Trigeminal neuralgia is an inflammatory disease characterized by a large number of unpleasant symptoms. The patient complains of severe pain, the localization of which is almost impossible to determine. If the trigeminal nerve is inflamed, you should seek medical help as soon as possible to avoid the development of unpleasant complications.
Anatomical information
What is the trigeminal nerve, children learn in high school. But in adulthood, it has to be remembered only when inflammation develops. The trigeminal nerve is one of the largest of the 12 cranial nerves. It belongs to the mixed type, has sensory and motor fibers. Three branches emerge from the trigeminal ganglion - the ophthalmic nerve, the maxillary nerve and the mandibular nerve. It is thanks to them that the sensitivity of the face, mucous membranes of the oral cavity, and teeth is ensured. Thanks to the motor function, they come tochewing activity and some other muscles.
The trigeminal nerve is paired. It is located on both sides of the head. The base of the trigeminal node is above the ear. When inflammation develops in this area, it can be difficult for the patient to explain what exactly hurts. Unpleasant sensations can be localized throughout the face or give to the neck, tongue, teeth. In some cases, the pain syndrome manifests itself in the area of the arm, forearm.
Trigeminal injury
The disease is common. According to statistics, up to 4 people per 10 thousand of the population suffer from unpleasant symptoms. Inflammation of the trigeminal nerve in the ICD-10 received the code G50.
Many factors can provoke the development of the pathological process. In the course of research, it was possible to find out that people with vascular pathology are more at risk of inflammation. Neuralgia often develops in patients with arterial hypertension, cerebral atherosclerosis. Pain syndrome will develop with an aneurysm of a vessel located next to the trigeminal node.
A separate group of causes includes volumetric formations - cerebral tumors, neoplasms of the bones of the skull. Any formations located at the base of the trigeminal node or along the branches can provoke the development of severe pain. Compression (squeezing) appears, which leads to the development of neuralgia.
The disease can develop against the background of narrowing of the bone canals on the background of chronic otitis media, sinusitis, head injuries. Malocclusion (congenital or acquired) can also provoke unpleasant symptoms.
Increased chewing load, refusal of timely treatment of dental diseases, the presence of a herpes infection in the body, reduced immunity - all this can lead to inflammation of the trigeminal nerve on the face. Against the background of a chronic infection in the body, morphological changes occur in the fiber sheath. However, the first symptoms of the disease do not always develop immediately. Damage to nerve fibers may not manifest itself for some time. Severe pain, as a rule, appears suddenly - while brushing your teeth, washing your face in the morning, laughing.
Trigeminal neuralgia is more common in elderly patients suffering from chronic infections, diseases of the cardiovascular system, metabolic disorders.
Signs of disease
How does inflammation of the trigeminal nerve appear on the face? The symptoms can be quite varied. Some complain of severe ear pain, others rush to make an appointment with the dentist because of excruciating pain in their teeth. Most often, unpleasant signs develop in the region of the upper or lower jaw. Painkillers only temporarily relieve the patient's condition. Pain may be aggravated by chewing, talking, washing with cold water.
Discomfort is usually cyclical. The pain intensifies, then subsides. Many patients report that they experience an "electric shock" after touching a certain area of the face. Somepatients experience discomfort once or twice a day, others every hour.
A number of patients experience atypical pain sensations. This covers almost the entire face. Pain worries on an ongoing basis, it is impossible to determine exactly where it is localized. The pathological process is also manifested by other symptoms - increased salivation, tearing, numbness of the lips and forehead, reddening of the skin, involuntary contraction of the muscles of the face.
Classification
The doctor chooses the right treatment tactics after he determines what type of disease. If the exact cause of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve cannot be determined, the pathological process is classified as idiopathic. Such a disease is more difficult to treat, and frequent relapses are possible.
Secondary or symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia is the result of chronic diseases, vascular disorders, tumors, bone changes. It is possible to remove unpleasant symptoms due to the treatment of the underlying disease.
Diagnosis
Can be easily confused with another disease with similar symptoms, inflammation of the trigeminal facial nerve. The doctor prescribes treatment only after a thorough examination. With the manifestation of the symptoms described above, the patient must make an appointment with a neurologist. A specialist can make a preliminary diagnosis after examination, as well as on the basis of patient complaints. It is possible to make sure that you had to deal with trigeminal neuralgia thanks tofollowing methods:
- Computed tomography of the skull. The technique makes it possible to determine the change in the size and relative position of the bone structures of the skull. If there are tumors, cysts or other growths in the area of the trigeminal nerve, this can also be considered.
- Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. The study is performed if a mass is suspected, which can compress the trigeminal node or nerve branches. The technique also allows visualization of small tumors and cysts.
- MR angiography. The technique makes it possible to identify or exclude pathologies of vessels located in the area of the trigeminal nerve.
When inflammation of the trigeminal nerve on the face, the symptoms can be different. If, in addition to pain, there is reddening of the skin, swelling, tearing, you may need to consult related specialists (ophthalmologist, dermatologist, dentist, otolaryngologist, etc.).
Drug treatment of disease
With timely access to qualified medical care, conservative therapy shows good results. Therapy is primarily aimed at stopping hyperexcitation of nerve fibers. Good results are shown by drugs from the group of anticonvulsants. Many patients are prescribed the drug "Carbamazepine". Treatment begins with a minimum dosage, then increase the daily rate to achieve the optimal effect. After achieving the desired result (elimination of pain), therapyit takes a few more months to consolidate the result. If the drug is stopped earlier, a relapse is possible.
Auxiliary therapy is also of great importance. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ketorol, Nalgezin), antispasmodics (Spasmolgon, Papaverine) can be used to relieve pain syndromes. Antihistamines (Tavegil, Supradin) help reduce puffiness and restore normal complexion.
The defeat of the trigeminal nerve, as a rule, is recurrent. If once you already had to deal with unpleasant symptoms, the disease can manifest itself again. Therefore, it is important for the patient to avoid hypothermia, limit chewing activity, and regularly undergo examination by a neurologist. During the period of exacerbation of the disease, it is worth abandoning any physical activity. Bed rest will not be superfluous. Good rest will enhance the effect of drug therapy. It is temporarily recommended to abandon excessive visual load.
During an exacerbation of the disease, when inflammation of the trigeminal nerve on the face manifests itself with excruciating pain, treatment is carried out using potent anesthetics. Good results are also shown by the introduction of glucocorticoid hormones into the trieric points.
Physiotherapy treatment
Good results can only be achieved by complex treatment of the trigeminal nerve of the face. Symptoms can also be overcome with the use of physiotherapy procedures. Shows good resultsgalvanization with novocaine. Through the skin in the area of inflammation, low-voltage electric current is applied. The procedure allows you to reduce the manifestations of pain, accelerates the process of regeneration of the affected fibers.
With the help of diadynamic currents, inflammation of the trigeminal nerve is also treated. A photo of the procedure can be seen below. The affected area is affected by polysinusoidal currents. The technique helps to quickly eliminate pain. At the initial stages, the procedure can be performed several times a day.
It is possible to achieve good results thanks to the introduction of medicines into the body using ultrasound. The procedure is called ultraphonophoresis. Therapy is carried out with the use of glucocorticoids. Already on the first day of treatment, it is possible to stop severe pain, start the process of recovery of the affected nerve fibers.
Physiotherapy treatments show good results. However, for their implementation must be evidence. It is categorically impossible to use such techniques in the presence of malignant tumors or aneurysms in the area of the trigeminal node.
Surgery
Conservative therapy does not always show good results. If the symptoms do not go away with inflammation of the trigeminal nerve on the face, the doctor may decide to perform surgery. Such a need may also occur in the presence of neoplasms in the affected area.
Microsurgical decompression is a methodradical surgical elimination of neuralgia. A small trepanation hole is made in the behind the ear area, through which the surgeon inserts instruments with a microscope. The intervention is performed exclusively under general anesthesia. Therefore, older patients (over 70 years of age) are at risk of cardiovascular complications.
Percutaneous radiofrequency destruction is considered a less radical method. The procedure has many benefits. The specialist can easily act on small areas without damaging the adjacent sensory nerves. The recovery of the patient is quite fast. The risk of complications is minimized. Within a week after surgery, a person can return to a full life. If radiofrequency destruction is performed correctly, the effect of its implementation lasts for years. The patient for a long time forgets what the trigeminal nerve is. However, relapses, unfortunately, are not always avoided.
Stereotactic radiosurgery can be performed in the presence of formations in the area of the trigeminal nerve. This is a minimally invasive technique that allows you to penetrate into tissues without much risk and destroy the tumor at the cellular level. It does not damage vital structures.
Traditional medicine
To forget forever about what the trigeminal nerve is, all methods are good. Traditional medicine recipes are also popular. Some of them really show high efficiency. However, it is important to discuss any method of therapy with your doctor in order to avoiddevelopment of complications.
For the treatment of diseases of a neurological nature, remedies based on medicinal herbs are widely used: burdock, aloe, lemon balm, geranium, yarrow, etc. Therapeutic lotions and infusions for ingestion can bring the inflamed trigeminal nerve back to normal. Where to get raw materials for the preparation of funds? Medicinal plants can be collected independently or purchased at the pharmacy in dried form.
Good results are shown by a medicinal decoction based on mint, valerian and St. John's wort. Dried raw materials are mixed in equal proportions (150-200 g each). Two tablespoons of the resulting mixture is poured with half a liter of water, brought to a boil and simmered for another 10 minutes. Then the product must be cooled and insisted for another 5 hours in a dark place. The finished medicine is filtered and taken in a tablespoon three times a day for two weeks.
If symptoms of inflammation of the trigeminal facial nerve appear, home treatment can be done with a decoction based on burdock and chamomile. Dry ingredients are mixed in equal proportions, 300 g of the mixture is poured with half a liter of water, brought to a boil and boiled for another 15 minutes. The finished medicine is insisted during the day under a closed lid, then filtered. The infusion is drunk throughout the next day in small sips.
If you had to find out what the trigeminal nerve is and how its inflammation manifests itself, you should pay attention to aloe. This plant will help eliminate pain, accelerate the process of regeneration of affected tissues. For Therapyaloe should be used, the age of which does not exceed three years. A teaspoon of plant juice should be consumed three times a day before meals. People who are prone to allergies will have to refuse such therapy.
If unpleasant symptoms appear, treatment of the trigeminal nerve at home can be done using birch sap. The drink has a unique composition, with its help you can cope with inflammation, strengthen the body's defenses. Drink at least two glasses a day. Birch sap can also be used as a face wash.
A variety of medicinal lotions are widely used. Geranium will help to quickly relieve pain in case of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve. The cut plant is applied to the sore spot, fastened with a gauze bandage. After a few hours, the lotion is removed and a new plant is applied.
Compresses from marshmallow root are effective. A few roots are crushed and pour 200 ml of boiling water. The tool should be infused throughout the day. In the finished product, a piece of bandage or linen cloth is moistened, squeezed out and applied to the affected area. A warm towel is placed on top. The duration of the procedure is 30-40 minutes. You can carry out such therapy several times a day.
Prognosis of treatment and prevention
You should not postpone a visit to the doctor if the trigeminal facial nerve has made itself felt with unpleasant symptoms. Early treatment shows good results. It is possible to get rid of unpleasant signs completely. It is absolutely impossible to engage in self-therapy. It maylead to the development of dangerous complications.
Paresis of the facial muscles is a common consequence of improper treatment of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve. The muscles of the face become weak, mimic functions decrease. As a result, facial deformity develops. This is a serious aesthetic defect that leads to psychological complexes.
Incorrect treatment of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve on the face can also lead to hearing and vision loss. The patient loses the ability to solve simple everyday tasks.
If you have already had to deal with inflammation of the trigeminal facial nerve, special attention should be paid to the prevention of relapse. It is important to regularly conduct examinations with a neurologist, treat any diseases in a timely manner, and undergo preventive examinations at the dentist. If the pain syndrome reappears, you should immediately consult a doctor.
