This article will discuss the symptoms and treatment of facial neuritis.
Pathology in medicine is also called "Bell palsy." This disease is an inflammation of the brain nerves. With its presence, a person can no longer control his facial expressions, he is not able to raise his eyebrows, smile or frown. In this case, pronounced asymmetry occurs along with the distortion of facial features.
Treatment of neuritis of the facial nerve should be timely.
Features of the disease
This disease is more common than inflammation of any other nerves. This is due to the structure of the facial bones, or rather, their insufficient width. In this regard, the facial nerve undergoes oxygen starvation, and, in addition, it is compressed and inflammation appears. Most often, a change is observed from one side of the face, but bilateral damage is also possible.
This disease is affected mainly in the cold season, therefore, it is most often found in the northern regions. The main feature of the course of the disease is the duration of rehabilitation. In a hospital, facial neuritis is treated for thirty days, and the recovery period lasts at least three months. But there is a small percentage of patients in whom their initial facial expressions can not be restored. In addition, this disease can resume in ten cases out of a hundred. Treatment of facial neuritis (pictured) will be considered later. Next, we find out what causes the appearance of this disease.
The causes of the disease
To date, scientists have not yet established the true causes of this disease, but there are several generally accepted theories:
- Subcooling factor. When a person is in the cold for a long time, spasms of muscles and blood vessels occur. Since the face, as a rule, is not covered with clothes, it suffers the most. An ordinary draft can also provoke neuritis.
- The manifestation of herpes. In the body of many people this virus lives. But against the background of a decrease in immunity, inflammation and swelling of the nerve is possible. In addition, the viral etiology of facial neuritis is observed against mumps, adenovirus and poliomyelitis.
- Exposure to alcohol. Damage to the nervous system with ethyl alcohol can cause similar effects.
- The development of hypertension. A prolonged increase in pressure can provoke intracranial hypertension. This factor is the cause of stroke. When a cerebral hemorrhage occurs at a point that is close to the facial nerve, it is likely to suffer.
- The appearance of a brain tumor. This is a rare cause of this disease, but do not exclude it.
- The presence of pregnancy. At the beginning of pregnancy, the whole nervous system can suffer due to significant hormonal changes.
- The impact of dental manipulation. An unsuccessful procedure at the dentist can be complicated by infection and mechanical trauma, which, in the end, will provoke inflammation of this nerve.
- Getting brain injuries of the open type. Strong blows to the head can cause a rupture of the nerve fiber. Edema will occur in the affected area. And after that, the facial nerve will be affected by the inflammatory process.
- The effect of severe stress. Depressive and stressful circumstances markedly weaken human immunity along with its nervous system.
- The presence of diabetes. An impaired metabolism can be the cause of inflammatory processes in the facial nerve.
- The effect of multiple sclerosis. Destroyed myelin sheaths form plaques, which are subsequently able to provoke neuritis of the facial nerve.
- The presence of atherosclerosis. Capillaries clogged with plaques are not able to adequately supply blood to the nerves, which is why their cells die.
Now let's talk about the symptoms characteristic of the appearance of this pathology. Symptoms and treatment of facial neuritis (photo presented) are interrelated.
Symptoms of the disease
Symptoms of facial neuritis are always clearly visible. At the same time, the asymmetry of the face is obvious, which is difficult to confuse or not to notice at all. Usually not only the forehead and cheeks suffer, but also the palpebral fissures, which expand with neuritis. The nasolabial fold, in turn, drops, and as for the lower lip, it looks saggy.
In addition, the effect of a teeth grin can be observed, and during laughter, the mouth can be pulled to the healthy side. In the event that a person closes his eyes, he will not be able to close his eyelids completely. The patient may lose the ability to whistle and kiss. During nutrition, particles of products very often get stuck in the teeth. The language also suffers, which affects the taste.
Complications of the disease
The biggest danger is facial expression contracture. This is when very much reduces the affected half of the face, which is the result of untimely and illiterate treatment. Other complications may be observed, for example:
- Facial blepharospasm, which is an involuntary twitching of the muscles of the face that occurs due to compression of the nerve.
- The development of muscle atrophy. In the event that after a year from the onset of the disease there is no noticeable improvement, then muscle atrophy may occur, which will be an irreversible process. To avoid this, you should constantly massage your face using a baby cream.
- The development of facial synkinesia. This condition may resemble a short circuit in which stimulation in one area provokes impulses in another. For example, when chewing, tears may flow from the affected side, and in case of closing the eyes, the angle of the mouth rises.
- The development of conjunctivitis. Inflammation of the membrane of the cornea can occur due to insufficient closure of the eyelids.
Diagnostics
Since the manifestation of neuritis of the facial nerve is quite bright, difficulties in determining the diagnosis do not arise. However, it is very important to establish the cause of the disease. For this, magnetic resonance imaging is prescribed to exclude the possible presence of a tumor in the brain.
For diagnostic purposes, electroneuromyography is used, showing the foci of pathological processes along with the nature and stage of the defeat of the facial nerve.
Treatment of facial neuritis
Therapy of neuritis should begin immediately, as soon as the first symptoms of the disease appear. The most effective in this regard are corticosteroids, for example, Prednisone. This medication is taken at the dosage recommended by your doctor. And the course of treatment is ten days. This tool reduces nerve edema, reducing the degree of impingement.
The symptomatic treatment of neuritis of the facial nerve, aimed at moisturizing the eyeball, is also shown. For this, drops are used as artificial tears. In addition, it is recommended to massage the face, collar and neck. First, a light massage is done, and after its intensity is gradually increased.
From the third week of therapy, various physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed. Doctors can prescribe sedative medications that can reduce anxiety by eliminating muscle spasm and other symptoms of neuritis.
Full recovery, as a rule, occurs no earlier than three weeks after the start of a full treatment of facial neuritis. Almost always it is possible to achieve full recovery and restore the normal functioning of the muscles of the face. But, when the disease lasts longer than three months, it is much more difficult to establish normal facial expressions. This disease can recur, and subsequent cases of its manifestation are much worse treatable.
Treatment methods
Neuropathologists prescribe the following procedures for the treatment of this disease:
- Conducting magnetotherapy to eliminate nerve edema.
- Performing phonophoresis.
- The implementation of carboxypuncture, that is, activation of blood circulation.
- Electrophoresis This procedure has an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Conducting laser therapy (infrared radiation).
In addition, surgical treatment may be prescribed. It is justified if conservative therapy fails for ten months. Autologous facial nerve transplantation is performed. In this case, material for transplantation is taken from the lower extremities. In the affected area of the face, two new nerve branches take root to the muscles. Thus, the facial nerve is lengthened, which is able to provide a symmetrical movement of facial expressions.
Is medication effective for facial neuritis?
Medical treatment
When it is possible to detect the main cause of neuritis, treatment begins with therapy of the underlying disease. With a cold, first of all, drugs are prescribed to strengthen the vessels, and, in addition, anti-inflammatory drugs. Against the background of primary bacterial infections, antibiotics are prescribed. And the means in the form of Gamma Globulin, Interferon and Acyclovir fight directly with viruses. The effectiveness of antiviral drugs in the treatment of facial neuritis is questioned.
As part of the therapy, corticosteroids in the form of Prednisolone and Dexamethasone can be prescribed, which reduce swelling with pain. Various multivitamins are mandatory, along with drugs that improve microcirculation.
Treatment of neuritis of the facial nerve at home is very effective.
Massage and physiotherapy exercises
The massage technique is quite simple. It must be performed at least twice a day. Stretching movements need to massage healthy tissue towards the diseased muscles. Paralyzed tissue should rise from the chin to the forehead.
Eyelid massage should also be done. During the massage, the eyelids are pressed with your fingers and circular movements are made. Massages for neuritis of the facial nerve can prevent muscle atrophy and improve blood supply to nerve cells. And thanks to them, in general, they are able to recover from the disease faster.
No less effective in neuritis and physiotherapy exercises. It is done twice a day for 15 minutes. The core of the exercise is to provide muscle mobility. To do this, a person closes his eyes and raises his eyelids, frowns and bends his nose wings, and then smiles, after which he closes his lips and so on. During the exercises, you must ensure that breathing is uniform.
Treatment of facial neuritis with folk remedies
In addition to the traditional treatment of neuritis, advice from traditional medicine is often used:
- Prepare tincture of calendula, motherwort and hawthorn. All ingredients are mixed. Add half a bottle of Corvalol, as well as three tablespoons of honey. Mix drink on a spoon at night. The course of therapy is two months, and then you need to take a break, after which you can repeat the reception of this tincture. What else suggests alternative treatment for facial neuritis?
- Rose petals are brewed in a teapot and taken instead of regular tea. This medicine is very effective for neurasthenia, and, in addition, it has a calming effect on the body. The course of treatment is three weeks.
- Goat milk also helps with this disease. Mummy and a tablespoon of honey are added to hot milk. The duration of treatment is twenty-one days, then a break of 14 days is required. Next, the course should be repeated.
Consider the treatment of facial neuritis in children.
Features of the disease in children
In children, a disease such as facial neuritis is observed no less often than in adults, but the disease is mainly caused by problems with the ears. Hypothermia along with inflammation of the middle ear are the most common cause of neuritis in a child. The disease is characterized by an acute course, but the prognosis of therapy is very favorable. After three weeks of competent treatment of facial neuritis, as a rule, a person recovers.
Prophylaxis
In order to avoid relapse of facial neuritis, which is the second time much more difficult to treat, you should follow a few rules:
- Avoid all kinds of hypothermia, and, in addition, stress.
- Timely and correctly treat any viral diseases.
- Drive regularly to sanatoriums and spas to maintain good health.
- Proper nutrition.
- The implementation of seasonal intake of vitamins.
- Hardening.
- Performing self-massage.
The following are reviews of the treatment of facial neuritis.
Patient Reviews
People say about the treatment of this disease that it takes quite a lot of time to fight it. As a rule, this is at least one month. In the comments, people note that when they suffered from this ailment, they had to lie in the hospital.
The reviews report such treatment procedures as daily electrophoresis, vitamin injections, neck massages and the use of a special bandage on the face. Also, patients say that during treatment they were required to perform various exercises such as facial expressions, balloon inflation and the like. As a result, all this helped restore symmetry to the face. About relapses of the disease in the reviews are not reported.
We examined the symptoms and treatment of facial neuritis.