Many have probably heard of such an insidious disease as neuritis. What it is? What are the symptoms of the disease? 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 nerve endings, including a change in the normal functioning of the nerve roots, ligaments and plexuses.
Neuritis is an ailment that is characterized by a decrease in the sensitivity of nerve endings, the presence of pain. There may also be a loss of organs of motor functions. In an acute form, this can turn into paralysis of the affected areas of the body.
Types of neuritis
According to the area of damaging action, neuritis is divided into:
- Mononeuritis affects one nerve or area, consists in depriving the affected area of the ability to perform the functions of transmitting signals and impulses to the central nervous system.
- Polyneuritis immobilizes several nerve endings or chains and tends to be characterized by a longer course of the disease.
Causes of neuritis
Why does neuritis occur? The causes of the disease are external or internal.
External neuritis caused by:
- Exposure to various toxic and toxic substances (carbon monoxide, phosphorus compounds, substances containing arsenic and mercury). Among them: foodstuffs, medicines, or disease provoked by exposure to bad habits.
- Pinching or squeezing of the nerve by the moving joints of the body or during surgery. Nervous diseases caused by herniated discs between the vertebrae or small sizes of bone or muscle areas that interact with damaged nerves are classified as a separate group.
- Violations of various nature or traumatic impact.
Internal reasons:
- Diets based on limiting the intake of essential compounds or groups of nutritional components into the body can serve as the cause of the disease.
- Inflammatory processes in the occipital, facial, trigeminal nerve nodes associated with hypothermia of a general or local nature.
- Inflammatory processes due to genetic predisposition.
- Complications of infectious diseases such as measles, influenza, herpes, malaria.
- Overweight, metabolic disorder.
- Rheumatism.
- Endocrine and thyroid dysfunction.
- Exposure to allergens.
- Pregnancy.
Neuritis is an ailment that can be caused by exposure to:
- viruses that enter the body when affected by viral infections such as influenza and herpes;
- bacteria found in the body in diseases of otitis, tonsillitis, cystitis, bronchitis.
Neuritis: symptoms of the disease
As external symptoms, manifestations of neuritis are a decrease in the sensitivity of nerve areas and impaired musculoskeletal activity in the affected areas, as well as a feeling of tingling or numbness in them. In the period of trophic changes, an increase in the fragility of nails, hair loss, a decrease in the dermis layer and the appearance of the effect of dry skin, the appearance of edema and characteristic bluish tint are possible.
However, it is impossible to unequivocally determine the disease by these symptoms, since they can be caused by other reasons. Therefore, when diagnosing this pathology, it is often necessary to conduct a separate study of the affected organ.
Can you see neuritis with 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'll talk about later.
Features of symptoms for different organs
When neuritis of the auditory nerve is observed hearing loss 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, as well asbe the result of some kind of infectious disease, a thorough study of the patient's medical record is necessary. With this type of disease, disruption of the vestibular apparatus is possible due to damage to the nerve that transmits a signal from it to the brain.
Neuritis of the optic nerve is expressed in disorders of visual function of varying degrees of deviation resulting from inflammatory processes of the nervous system. The disease can be expressed by a narrowing of the visual field 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, the difficulty of performing a knee bend. The skin during the disease is dry and cool, however, with a long course of the disease, it may have a bluish tint and peel off.
In diseases of the ulnar nerve, a violation of motor function is manifested in the virtual absence of movement of the little finger when trying to collect the fingers into a fist.
Injury to the radial nerve often occurs as a result of pinching, prolonged use of crutches, pregnancy, or complications of an infectious disease. Manifested in violation of the ability to bend / unbend the arm, hand, forearm or deviation of the thumb.
In case of a disease of the nerve of the shoulder region, the characteristic symptoms are limitation of the range of motion, a decrease in muscle strength, pain that is pronounced, a change in skin sensitivity.
Disease of the facial nerve is expressed inviolation of the ability to control facial reactions, wrinkles on the forehead from the side of the inflamed area, distortion of facial features, impaired ability to control the muscles of the mouth and eyes. When the disease is characterized by a violation of taste perception, increased lacrimation or the effect of dry eyes. Often the disease is caused by a combination of viral infections and local or general hypothermia.
A disease of the solar plexus area is characterized by pain spreading over the entire surface of the abdomen, stool disorders, nausea, vomiting, bloating with chills or vascular spasms.
Loss of the femoral nerve manifests itself in the complication of leg extension in the knee joint and a general decrease in the 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 diagnostics is the exact determination of the existing symptoms and the use of technical means of affecting an organ with a specific type of disease. In the process of examining a patient by a neurologist, violations in the work of motor function can be detected, for which functional tests are practiced. The essence of their implementation is an attempt by the patient to perform exercises to exclude or confirm the damaging effects inherent in this type of neuritis.
If neuritis is suspected, the initial diagnosis consists in analyzing the symptoms of the affected area with further referral for electroneurography. The study by this method makes it possible to determine the area and depth of damage to nerve cells, to identify possible options for the further course of the disease and ways of its treatment. For a more accurate diagnosis, modern medicine methods based on the electrical conductivity of nerve chains are used.
Treatment
How to treat neuritis? Before starting therapy, it is necessary to undergo a complete examination to identify a set of causes 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 assessed and eliminated. The effectiveness of treatment significantly depends on the age of the patient. The younger the patient, the faster and more effectively neuritis is treated. If it is timely, carried out using complex methods, this will prevent destructive processes in the damaged nerve.
Nature of the disease and its treatment
Neuritis is an ailment that can have a different nature. Therapy will also be different. To begin with, an accurate diagnosis is necessary, and after that, treatment of neuritis is prescribed. Drugs must be taken strictly according to the doctor's prescription. Self-medication can only aggravate the situation.
Treatment of neuritis:
- of a bacterial nature, is the use of sulfonamides and antibiotics;
- of a viral nature, characterized by the use of "Interferon" and "Gamma globulin";
- traumatic nature in the acute phase isimmobilization of the affected organ, the use of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, B vitamins and further use of biogenic stimulants after several weeks;
- of a vascular nature, consists in the use of drugs that dilate blood vessels, such as "Eufillin", "Papaverine", "Complamin";
- those with tunnel syndrome are carried out with the help of local injection of "Novocaine" and "Hydrocortisone" into the affected area of the canal.
The use of surgical intervention and its necessity are studied on the basis of the tests performed and the examination of the neurosurgeon. When determining the compressed state of the nerve, a decision can be made to perform an operation in order to release it. Stitching or plasty of nerves is carried out in the absence of positive dynamics in the return of functional abilities to the damaged area or diagnosed degeneration of the nerve.
Treatment with drugs includes taking anti-inflammatory drugs, performing physiotherapy sessions after the first week of treatment, correcting the body's water-s alt balance, and conducting therapy with vitamins. For the affected areas in the zone of the trigeminal and glossopharyngeal nerves, treatment with anticonvulsants and antidepressants is prescribed.
In the implementation of the 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 physiotherapy exercises.
In the case of a long period of restoration of the nervous function of the affected area, the use of chamber hydrogalvanic sessions, inductophoresis procedures 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 installations are prescribed.
Complications caused by the disease
What are the consequences of neuritis? Under the condition of untimely diagnosis of the disease and seeking medical help, possible complications may be of the following nature:
- In the future, there may be persistent disturbances in movement and coordination of damaged organs.
- Complete or partial decrease in strength in muscles with a diseased nerve, replacement of muscle-type tissues with connective tissues.
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. The means used for the treatment of known types of diseases are characterized by a large selection. It is recommended to apply horseradish leaves, elderflower and chamomile flower pillows, clay cakes with vinegar to the diseased areas.
To reduce pain, you can usevarious infusions of medicinal plants: cranberries, raspberries, pines, Ivan-tea. Traditional healers recommend rubbing the damaged areas of the body with bear fat.
Disease prevention
As a preventive measure to prevent the occurrence of various forms of neuritis, it is recommended
- vitamin intake;
- carefulness when taking medications;
- prevention of intoxication of the body by alcohol or poor-quality food;
- use of a balanced diet containing essential nutrients;
- taking into account the risk of possible injury;
- administering necessary vaccinations;
- use of pouring and tempering;
- maintaining the oral cavity in a well-groomed condition.
A disease such as neuritis, the symptoms of which we have discussed in the article, requires timely diagnosis and prevention. Take care of yourself and stay he althy!
