Successful Management of Supraorbital Neuralgia Using Manual Therapy Technique: A Case Report

Ackground: Supraorbital neuralgia is a difficult to treat condition characterized by pain over the forehead area supplied by the supraorbital nerve, with concomitant tenderness over the supraorbital notch. Previous studies demonstrated that supraorbital neuralgia is not that amenable to pharmaceutical treatment. Non-drug interventions, such as surgery, are the treatment of choice in these patients, with accompanying side effects. Case Presentation: In this case report, soft tissue therapy and friction massage was applied over the frontal area and supraorbital rim of a patient diagnosed with chronic and non-traumatic supraorbital and supratrochlear neuralgia with a resultant resolution of headaches. The pain was severe, disturbing the patient's sleep for several years. There was a lack of benefits from drug prescription, including sodium valproate. Conclusion: Though the efficacy of physical therapy in the treatment of supraorbital neuralgia needs to be confirmed in well-designed trials, this case is presented as an example of how this non-invasive and cost-effective technique can harmlessly provide analgesia in a difficult to treat neuralgia. Promoting such interventions may prevent unnecessary surgery and excessive use of opioids and other painkillers in patient suffering from supraorbital neuralgia.