THE TRUTH ABOUT BITS - PART 4 : FACIAL [TRIGEMINAL] NEURALGIA...

Facial/trigeminal neuralgia or headshaking syndrome results from repeated irritation of the nerves in the facial area caused directly from bit contact. The pain travels along the nerve pathways in the general facial area and is sudden, sharp, excruciating, escalates in intensity and reoccurs frequently, causing extreme distress to the horse. Many horses have trigeminal nerve pain, but handlers and professionals alike fail to diagnose and recognise how serious this condition actually is, what the symptoms are, and what causes it. Removal of a bit and allowing an extended period of time to heal the inflamed nerves together with supporting herbal or homeopathic treatment enables recovery from this most painful syndrome. Often the emotional damage suffered from the pain is longstanding and rarely forgotten.

The trigeminal nerve is the main sensory nerve to the face and the largest of all the cranial nerves. It has three branches - the ophthalmic, maxillary and mandibular.

Ophthalmic branch

The ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve supplies nerves to parts of the eye [the cornea, ciliary body, lacrimal gland and conjuctiva], to parts of the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity and to the skin of the eyelids, eyebrows, forehead and nose

Maxillary branch

The maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve supplies nerves to the lower eyelid, nose, upper lip and side of the face

Mandibular branch

The mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve supplies nerves to the mucous membranes of two thirds of the tongue, teeth and gums, skin of the temporal region, lower lip and chin, the muscles used to chew, and to some parts of the ear.

Trigeminal pain can target areas of the face that may have no contact with the bit. The many branches of the trigeminal nerve form a very complex network. Pain is transferred along nerve pathways to seemingly unrelated locations very quickly hence a horse who experiences bit trauma could feel pain around their ears and exhibit irritated behaviour in avoiding them being touched if the nerves of the mandibular area were inflamed. Some common symptoms are :

• Excessive or continual sneezing, snorting, coughing or yawning when being exercised as well as before or afterwards


• Exaggeration of normal responses - for example a healthy horse will toss its head slightly when a fly lands on their head, but a horse with facial neuralgia will react with an exaggerated response because of the intense pain which is generated from even slight touch. As well, when experiencing agonising and long term pain, tolerance levels are decreased


• Excessive or continual vertical or horizontal headshaking when being exercised as well as before or afterwards


• Suddenly jerks the head up, or acts as if a bee has flown up their nose - an abrupt movement generated by the sudden, sharp and intense pain


• Excessive or continual elevation of the upper lip at exercise, or showing teeth


• Dropping nose low to ground, or even rubbing nose on the ground or on their leg, fence, person etc when being exercised as well as before or after


• Sensitivity to light or noisy blinking


• Twitching of the cheek and facial muscles