Many probably heard of such an insidious disease as neuritis. What it is? What symptoms does the disease have? How to treat neuritis? This will be discussed in the article.
Characteristic
Neuritis is a disease that includes complex changes in the structure of nerve tissues and has an inflammatory character. The disease affects all parts of the affected area of the nerve endings, including a change in the normal functioning of nerve roots, ligaments and plexuses.
Neuritis is a disease that is characterized by a decrease in the sensitivity of nerve endings, the presence of pain. Loss of organs of motor functions may also be observed. In acute form, this can lead to paralysis of the affected areas of the body.
Types of Neuritis
According to the area of the damaging effect, neuritis is divided into:
- Mononeuritis affects one nerve or area, consists in depriving the ability of the affected area to perform the functions of transmitting signals and impulses to the central nervous system.
- Polyneuritis immobilizes several nerve endings or chains and, as a rule, are characterized by a longer course of the disease.
Causes of Neuritis
Why does neuritis occur? The causes of the disease are external or internal in nature.
External neuritis is caused by:
- Exposure to various toxic and toxic substances (carbon monoxide, phosphorus compounds, substances containing arsenic and mercury). Among them: food, medications or a disease provoked by the influence of bad habits.
- Pinched or squeezed nerve by the mobile joints of the body or during surgical intervention. In a separate group, nervous diseases are distinguished due to a herniated disc between the vertebrae or the small size of the bone or muscle areas that interact with damaged nerves.
- Violations of a different nature or traumatic effect.
Internal causes:
- Diets based on the restriction of the intake of the necessary compounds or groups of nutrient components may be the cause of the disease.
- Inflammatory processes in the occipital, facial, trigeminal nerve nodes associated with hypothermia of a general or local nature.
- Processes of an inflammatory nature due to genetic predisposition.
- Complications of diseases of an infectious nature, such as measles, flu, herpes, malaria.
- Overweight, metabolic disorders.
- Rheumatism.
- Impaired function of the endocrine and thyroid glands.
- Exposure to allergens.
- Pregnancy.
Neuritis is an ailment that can be caused by exposure to:
- viruses that enter the body when they are affected by viral infections such as influenza and herpes;
- bacteria in the body for diseases of otitis media, tonsillitis, cystitis, bronchitis.
Neuritis: symptoms of the disease
As external symptoms, manifestations of neuritis are a decrease in the sensitivity of nerve sites and impaired musculoskeletal activity in areas affected by the disease, as well as a tingling sensation or numbness in them. In the period of trophic changes, an increase in brittle nails, hair loss, a decrease in the dermis layer and the occurrence of the effect of dry skin, the appearance of edema and characteristic places of a bluish tint are possible.
However, it is impossible to unambiguously determine the disease according to the indicated symptoms, since they can be caused by other reasons. Therefore, often in the diagnosis of this pathology, a separate study of the affected organ is necessary.
Is neuritis visible to the naked eye? The photos in the article show us that external manifestations are absent in most cases. All symptoms annoy a person from the inside. But there are some exceptions, which we will talk about later.
Features of symptoms for different organs
With neuritis of the auditory nerve, there is a decrease in hearing and noise effects in the affected ear. Since the disease can be caused by the use of antibiotics, the action of carcinogenic and toxic substances, and also be the result of some kind of ailment of an infectious nature, a thorough study of the patient's medical record is necessary. With this kind of disease, the functioning of the vestibular apparatus is possible due to damage to the nerve that transmits a signal from it to the brain.
Optic neuritis is expressed in visual function disorders of varying degrees of deviation resulting from inflammatory processes of the nervous system. The disease can be expressed by a narrowing of the field of vision or a partial loss of visual acuity.
Neuritis of the sciatic region is expressed in a decrease in the mobile function of the foot and toes, and the complexity of performing a knee bend. The skin of the disease is dry and cool, but with a prolonged course of the disease it can have a bluish tint and peel off.
In case of ulnar nerve disease, impaired motor function is manifested in the practical absence of little finger movement when trying to assemble fingers into a fist.
The defeat of the radial nerve often occurs as a result of pinching, a long period of use of crutches, due to pregnancy or the development of complications of an infectious disease. It manifests itself in a violation of the ability to bend / extend the arm, hand, forearm, or deviation of the thumb.
In case of a nerve disease of the shoulder region, characteristic symptoms include limitation of the amplitude of movements, a decrease in muscle strength, painful sensations, and a change in the sensitivity of the skin.
Facial nerve disease is expressed in violation of the ability to control facial reactions, wrinkles on the forehead from the inflamed area, distortion of facial features, impaired ability to control the muscles of the mouth and eyes. With an ailment, a violation of taste perception, increased lacrimation, or the effect of dry eyes are characteristic. Often, the disease is caused by a combination of viral infections and local or general hypothermia.
An ailment of the solar plexus area is characterized by pains spreading over the entire surface of the abdomen, impaired stool, nausea, vomiting, bloating with a feeling of chills or vascular spasms.
Damage to the femoral nerve is manifested in the complication of leg extension in the knee joint and a general decrease in sensitivity of the lower half of the thigh and the entire surface located in front and inside the lower leg.
Neuritis: diagnosis
The essence of the diagnosis is the accurate determination of the existing symptoms and using technical means of organ damage by a specific type of disease. In the process of examining a patient by a neurologist, a detection of impaired motor function can be performed, for which functional tests are practiced. The essence of their implementation is an attempt by the patient to perform exercises to eliminate or confirm the damaging effects characteristic of this type of neuritis.
If neuritis is suspected, the initial diagnosis is to analyze the symptoms of the affected area with a further focus on electroneurography. A study with this method makes it possible to determine the area and depth of nerve cell damage, to identify possible options for the further course of the disease and its treatment. For a more accurate determination of the diagnosis, methods of modern medicine based on the electrical conductivity of nerve chains are used.
Treatment
How to treat neuritis? Before starting therapy, it is necessary to undergo a full examination to identify a complex of reasons that influenced the development of the disease. At this stage, all factors and risks that can cause complications in the process of performing therapeutic operations are evaluated and eliminated. The effectiveness of treatment depends on the age of the patient. The younger the patient, the faster and more effective the treatment of neuritis. If it is timely, carried out using complex methods, this will prevent destructive processes in the damaged nerve.
The nature of the disease and its treatment
Neuritis is an ailment that can have a different nature. The therapy will also be different. For starters, accurate diagnosis is necessary, and after that treatment for neuritis is prescribed. Drugs must be taken strictly as prescribed by the doctor. Self-medication can only aggravate the situation.
Treatment of neuritis:
- having a bacterial nature, is the use of sulfonamides and antibiotics;
- having a viral nature, characterized by the use of "Interferon" and "Gamma globulin" ;
- traumatic nature in the acute phase is the immobilization of the affected organ, the use of painkillers and anti-inflammatory agents, B vitamins and further use after several weeks of biogenic stimulants;
- having a vascular nature, consists in the use of vasodilator drugs, such as Eufillin, Papaverine, Complamin;
- having tunnel syndrome is carried out using local injection of "Novocaine" and "Hydrocortisone" in the affected area of the canal.
The use of surgical intervention and its need are studied on the basis of tests and examination by a neurosurgeon. When determining the compressed state of a nerve, a decision may be made to conduct an operation to release it. Stitching or plastic surgery of the nerves is carried out in the absence of positive dynamics of the return to the damaged area of functional abilities or the diagnosed nerve degeneration.
Drug treatment includes taking anti-inflammatory drugs, performing physiotherapeutic sessions after the first week of treatment, correcting the body’s water-salt balance, and performing therapy with vitamins. For the affected areas in the area of the trigeminal and glossopharyngeal nerves, treatment with anticonvulsants and antidepressants is prescribed.
When implementing complex therapy of neuritis, physiotherapy is used, which includes the use of pulsed current, exposure to high-frequency currents, ultrasound and electrophoresis to restore the functionality of the damaged nerve. In the absence of contraindications for therapy, massage is used in combination with physical therapy.
In the case of a long recovery period of the nervous function of the affected area, the use of chamber hydrogalvanic sessions, inductophoresis and mud baths is practiced. During the period of a possible change in the positive dynamics in the treatment, radon baths, mud and therapy using high-frequency settings are prescribed.
Disease Complications
What are the consequences of neuritis? In case of untimely diagnosis of the disease and seeking medical help, possible complications may have the following character:
- In the future, persistent impaired movement and coordination of damaged organs can be observed.
- Full or partial decrease in strength in muscles with a sore nerve, replacement of muscle-type tissues by connective.
Folk methods
Is it possible to treat neuritis at home? Alternative methods are used to eliminate acute pain symptoms when it is impossible to seek qualified help from a specialized institution. Used drugs for the treatment of known types of diseases are characterized by a large selection. It is recommended to apply horseradish leaves, pillows from elderberry and chamomile flowers, clay cakes with vinegar to the affected areas of the horseradish.
To reduce pain, it is possible to use various infusions of medicinal plants: lingonberries, raspberries, pine, ivan tea. Traditional healers recommend rubbing the damaged areas of the body with bear fat.
Disease prevention
As a preventative measure to prevent the appearance of various forms of neuritis, it is recommended
- the use of vitamins;
- care when taking medications;
- prevention of intoxication of the body with alcohol or poor-quality food;
- the use of a balanced diet containing substances necessary for the body;
- taking into account the risk of possible injury;
- the necessary vaccination;
- use of pouring and hardening;
- maintaining the oral cavity in a well-groomed condition.
A disease such as neuritis, the symptoms, the treatment of which we examined in the article, requires timely diagnosis and prevention. Take care of yourself and be healthy!