomic nervous system
Its processing center — the trigeminal nucleus — isn’t just in the brain.
It extends down the spinal cord, all the way to C2 in the neck.
This means that:
✔ Upper Cervical misalignment
can mechanically irritate the trigeminal system.
✔ Suboccipital muscle tension
can overload the sensory pathways.
✔ Brainstem irritation
can amplify facial pain signals.
✔ TMJ imbalances
can distort trigeminal feedback loops.
✔ Autonomic stress
can heighten nerve sensitivity.
This explains why many people with TN say:
“It came after dental work.”
“It started after a car accident.”
“My jaw always feels tight.”
“It gets worse when my neck is stiff.”
These are classic Upper Cervical + trigeminal convergence patterns.
How Upper Cervical Misalignment Can Trigger Trigeminal Neuralgia
When the atlas is out of alignment — even slightly — it can:
Increase tension on the brainstem
Overstimulate the trigeminal nucleus
Tighten jaw + facial musculature
Cause proprioceptive mismatch
Affect blood flow to the cranial nerves
Activate sympathetic stress responses
Trigger facial pain flares
Upper Cervical Chiropractic offers a gentle, precise, no-crack correction that relieves pressure at the root of the trigeminal system.
Our Brain–Body Method for Trigeminal Neuralgia Relief
TN relief requires restoring balance to the brainstem–trigeminal–upper cervical complex.
Our approach integrates:
Advanced Orthogonal Upper Cervical Chiropractic
Functional Neurology (cranial nerve + sensory integration)
Applied Kinesiology (jaw → neck → cranial relationships)
TRT (nervous system tension + autonomic regulation)
NET (limbic system involvement)
This multi-system approach is why many TN patients finally feel understood.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic (Advanced Orthogonal)
Gentle sound-wave guided atlas correction can:
Reduce irritation of the trigeminal nucleus
Decompress the brainstem
Relax suboccipital musculature
Reduce jaw/facial compensation patterns
Improve head posture
Calm pain pathways
Restore sensory integration
Patients often feel changes in:
Facial tension
Trigger zones
Eye/cheek pain
Jaw pressure
Headaches
Neck stiffness
👉 https://www.drtheochiropractic.com/upper-cervical
Functional Neurology for Cranial Nerve + Sensory Reset
We evaluate the cranial nerves involved in TN:
CN V (Trigeminal)
CN VII (Facial Nerve)
CN IX, X (Vagus + glossopharyngeal)
CN XI (Accessory nerve → neck muscles)
CN III, IV, VI (eye movement synergy)
We also assess:
TMJ balance
Eye tracking
Facial muscle activation
Sensory overload patterns
This helps identify which pathways are inflamed or overactive.
Applied Kinesiology: The Jaw–Neck–Nerve Connection
AK is essential because TN is often reinforced by:
Jaw imbalance
Bite asymmetry
Cranial bone tension
Neck proprioceptive dysfunction
Correcting inhibition patterns eases stress on the trigeminal system.
👉 https://www.drtheochiropractic.com/applied-kinesiology
TRT (Torque Release Technique)
TN often includes:
Autonomic overload
Nerve hypersensitivity
Fight-or-flight dominance
TRT helps reorganize spinal cord tension and bring the system back down.
👉 https://www.drtheochiropractic.com/torque-release-technique
NET (Neuro Emotional Technique)
Stress, trauma, or emotional tension can amplify nerve pain.
NET helps release the limbic patterns that heighten trigeminal irritability.
👉 https://www.drtheochiropractic.com/net
Signs Your TN Is Upper Cervical or Brainstem-Driven
You may be in the right place if your TN:
Involves jaw or TMJ tension
Started after neck tension or injury
Is worse on one side of the face
Includes eye, cheek, or sinus pain
Comes with headaches
Is triggered by neck movement
Is aggravated by stress
Includes dizziness or pressure at the base of the skull
These patterns strongly suggest Upper Cervical involvement.
Why Trigeminal Neuralgia Patients Choose The Brain & Body Clinic
✔ One of the only Advanced Orthogonal providers in St. Pete
✔ Special focus on brainstem + cranial nerve disorders
✔ Gentle, precise, non-invasive care
✔ Integrates structural, neurological, and emotional systems
✔ Ideal for chronic or complex TN cases
Patients come here because they’re tired of temporary fixes and want real, neurological understanding.
You Deserve Relief That Makes Sense
Your facial pain is real, and it has a neurological explanation.
Let’s correct the root cause and help your nervous system breathe again.
👉 Book Your First Visit
https://www.drtheochiropractic.com/contact
👉 Explore More Brain–Body Services
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