Inflammation of the trigeminal nerve: causes, symptoms and treatment

Inflammation of the ternary nerve is a very painful process and it is difficult to endure the suffering that it brings with it, especially considering the duration of the process. WHO figures are also terrifying, showing that more than a million people suffer from this problem from time to time. We’ll talk about what it is, why it happens, and what symptoms characterize the whole process in this article.

Causes of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve

The severe pain syndrome that accompanies trigeminal neuritis is explained by irritation of the nerve, and the cause is mainly the contact of the vein and artery with the problematic nerve at the very base of the skull. But this is not the only reason.

The inflammatory process can be caused by tumors that put pressure on the mentioned nerve, multiple sclerosis, which contributes to the destruction of the myelin sheath of the nerve. In many people who are far from advanced in age, the inflammatory process is diagnosed due to multiple sclerosis. However, in fact, the etiology of the disease is much broader, but in reality such situations, fortunately, do not occur so often.

The main reasons leading to the development of the disease are the following:

• The illnesses are of a viral nature, and any viruses can contribute to the inflammatory process, but more often the culprit is the herpes family, namely shingles.
• Immunity disorders. This is rather a reason, because during periods when the body is weakened, infections can become more active and lead to serious consequences, including inflammation of the trigeminal nerve.
• Hypothermia of any nature. Inflammatory processes can often be triggered by prolonged exposure to a draft or after prolonged contact of the auricle or facial area with cold.
• Extreme physical activity or serious psycho-emotional shock, this in turn leads to a decrease in immunity, and anything can happen there.
• Any severe infections, regardless of their location.

A lot of factors can trigger an attack of trigeminal neuralgia, including: shaving, smiling, talking, brushing your teeth, etc.

Symptoms of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve

In some people suffering from inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, the pain syndrome begins quite unexpectedly and, at first glance, without any reason. While the other part of the population can clearly say when exactly the pain manifests itself, i.e. a certain pattern is observed. For example, after severe stress or after being nervous. Pain can appear after a trip to the dentist, a blow to the face or head. However, as some experts note, nerves cannot always be a provocateur inflammatory process trigeminal nerve, but a stressful situation activates the appearance of pain.

Many people confuse the pain that arises with dental pain, because the pain often begins in the upper or lower jaw. Citing a dental problem, a person goes to the dentist, but even complete dental treatment, the problem does not go away and the pain does not ease.

In addition, the clinical picture includes:

• headache;
• fatigue and irritability, which is often caused by problems with sleep due to pain;
• the appearance of a rash in the area of ​​the face where the nerve is affected;
• feeling of weakness and chills throughout the body;
• from time to time twitches the muscle in the affected area;
• skewed or slight, but visible asymmetry of the face: drooping eyelid, corner of the mouth, etc.;
• very strong piercing pain of a through nature.

Despite the fact that this disease has a lot of symptoms, the main symptom is still severe pain in one half of the face, which has a shooting character. As soon as it decreases, a slight distortion in the face may occur. If the disease begins to progress and treatment is delayed, then this asymmetry becomes stronger and can remain for life. It is also worth saying that the symptoms of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve are very similar to the manifestations of other diseases, so to make an accurate diagnosis you must consult a specialist.

Trigeminal nerve pain torments a person, spreading to the teeth, cheeks, head and even neck. In any case, pain with such an illness can be divided into typical and atypical. A typical pain appears and then subsides; the principle of such pain is similar to an electric shock and has a shooting character; it can appear with a simple touch to the face.  The pain of an atypical nature is constant, no periods of subsidence are observed. This type of neuralgia is much more difficult to treat.

For some, pain appears periodically, several times a day, appearing and then going away for a while; for others, pain may appear once a day. In any case, the increase in pain occurs quickly and the peak occurs already at the twentieth second from the start.

Treatment of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve

The sooner the disease is identified and treatment is started, the more effective and faster the result will be. For a complete consultation, you must contact a specialist. As a rule, treatment includes a whole range of measures, namely:

• Taking antiviral drugs. Prescribed if the disease is caused by a virus of the herpes family.
• Taking painkillers. A mandatory item, since the pain is very strong, which is constantly difficult to endure. However, you should never self-prescribe, because such drugs have many contraindications and serious side effects.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs of non-steroidal origin.
• Taking glucocorticoids. This relieves inflammation and swelling, helping to heal in a shorter time.
• Taking medications that reduce muscle spasms.
• Taking vitamin supplements that help normalize immunity.
• Physiotherapy.

Additionally, treatment can be carried out using traditional methods. The most effective are considered:   During the day, you should regularly rub fir oil into the affected area. The skin may react to this action with redness, but the pain will recede. Treatment should be continued for at least three days.

• You can relieve pain with an egg. Hard boil an egg, divide it in half and apply to the problem area.
• Mix the clay with vinegar and make small plates. The latter should be applied to the inflamed areas daily for at least three days.
• In the morning, pour four large spoons of dry marshmallow with cooled boiled water, cover with a lid and leave to infuse. Towards evening, dip a cloth in the infusion and apply it to the sore part of the face, insulate the compress with parchment and a scarf. You need to keep it on for about an hour and a half; at night it is advisable to sleep with a woolen scarf on your head.
• Squeeze the juice from black radish and wipe your face with the resulting nectar several times a day.
• Prepare regular chamomile tea by steeping a small spoonful of dry herb in a glass of boiling water. Let it brew. You need to take the finished infusion into your mouth and hold it as long as you can.
• Fry buckwheat in a frying pan, naturally without oil. As soon as it warms up, pour it into a rag bag made of natural material. It should be applied to the sore spot and held until it cools down. You need to do such warm-ups up to three times a day.
• Grind several ripe dates in a meat grinder, and the resulting pulp should be consumed three times during the day. To make your meal easier, you can mix it all with milk or drink it with water.
• Prepare raspberry tincture with vodka. To do this, take dry leaves of the plant and fill them with vodka in a ratio of 1:3. Seal the jar and let it sit for nine to ten days. The finished tincture is drunk in small portions before meals for three months.

Again, for the treatment to be successful, you need to know exactly what is bothering you about inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, and not another disease that is similar in symptoms to the mentioned ailment. Otherwise, while the fight against the ghostly disease continues, the real one will actively develop.