Unfortunately, quite often any excess load can provoke an attack of neuralgia. One of the most common varieties is trigeminal neuralgia.
Facing this diagnosis hurts people. The causes and symptoms of the disease appear immediately; a course of treatment is required under the supervision of a physician.
The trigeminal nerve: where is it located?
The trigeminal nerve is one of the twelve cranial nerves that provides the sensitivity of the facial area, thanks to three branches extending from it:
- Ocular;
- Maxillary;
- Mandibular.
As small vessels depart from each branch, thus, the trigeminal nerve covers almost the entire area of the face.
The emergence of the disease is more susceptible to women older than 45-50 people, however, neuralgia can develop in patients of any gender and age. For many patients, trigeminal neuralgia is a painful disease.
What can cause inflammation?
Neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve may appear independently, and may manifest itself as a consequence of a disease. The development of the disease contribute to various factors, a specific cause in medicine has not been identified.
The factors influencing the development of the inflammatory process are the following:
- Hypothermia of the face;
- Postponed viral diseases - herpes, shingles and others;
- Weakened immune system;
- Any injury to the face and head;
- The presence of a tumor or aneurysm of blood vessels, which can squeeze the nerve, disrupting its functioning;
- Various diseases or inflammatory processes in the oral cavity;
- Emotional and psychological overstrain;
- Cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels.
How dangerous is it?
In addition to the appearance of excruciating pain, patients have a risk of developing the onset of paralysis of the face in full or incomplete form, as well as loss of sensation.
Since people with this diagnosis try to use the unaffected half of the face and mouth when chewing food, muscle seals can form on the opposite side.
With the protracted nature of the disease, serious consequences and complications are possible in the form of the development of dystrophic changes in the masticatory muscles and impaired sensitivity in the affected area of the face.
Neuralgia is treatable with great difficulty. In some cases, inpatient treatment is required.
The neglected form of the disease and the inadequate treatment can lead to the chronic form of the development of the disease.
Symptoms of defeat
It is difficult enough not to notice the presence of trigeminal neuralgia. The primary symptoms and signs of inflammation are as follows:
- A sudden muscle spasm. Muscle contraction provokes an abnormal asymmetry of the face;
- The manifestation of painful attacks of a different nature. Strong painful sensations last, as a rule, for two or three minutes, then weaken and become aching. The location of the attacks of pain depends on which branch of the nerve is affected. Both sides of the face are rarely affected, as a rule, facial neuralgia is one-sided.
At the initial stage of the disease, the pain is usually short and not pronounced. Gradually, the pain becomes more intense. With the progression of the disease, the duration of attacks of facial pain are more prolonged and painful.
Further signs of neuralgia development:
- The constant presence of the chronic form of pain;
- The manifestation of the constant asymmetry of the face;
- Numbness of the skin, loss of its sensitivity in the affected area occurs;
- Repeated short attacks, occurring in any situation: during a meal, talking, brushing your teeth or resting state;
- General weakness;
- There is pain in the muscles throughout the body;
- Possible rash on the skin.
As a rule, constant pain provokes the development of insomnia, fatigue and irritability, the appearance of headaches.
In trigeminal neuralgia, the following types of pain are distinguished:
- Typical pain, characterized by drops of calm and amplification. As a rule, painful sensations increase when touching the affected area of the face. Wear a shooting character that resembles an electric shock;
- Atypical pain is permanent and captures a large area of the face. Periods of silence of the pain is not observed.
There are periods of exacerbation of attacks of pain, especially in the cold season.
How to treat the trigeminal nerve
To recover from the defeat of the trigeminal nerve is very difficult. As a rule, methods of modern therapy can only relieve the suffering of the patient, reducing pain. Both conservative methods and surgery are used to treat inflammation.
First of all, it is necessary to correctly determine the diagnosis. This requires an examination by a neurologist. To clarify the diagnosis and the affected area is assigned:
- Magnetic resonance imaging;
- Electromyography;
- Electrononeurography
Very often with similar pains, patients turn to the dentist, believing that this is a toothache and the removal or treatment of a tooth is required.
Recognize neuritis and begin treatment should be as early as possible. Any treatment should be prescribed by the attending physician, since many drugs have contraindications and side effects.
As a rule, the complex of therapeutic measures includes drugs of the following action on the body:
- Antiviral;
- Painkillers;
- Anti-inflammatory;
- Reducing muscle spasms;
- Vitamin complexes;
- Reducing inflammation and swelling;
- Physiotherapy procedures.
Remove the increased muscle tension will help the course of massage. Massage will help improve microcirculation and blood supply in the inflamed nerve, as well as in adjacent tissues. Proper massage in the face area has a positive effect on the reflex zones at the exit points of the trigeminal nerve branches.
Massage for this diagnosis should be carried out in a sitting position, the head should be folded back on the headrest, so that the neck muscles are relaxed.
To avoid the constant use of painkillers can eliminate the source that irritates the nerve, causing pain. In cases where the disease progresses, the drugs are ineffective and do not relieve the attacks of pain, resort to surgical intervention.
The effectiveness of treatment depends on the stage of the disease, the age of the patient, the presence of associated diseases. Clear diagnosis and strict medical supervision also matter.
Treatment is very common folk methods. In folk medicine there are many of the most effective means of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve. However, in most cases, treatment with folk methods is ineffective. They are only adjuncts to the main treatment.
Conclusion
Neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve is a real test for human endurance. Not everyone is able to withstand long and often the pain, sometimes unbearable, often repeated.
Significantly reduce the duration of excruciating pain will help timely treatment to the doctor and in time started a course of treatment. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to completely cure the pathology. In most cases, only pain with this disease is reduced.
In situations where drug treatment does not give results, the pain does not decrease, worsening or complications are observed, surgical intervention is used.
Like any other disease, it is better to avoid it than to cure it. In order to prevent the development of the inflammatory process, it is necessary to cure inflammations in the area of the sinuses and to keep the teeth in good condition. In addition, as a preventive measure, you should monitor your health, maintain immunity. Try to avoid various injuries, infections, hypothermia.
A little more information about the diseases of the trigeminal nerve can be found in the following video.
