It happens like this: a person is completely sure that he is completely he althy, but suddenly he begins to experience strange sensations in the region of the nose. A similar symptom can speak of several diseases at once. Therefore, if the bridge of the nose hurts, it is important to understand the reason why this happens. First of all, you should contact a therapist who will evaluate the accompanying symptoms and refer you for a consultation with a specialist.
What is the nose bridge?
For those who do not quite understand what is at stake, we will explain a little. The bridge of the nose is called the upper edge of the nose, which is directly adjacent to the forehead. There is even a medical term for this area. In Latin it sounds like nasion. And if you ask a doctor what the bridge of the nose is, he will answer that this is the intersection of the nasolabial suture with the median sagittal plane (that is, the one that conventionally divides the human body into equal parts).
Possible causes of pain. Nose bridge injuries
Pain in the bridge of the nose can occur for various reasons. Often the basis for pain is an injury, the cause of which may be a fight, an accidental blow, a fall. Children often receivedamage during games. Nose injuries are:
- Bruises localized within the soft tissue. Superficial abrasions.
- Cartilage damage. Most often, this injures the nasal septum, which divides the nose into the right and left nasal passages.
- Fractures of varying complexity.
If, after a blow or a fall, a person feels that the bridge of his nose hurts, then he should immediately see an ENT doctor or surgeon.
Neuralgia
In many cases, pain in the bridge of the nose is a symptom of neuralgia. We are talking, for example, about the syndrome described by the Chilean doctor Charlin in the early twentieth century. A more detailed name for Charlin's syndrome is nasociliary neuralgia. With this syndrome, a person has pain in the bridge of the nose and forehead. Sometimes the pain spreads to the eye area. In this case, there may be problems with the nutrition of the cornea, and an appeal will be required not only to a neurologist, but also to an ophthalmologist.
Neuralgia is accompanied by intense pain. There are pressing and bursting sensations. Most often, pain attacks begin at night. Patients do not fall asleep well and do not sleep well. Nasociliary nerve disease has "trigger" points. If the patient has a slight pain in the bridge of the nose, pressing the “trigger” point will intensify the pain.
Neuralgia can occur without additional symptoms. But in advanced cases, during an attack, discharge from the nose, pulsation in the forehead, swelling of the mucous membranes in the nose, redness of the eyeballs and lacrimation begin. Pulsation in the foreheadzone can be felt in moments of calm pain. Often it does not depend on seizures at all.
Causes of nasociliary neuralgia
The most common cause of neuralgia, from which the bridge of the nose hurts when pressed, is complications of acute respiratory infections. Moreover, by the time the characteristic pains in the area of the bridge of the nose appear, there are no more symptoms of a cold.
The next reason is dental problems. Innervation of tissues in the area of inflammation can connect a dental problem with a branch of the nasociliary nerve. A person may not experience toothache, but due to inflammation of the dental nerve, neuralgia begins, and as a result, the bridge of the nose and the head hurt.
Also, ENT diseases become a common cause of neuralgia associated with the nasociliary nerve. Problems can be of varying degrees of complexity. But we'll talk more about this in the next section.
ENT diseases: runny nose
Often, patients complain that the bridge of the nose hurts during a runny nose. Patients lose their appetite, experience severe discomfort. A runny nose interferes with normal breathing. Oxygen saturation worsens, which can disrupt the functioning of the heart and vascular system. Breathing air through the mouth can also affect other respiratory organs. A runny nose can cause fluctuations in intracranial and intraocular pressure. So you can not ignore the pain in the bridge of the nose during rhinitis and the runny nose itself.
Sinusitis and its types
The anatomy of the nose is quite complex. In many patients, the bridge of the nose hurts due to inflammatory processes inparts of the nose. It has several paranasal sinuses: frontal, ethmoid labyrinth, sphenoid, maxillary (maxillary). The general name for the inflammatory processes of the mucous membrane of the nasal sinuses is sinusitis. Sinusitis is a type of sinusitis.
Inflammation can affect not only the maxillary sinuses, but also the frontal ones. Doctors classify such sinusitis as frontal sinusitis. In this case, the bridge of the nose and the head hurt, discomfort in the interbrow zone is added to these sensations. Most of the time, the pain is dull, but it gets worse when you bend over or press on it.
If the mucosa is inflamed in the area of the cells of the ethmoid labyrinth, then when pressing on the bridge of the nose, discomfort can also occur. This subtype of sinusitis is called ethmoiditis. The disease does not occur very often, but is difficult to treat and is most often accompanied by sinusitis and frontal sinusitis.
Sinusitis
Many people think that rhinitis does not require special attention: “Just think, a runny nose, it will pass by itself…” But this is a huge mistake. An untreated runny nose can be the beginning of a more complex disease - sinusitis. Inflammation of the maxillary sinuses causes not just nasal congestion, but also general weakness, fatigue, headaches. It is important to know that if the nose is stuffed up for more than 7 days, then you need to contact an otolaryngologist and clarify where to take an x-ray of the paranasal sinuses. Without an X-ray, it is difficult for a doctor to diagnose this disease.
Ganglioneuritis
This disease hasthe second name is ganglionite. The problem arises due to the defeat of the pterygopalatine node. This is a ganglion, that is, a ganglion, which consists of cells. For the first time, the disease was described by an American specialist and named after him Slader's syndrome. The pterygopalatine ganglion is associated with the facial and trigeminal nerves, as well as with the ear and ciliary ganglion. Therefore, the process often spreads over several nodes. Ganglionitis causes swelling, reduces reflexes. Because of it, the bridge of the nose, eye socket or upper jaw often hurts. In advanced cases, the pain spreads to the temporal region and to the arm. The pain is localized on one side.
Causes of pterygopalatine ganglionitis (ganglioneuritis)
Ganglionitis, in which pain in the bridge of the nose is a normal phenomenon, occurs as a result of pathologies of the upper respiratory tract, dental problems, chronic intoxication, tumors. Separately, it is worth highlighting maxillofacial injuries.
Where to go in case of pain in the bridge of the nose?
As you already understood, there can be many reasons for pain in the bridge of the nose. If the appearance of discomfort was preceded by a runny nose, then you can immediately contact an otolaryngologist. He will conduct an examination and, based on its results, prescribe drug therapy, washings, drops or sprays in the nose. During the examination, a blood test is taken and an x-ray is prescribed. Where to make an x-ray of the paranasal sinuses, specify at the place of treatment. In the treatment of sinusitis, a puncture is considered the best method. But if this manipulation is refused, the doctor tries to find another solution. Rhinitis, sinusitis, frontal sinusitis and otherstypes of sinusitis should be treated without delay to prevent the disease from becoming chronic and causing serious complications.
If the bridge of the nose hurts as a result of a nose injury, then you need to contact a trauma surgeon. The best option would be to contact the clinic of maxillofacial surgery. Specialists of such centers are best versed in fractures of the bones of the nose, because here it is necessary to solve not only cosmetic problems, but also to control the restoration of the diameters of the nasal passages and the condition of the nasal septum. For pain in the nose after injuries, you should consult a doctor no later than 10 days later. During this time, the swelling subsides, and it will be possible - if necessary - to perform an operation.
If there were no injuries, and pain in the bridge of the nose was not preceded by a runny nose or acute respiratory infections, then you should contact a neurologist. It is this specialist who can identify Slader's syndrome or Charlin's syndrome.
If the bridge of the nose hurts, doctors may refer the patient for additional dental consultation. As already mentioned, some inflammatory processes associated with the teeth do not cause pain, but affect other systems and organs.
In any case, if the bridge of the nose hurts for more than three days, you need to seek help. Only a doctor can determine the severity of your condition. Symptoms that you have not paid attention to can signal the development of a serious pathology.
