The article will discuss the signs and treatment of glossalgia. This is a neuro-dental disease, manifested by the appearance in a healthy person of soreness in the projection of the tongue, which is not associated with morphological disorders of the organ. When the pathological process extends to the surrounding structures of the oral cavity, the term "stomalgia" is used.
The prevalence of the disease is approximately 30%. Since the quality of life of a sufferer of pathology is significantly deteriorating, the problem of glossalgia must be considered medical and social.
We will talk about the treatment of glossalgia below. In the meantime, we will understand its causes.
The causes of the disease
This disease belongs to the category of polyetiological. In its development it is impossible to single out a definite leading cause, and in most cases it develops with a combination of a number of etiological factors. The risk group is composed of older women, while pathology is almost not affected by men. Clinical manifestations of glossalgia usually occur during the period of post-traumatic effect on the oral mucosa, which provokes a change in blood circulation at the capillary level and the development of concomitant stagnation of blood in the mucosa. As a traumatic effect, a foreign object may fall into the mouth, incorrectly sealed canals and dentures, as well as tooth extraction.
Treatment and the causes of glossalgia are interrelated. An unsatisfactory state of the digestive organs, endocrine and circulatory systems can affect the development of such a disease. So, in 80% of cases of development of glossalgia, the patient has a decrease in the secretory functions of the stomach, and in 65% of these changes are accompanied by the occurrence of chronic colitis. Scientific studies that studied the etiology of this disease ended with the conclusion that the main role in its development is played by a pathological disruption of the hypothalamus, the influence of which in this situation is to change the function of the autonomic system that regulates metabolic processes, as well as the work of the endocrine glands. In addition, the negative impact of psychoemotional factors on the development of glossalgia is not ruled out.
For the occurrence of the disease, a specific organic pathology of the central nervous system, ischemic brain damage resulting from strokes is considered a common background disease. In a similar situation, the patient develops a violation of sensitivity and perverse perception in response to the action of the stimulus in the form of the development of paresthesia and pain. In almost 100% of cases of the development of bulbar syndrome, which is manifested by lesions of the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves, glossalgia is observed. With a similar pathology, a person develops false sensations in the area of ββthe tongue against the background of the absence of an irritant. The peak incidence in women occurs during menopause, when the female body undergoes hormonal imbalance, changes in the thyroid gland, autonomic centers and the vasomotor system.
Iron deficiency anemia is often accompanied by the development of glossalgia. In addition, in some cases with severe allergic reactions, a person may experience symptoms of this disease, which is most often observed during the use of toothpaste, which includes cinnamaldehyde. Medication for glossalgia is not required and is leveled on its own after eliminating the effects of the allergen.
Symptoms
This pathological condition manifests itself in patients with burning, soreness and pinching of the surface of the tongue, and such symptoms can be either permanent or short-term. Some patients, when describing the signs of glossalgia, say that the sensations in this case are similar to a burning tongue when eating spicy foods. Other patients report increased dry mouth, which intensifies after increased psycho-emotional activity. In a situation where glossalgia is of a short-term nature, patients note a dependence of the onset of symptoms and nervous excitement.
The manifestations of glossalgia are reduced in intensity and can disappear after eating, which in 80% of cases causes alimentary obesity and signs of bulimia. If we talk about the localization of pain with glossalgia, then the severity of the pain syndrome can be observed on the lateral areas and on the tip of the tongue, and on its root the pain is completely absent. The pathognomonic manifestation of glossalgia is the variability of the localization of the pain syndrome. In certain cases, the disease can regress, but most often this pathology becomes recurrent.
When examining a patient suffering from this disease, there are no morphological changes in the mucous membrane of the tongue, although in certain situations slight hypertrophy of the papillae and the appearance of white plaque can be noted. In elderly patients who are at risk for such a pathology, examination often reveals varicose veins of the tongue.
Other signs of glossalgia can be considered a decrease in pain sensitivity in the affected areas, dystrophy of the salivary glands, which is accompanied by hyposalivation. Pain and paresthesia are most often symmetrical and clearly localized. Some patients with glossalgia complain of a heaviness in the tongue, for example, with a long conversation, which contributes to the development of dysarthria.
In essence, glossalgia is a neuropathic pain. Treatment "Lyrics" of this pathology is very popular.
With a long course of the disease, patients develop psycho-emotional changes in the form of anxiety, a tendency to depression and suspiciousness. The difficulty in treating patients with glossalgia lies in the fact that the bulk of these people suffer from neuropsychiatric pathologies and fear of iatrogenism. Due to the fact that this disease is in many ways similar to the symptoms of other pathologies of the oral cavity, differential diagnosis of clinical signs in patients should precede the determination of the treatment regimen.
Symptoms similar to glossalgia are pathological bite or other organic language pathologies. The fundamental difference between this disease in a similar situation is the absence of morphological disorders of the oral mucosa.
We continue to consider the symptoms and treatment of glossalgia.
Diagnostics
At the initial stage of diagnosis, the dentist must conduct an examination taking into account the patient's complaints and anamnesis. The integrity of dental fillings, installed prostheses, the enzymatic composition of saliva, and the sensitivity of taste buds are evaluated. In addition, an allergy test is carried out on prosthetics and dental filling materials. The survey uses the following methods:
- capillaroscopy;
- rheography;
- angiography;
- potentiometry.
In the framework of laboratory research are carried out:
- blood chemistry;
- analysis of bile and urine;
- chemical analyzes of saliva.
Differential diagnosis includes:
- deposition of salts in the cervical spine;
- pathological bite;
- trauma to the tongue as a result of mechanical damage;
- neurological diseases and neuritis.
Treatment
With the absolute absence of therapeutic measures, negative consequences of this pathology can develop. Glossalgia takes on a long course and can persist for many years. The spontaneous disappearance of the symptoms of the disease is an exception to the rule, and therefore the use of the drug method of treating glossalgia is considered mandatory.
The main measure of the therapeutic profile for glossalgia is considered to be the rehabilitation of the oral cavity, not excluding prosthetics. To eliminate the pain syndrome during the development of the disease, local anesthetics are used in the form of Novocain and Lidocain drugs, propolis alcohol solutions.
Psychocorrection
The basis of the treatment of glossalgia should be therapeutic measures of an etiological direction, that is, eliminating the main cause of the development of such a pathological condition. Another component of the treatment of this disease is adequate psychocorrection, since most often the occurrence of pathology is accompanied by a variety of psycho-emotional disorders that exacerbate the course of glossalgia. The use of various techniques (suggestion, hypnosis, reflexology) is allowed as measures for psychocorrection. The main task of the dentist in the presence of glossalgia in the patient is considered to eliminate the traumatic effect on the surface of the tongue, for which replacement of poor-quality fillings, grinding of sharp tooth edges is used.
What else does glossalgia treatment suggest? In the case when this pathological condition is a manifestation of a certain chronic pathology, etiological therapy consists in eliminating the underlying disease, after which the symptoms of the pathology can disappear on their own.
Drug treatment is used to stabilize homeostatic processes, stop neuropsychiatric disorders, as well as eliminate pain, if such is noted in a patient. In order to normalize psychoemotional factors, a specialist can prescribe any tranquilizer, for example, Adaptol.
Since glossalgia is a neuropathic pain, Lyric treatment is very effective. About it further.
The drug is an anticonvulsant with anxiolytic and analgesic effects, which is due to the binding of pregabalin to additional subunits (Ξ± 2 -delta protein) of calcium channels in the nervous system, which contributes to the replacement of [3H] -gabapentin.
Glossalgia is also treated with Gabapentin.
Vitamin therapy
A course of vitamin therapy lasting 10 days using injections of B vitamins also helps to achieve a good effect in eliminating the symptoms of pathology. If the patient has a pronounced pain syndrome, the appointment of a blockage of the lingual nerve through the introduction of trimecaine medications is indicated.
The use of keratoplastic drugs, for example, rosehip oil, favorably affects the treatment of glossalgia. It prevents the development of a pathological process in the oral cavity. In order to eliminate the increased dryness of the oral mucous membranes, the use of medications that enhance salivation is justified.
The treatment of glossalgia with folk remedies will be presented below.
Physiotherapy
As methods of a physiotherapeutic orientation in this disease, electrosleep, galvanotherapy, and iontophoresis are often used. The duration of such treatment depends on the abilities of the patient's body and is approximately two months. The bulk of patients suffering from glossalgia for a long time, notes the beneficial effect of combination therapy of this pathology, including not only taking medications, but also the use of unconventional treatment recipes, most often vegetable oils and herbal decoctions.
Folk therapy
A good effect is possessed by infusions of grass lovage, for the manufacture of which 2 tbsp. l herbs, which are poured with cold water and boiled for 15 minutes, after which they still insist 15 minutes. This infusion is used as a solution for rinsing the oral cavity.
What else is used in the treatment of glossalgia with folk remedies? In addition, rinses of oak bark with the addition of natural honey can be used to rinse. For oral administration, the use of freshly squeezed vegetable and fruit juices with the addition of fish oil or olive oil is recommended.
Another popular remedy for glossalgia is sage infusion. To do this, you need to pour a tablespoon of grass with a glass of boiling water. In the same way, you can make an infusion of celandine grass. These infusions are used to rinse the mouth, and this should be done alternately - then celandine, then sage. The course of treatment is 2 months. Alternative treatment for glossalgia should be carried out under the supervision of a physician.
Another recipe: grind one spoon of dry grass of the thigh, pour a glass of water, boil and boil for 10 minutes. After this, the broth must be filtered and cooled to room temperature. The procedure should be performed 6 times a day in this way: rinse your mouth twice, then 1 tbsp. l take by mouth. The course of such therapy lasts 3 weeks.
Glossalgia Clinic Treatment
This pathological condition can be successfully treated in an outpatient setting, where patients are first rehabilitated in the oral cavity. In addition, a specialist can replace irrationally placed prostheses, help in the formation of the correct height of the bite. Diagnostics is also performed by other specialists (gastroenterologist, neurologist, endocrinologist, psychologist).
The pathogenetic therapy of glossalgia consists in stabilizing homeostasis and in affecting the central and peripheral links of the structure of the pain symptom. In this case, the use of valerian preparations, bromine, tranquilizers, for example, "Phenazepam" is indicated. Vitamins of group B and the trimecainic blockade of the lingual nerve give a favorable effect, due to which the functionality of the nerve is restored, and the symptoms can pass without a trace.
To remove the unpleasant signs of the disease in clinics, local anesthetics are used in the form of oral baths and applications. This is a solution of citral in peach oil, anesthesin in oil or solutions of trimecaine. It helps to lubricate the tongue with a solution of vitamin A, prepared in rosehip oil, through which you can eliminate the symptoms of dryness and normalize salivation.
Glossalgia Treatment Reviews
There are a lot of reviews about her treatment. Mostly they are positive. The ailment responds well to therapy, especially if all the doctor's instructions are followed. It is important to consult a specialist in a timely manner.
The combination of such procedures with reflexology and physiotherapeutic methods helps to cure glossalgia. Doubtful patients often have enough conversations with a psychologist, and in some cases, with the consent of the patient, the disease passes without a trace after a hypnotic session.