WHO ARE WE ?
The Official Spanish Association of Patients with Neuropathic Pain, Trigeminal Neuralgia and Temporomandibular Pathology (AEPA ATM), is a non-profit association for patients that suffer any kind of Craniomandibular disorder, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD), Neuropathic pain, or Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN).
AEPA ATM is a non-profit entity of public and social interest and use involving specialists, collaborators, and patients who suffer from any of the aforementioned illnesses. All of the members of our entity are volunteers. The association is legally inscribed in the Register of Associations of the Interior Ministry with the National Number (Número Nacional) 587586, Group 1, Section 1.
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1. Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathic Pain affects 8% of the European population and is described as an intense pain, unbearable and lacerating. In Spain it is estimated that around three million people suffer from this type of pain, and it has been determined that this pain negatively affects the professional and social lives of 85% of those who experience it. This type of pain may appear in many illnesses, including cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Rheumatoidarthritis, and lupus among many other diseases. It is estimated that 44% of affected patients may suffer from depression if an effective treatment is not found. Neuropathic pain can be produced by a lesion in the central or peripheral nervous system. It is a long-term process that can become chronic,and specialists should try to employ all diagnostic and therapeutic resources to make the diagnosis. Pharmaceutically, there already exist new generation anticonvulsants, steroids, and ANIES (analgesics? to manage Neuropathic pain. On other occasions, this type of pain persists and the specialists that collaborate with our institution consider other measures may be taken. All cases are studied individually to improve the quality of each patient’s life as much as possible.
2. Craniomandibular Disorders
Craniomandibular disorders impact and affect patients to varying degrees. In the most serious cases, the pain is very intense and impedes normal function. In many cases it is an incapacitating pain that has repercussions in a patient’s daily life. It is produced in large part by a muscular co-contraction that spans different muscles of the chewing system, neck, head, and shoulder region.
There are many people who suffer from craniomandibular disorders who do not know the origin of their illness, which often produces a feeling of uneasiness. Patients who suffer from temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain frequently go from appointment to appointment with many questions and doubts without finding a concrete answer about, or adequate treatment for, their pain or symptoms. On many occasions this type of pain has different origins.
One of them is the dislocation of the articular disc that is found in the temporomandibular join (TMJ). With this type of pain it is common that defensive co-contractions emerge and produce muscle pain in the neck, trapezoid, and muscles of mastication. The pain can radiate to the arms. Experts indicate that these pains are muscular and inflammatory in origin.
3. – Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN)
TN is one of the worst pathologies from which a human being can suffer. It differs from the other disorders in that it is a facial pain, which normally does not affect the neck or the head.It is facial in that the trigeminal nerve supplies innervations to the face. The trigeminal nerve has three branches. The first branch suppliesthe eye, eyebrows, and forehead. The second branch spans to the ear, upper teeth, lips, and cheekbone. And the third branch passes through the lower teeth and mandible. Tiny branches exist that reach each and every tooth in the mouth.
Neuropathic pain is divided into the following two groups: Atypical trigeminal neuralgia (a constant pain of the face) and Typical trigeminal neuralgia (a fluctuating and gnawing sharp pain that many describe as unbearable).
Our association is founded on the goal to advise and defend the needs of people affected by the aforementioned pathologic disorders. The association is a reference center for those affected by these illnesses – patients and their family members – where all members can share their experiences and opinions, and get information from national and international medical experts who make up our scientific committee.
Each one of these three disorders requires multidisciplinary attention from various medical specialists, including odontologists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, neural surgeons, neurologists, immunologists, anesthesiologists, and researchers. For this reason, our association has sealed an agreement with a network of medical specialists in these disciplines, who are available to advise and provide members with a second opinion.
TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS
Various founding members who suffer from one of the three illnesses already described, and who are independent professionals, have created the association. The association counts on the objective collaboration with various medical specialists and qualified researchers in these diseases with the goal of maintaining the association’s content and knowledge at the forefront of the latest treatments.
 Maria Ysaura Gómez-Reino Ex-Agencia Española del Medicamento |
 Gloria Alfaro Documentalist |
 Ignacio Del Río International Division |
 Mario Patients Director |
 Angelines Holgado Medical Pharmacist |
 María Huerta Health Communication. Registered. Bachelor Degree. Chartered Dental Hygienist |
 Raquel Martín AEPA ATM. Secretary |
International Scientific Advisory Committee
- Maxillofacial Surgeons
- Neurologist Consultants
- Traumatologists
- Rheumatologists
- Neurosurgeons
- Neurologists
- Odonthologists
- Orthodontists
- Dental Higyenists
- Sanitary Education Consultant
- Psychologists
- Physiotherapists
- Pharmacologist Consultants
- Labour Law Advisors
We are constantly searching for international professionals with more than 10 years of experience in TMJ disfunction, TN disease and neuropathic pain.
Board and Patient Attention: María Huerta and María José Gómez
