With inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, the symptoms appear in the form of severe, shooting pain, which can last from several weeks to a year. The disease mainly occurs on the right side, and mainly women over the age of 45 suffer from it.
To reduce the existing inflammation, you can use a course of therapy based on the elimination of the cause of the disease and a pain attack. Treatment can be medicamentous, surgical, and alternative means and methods of physiotherapy are also used.
What are the types of inflammation?
With the occurrence of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, the symptoms in the photo can be seen quite well, since a person's expression changes slightly due to the presence of painful sensations. The trigeminal nerve is a branching of the nerve endings, since it affects completely all parts of the face. Each part is divided into even smaller branches.
Inflammation of the trigeminal nerve on the face, the symptoms of which are somewhat different, can be true or secondary. Neuralgia of the first type acts as an independent disease that occurs as a result of squeezing nerve endings or circulatory disorders. Secondary neuralgia develops as a result of a specific disease.
The most common inflammation of only one part of the trigeminal nerve, however, sometimes neuralgia of several nerve endings occurs. In this case, inflammatory processes occur on both sides of the face.
Causes of occurrence
How exactly the signs of the disease appear, you can find out by looking at the photo. Symptoms and treatment of trigeminal inflammation are largely dependent on the cause that triggered the occurrence of the disorder. If pain attacks occur, only the attending doctor can determine the provoking factor after the examination. The nerve endings can become inflamed in case of squeezing them or because of a violation in the circulatory system. It is worth noting that such problems are mainly the result of internal disturbances, as well as external irritating factors. Neurologists often call such causes of neuralgia as:
- aneurysm;
- inflammation in the nasopharynx or in the jaw area;
- the formation of tumors and adhesions;
- dental pathology;
- infections in the oral cavity;
- sclerotic plaques on the vessels;
- head injury;
- hypothermia.
In some cases, the occurrence of a numb area can be triggered by other pathologies, in particular, such as:
- mental disorders;
- herpes;
- cardiovascular disorders;
- metabolic disorders and endocrine pathologies;
- multiple sclerosis.
The trigeminal nerve, whose symptoms it is important to recognize in a timely manner, can become inflamed due to hormonal changes in the body, for example, during menopause in women. Sometimes the reason lies in the lack of nutrients.
The main symptoms
With inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, the symptoms in the photo are clearly visible, therefore, the course of the disease can be accurately recognized. Among the main signs of the presence of the disease can be identified such as:
- sharp pain;
- muscle spasms;
- nasal discharge and lacrimation.
Acute pain can occur completely unexpectedly, for example, when a person simply brushes his teeth, talks or smiles. In some cases, it may even be at rest. The attack can last for 2-3 minutes, and then over time the pain fades somewhat and becomes background. In some cases, an additional toothache with exactly the same intensity and gradual subsidence can be observed. Often the localization of painful sensations occurs in the jaw area and in some cases affects the eyes. Almost always only one half of the face is affected.
With inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, muscle cramps are a symptom. Muscle contraction appears suddenly on one side of the face, which leads to very strong painful sensations. Muscles are blocked, which leads to a violation of facial symmetry, which is why the external symptom of trigeminal neuralgia is very easy to recognize by skew. It often happens that a person cannot even open his mouth until the end of the attack.
Tearing and discharge from the nose can occur if painful attacks are frequent and have a short duration. All of these signs may appear one-time or be permanent, but in any case they cannot be ignored.
In some cases, the pain becomes chronic, and muscle paralysis provokes asymmetric face. At the same time, the affected area is numb, the skin loses its sensitivity, in addition, a person in anticipation of another attack experiences a feeling of fear of pain. Signs of the course of the disease in some cases are similar to other neurological manifestations, so the treatment method is selected strictly individually, after the doctor has made an accurate diagnosis.
With inflammation of the trigeminal nerve of the face, it is very difficult to completely eliminate the symptoms, however, if you correctly combine drug therapy and home treatment, you can forget about the pain for a long time.
Treatment features
After making an accurate diagnosis and in the presence of pronounced symptoms of trigeminal inflammation, treatment begins with the elimination of painful sensations and facilitating the well-being of the patient. However, in order for therapeutic measures to be effective, provocative factors must first be determined. For this, a comprehensive examination is carried out and, if necessary, laboratory tests are prescribed.
If, after an X-ray examination, it was found that the cause of neuralgia is an incorrectly installed filling, then a tooth should be treated. If inflammatory processes affect nerve endings, then they need to be eliminated.
The patient can be referred for consultation with specialized specialists, in particular, such as an allergist, dentist, infectious disease specialist, immunologist, endocrinologist. If an infection has been detected, then appropriate medications are prescribed to eliminate it.
Sometimes, to normalize well-being, it is enough to only improve the functioning of the vessels of the brain. In other cases, more thorough and lengthy treatment is required.
In addition to drug therapy for inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, physiotherapeutic procedures help to stop the symptoms, in particular, such as:
- electrophoresis;
- acupuncture;
- phonophoresis;
- ultrasound treatment;
- exposure to pulsed low-frequency currents;
- electromagnetic effects;
- the use of infrared and ultraviolet radiation;
- diadynamic procedures.
In especially severe cases of pathology, surgical intervention is prescribed.
Drug therapy
With inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, symptoms and treatment are interconnected, since the main task is to eliminate pain attacks and the main cause of the problem. When choosing drugs for therapy, the doctor relies on diagnostic data. Generally prescribed drugs such as:
- antiepileptic drugs;
- muscle relaxants;
- antidepressants;
- B vitamins
Antiepileptic drugs should be prescribed only by a qualified doctor, however, due to adverse reactions, mandatory monitoring of blood counts and evaluation of liver function are required. Among the main drugs, one can distinguish such as Okskarbazepin, Tebantin, Diphenin. The course of therapy can be long with a gradual decrease in dosage.
To eliminate muscle spasticity in neuralgia, muscle relaxants of central action are prescribed, in particular, such as Sirdalud, Baclofen, and Baclosan. Before going to bed, doctors recommend taking antidepressants (Trazodon, Amitriptyline). For local exposure, you can use any ointments and creams with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory components, in particular, such as Diklak, Bystrum-gel, Diclofenac.
In the absence of the effect of conservative therapy, surgery is usually prescribed after 1-3 months.
Folk techniques
It will help to effectively eliminate the symptoms of trigeminal inflammation treatment at home with the help of traditional medicine. However, they can be used only after examination and consultation with a doctor.
Plants such as:
- motherwort;
- St. John's wort
- hop;
- valerian;
- dream grass.
All these plants soothe and relax, helping to reduce neurological manifestations. It will help to eliminate the symptoms of trigeminal nerve inflammation at home using symptoms such as:
- infusions and decoctions of herbs;
- warming up;
- oils;
- compresses.
Compress based on marshmallow broth helps to reduce pain and discomfort. To prepare the infusion, you need to grind the root of the plant, pour it with boiled water and insist for 12 hours. Then, in the resulting product, moisten the bandage, apply to the inflamed area and leave for 2-3 hours, wrapping a warm handkerchief on top.
As a basis for a compress, you can use a decoction of chamomile, elderberry, lilac. You need to apply such a compress for 20 minutes. In addition, you can use the decoction as a lotion to wipe the face.
Alcohol tincture of geranium and Kalanchoe can be used as a grind. To do this, you need to take both plants in equal proportions, place in a container and pour vodka. Insist for 2 weeks, and then use the finished product to rub the inflamed areas.
Fir oil helps get rid of the main signs of neuralgia. For treatment, you need to soak a piece of cotton wool in it and rub it in the affected nerve.
Quickly and easily help eliminate inflammation of the trigeminal nerve treatment at home. Symptoms can be reduced by warming up. The best way to do this is with hot, hard-boiled eggs. To do this, they need to be cleaned, cut into two halves and applied hot to the affected area, left for 15-20 minutes. For warming, you can also use hot buckwheat in a pouch.
Massage and gymnastics
Massage treatment will help eliminate the symptoms of trigeminal inflammation. Before carrying out this procedure on your own, it is advisable to consult with your doctor in advance to prevent an attack. Among the main techniques you need to highlight:
- trituration;
- stroking
- vibrating movements in the cheeks and cheekbones.
All movements must be performed very easily, without pressure. With the permission of the doctor, the use of a vibrating massager is allowed. The duration of the sessions is 2-5 minutes. Medical gymnastics also has a good effect, as contractions and movements of the muscles of the face prevent another attack and reduce the pressure on the nerve endings.
Physiotherapy
With inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, symptoms and treatment can be very different, which is why the course of therapy is selected strictly individually. Physiotherapy is well combined with drug therapy, as it helps to improve tissue repair and normalize blood circulation. Often, the doctor prescribes procedures such as:
- ultraviolet radiation;
- the use of ultra-high frequencies;
- electrophoresis with vitamins and Diphenhydramine;
- laser therapy;
- electricity.
All applied physiotherapy techniques help to eliminate intense pain and normalize well-being.
Surgical intervention
With inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, symptoms can be observed for a long time, from 2 weeks to a year. However, if no results are observed for 2–3 months of conservative therapy, the doctor may prescribe surgery. Often used methods such as radio frequency destruction and microvascular decompression.
The first method involves increasing the opening in the cranium, from which the nerve endings exit. An operation is performed in the area of the infraorbital canal. Microvascular decompression implies that during the procedure the surgeon displaces all vessels that interfere with the nerve and, if necessary, carries out their removal.
If a neoplasm is found, the operation is performed without fail, since only after removal of the tumor can the existing inflammation be eliminated. If the surgical procedure was done well, then the pain should no longer bother.
Sometimes it’s quite difficult to understand how to treat inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, and doctors can only reduce its conductivity using procedures such as:
- balloon compression;
- rhizotomy;
- radio frequency destruction.
Rhizotomy is used to cut damaged fibers. Radio-frequency destruction helps eliminate altered nerve roots. Balloon compression implies that during the operation, a special balloon with air is used to squeeze the nerve node.
Prophylaxis
Trigeminal inflammation is always accompanied by intense pain. To avoid them, it is necessary to follow certain preventive measures, in particular, such as:
- strengthen immunity;
- avoid stress;
- do not supercool;
- monitor proper nutrition;
- timely treatment of existing diseases.
Neuralgia is a very unpleasant disease, but it is not fatal. With the right treatment and following the basic rules of prevention, you can completely get rid of it. The duration of therapy depends largely on the degree of damage to the nerve endings.