Inflammation of the trigeminal nerve: causes, symptoms and treatment
Inflammation of the triple nerve is a very painful process and it is difficult to endure the suffering that it brings with it, especially when you consider the length of the process. The WHO figures are also terrifying, which show that more than a million people suffer from this problem from time to time. We will tell you about what it is, why it happens and what symptoms the whole process is characterized by in this article.
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Causes of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve
The strongest pain syndrome that accompanies trigeminal neuritis is due to irritation of the nerve, and the cause is mainly the contact of the vein and artery with the problem nerve at the very base of the skull. But this is not the only reason.
An inflammatory process can be caused by tumors that press on the said nerve, multiple sclerosis, which contributes to the destruction of the myelin sheath of the nerve. In many people who are far from advanced age, the inflammatory process is just diagnosed due to multiple sclerosis. However, in fact, the etiology of the disease is much broader, but in fact, such situations, fortunately, are not so common.
The main reasons leading to the development of the disease are called the following:
- Postponed diseases 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 intensify and at the same time entail serious consequences, including inflammation of the trigeminal nerve.
- Hypothermia of any nature. Often, inflammatory processes can be provoked by a prolonged stay in a draft or after prolonged contact of the auricle or facial area with the cold.
- Strong physical activity or serious psycho-emotional shock, this in turn leads to a decrease in immunity, and there anything can happen.
- Any serious infections, regardless of their location.
A lot of factors can provoke an attack of trigeminal neuralgia, including: shaving, smiling, talking, brushing teeth, etc.
Symptoms of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve
In some people suffering from the inflammatory process of the trigeminal nerve, pain syndrome begins quite unexpectedly and, at first glance, without any reason. While the other part of the population can clearly say when exactly pain manifests itself, i.e. a certain pattern is being traced. For example, after a lot of stress or after getting nervous. Pain may appear after going to the dentist, blowing to the face and head. However, as some experts note, nerves are not always able to be a provocateur inflammatory process trigeminal nerve, but a stressful situation activates the appearance of pain.
Many people confuse the pain that occurs with a toothache, because it begins to ache, often in the upper or lower jaw. Referring to a problem with teeth, a person goes to the dentist, but even a complete dental treatment, the problem does not go anywhere and the pain is not relieved.
In addition, the clinical picture includes:
- headache;
- fatigue and irritability, which is often caused by sleep problems due to pain;
- the appearance of a rash in the area of the face where the nerve is affected;
- feeling of weakness and chills all over the body;
- twitching a muscle in the affected area from time to time;
- skewed or slight, but visible asymmetry of the face: drooping eyelid, corner of the mouth, etc.;
- very strong piercing pain of a cross-cutting nature.
Despite the fact that there are a lot of symptoms of this ailment, the main symptom still remains severe pain in one of the halves of the face, which has a shooting character. As soon as it decreases, a slight distortion in the face can come. 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 trigeminal inflammation are very similar to the manifestation of other diseases, therefore, to make an accurate diagnosis, you must definitely consult a specialist.
The pain of the trigeminal nerve torments a person, spreading to the teeth, cheeks, head and even neck. In any case, the pain with such a disease can be divided into typical and atypical. Typical it appears, then subsides, the principle of such pain is similar to an electric discharge 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 remission are observed. This type of neuralgia is much more difficult to treat.
For some, pain appears periodically, several times a day, then appearing, then leaving for a while, while others may have pain once a day. In any case, the increase in pain occurs quickly and the peak occurs already in the twentieth second from the start.
Treatment of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve
The sooner the ailment is identified and treatment is started, the more effective and faster the result will be. For a complete consultation, you must definitely contact a specialist. As a rule, treatment includes a whole range of measures, namely:
- Taking antiviral drugs. They are prescribed in the event that the ailment is provoked by a virus of the herpes family.
- Taking painkillers. An obligatory point, since the pain is very strong, which is constantly problematic to endure. However, it is by no means possible to self-prescribe, because such drugs have many contraindications and serious side effects.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Taking glucocorticoids. It relieves inflammation and swelling, helps to heal in a shorter time.
- Taking drugs that reduce muscle spasm.
- Taking vitamin preparations that help to normalize the immune system.
- Physiotherapy.
Additionally, treatment can be carried out using alternative methods. The most effective are:
- During the day, you need to regularly rub fir oil into the affected area. To such an action, the skin can react with redness, but the pain will recede. Treatment should be continued for at least three days.
- You can relieve pain with an egg. Boil a hard-boiled egg, divide it in half and attach it to the problem area.
- Mix the clay with the vinegar and mold into small pieces. The latter should be applied to the inflamed areas daily for at least three days.
- In the morning, pour four large tablespoons of dry marshmallow with cooled boiled water, cover and leave to infuse. Towards evening, dip the fabric 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 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 the black radish and rub the resulting nectar over your face several times a day.
- Prepare a regular chamomile tea by steeping a small spoonful of dry herb with a glass of boiling water. Let it brew. The finished infusion must be taken into the mouth and kept as much as you can.
- Fry in a skillet, naturally without oil, buckwheat. As soon as it heats up, pour it into a cloth bag made of natural material. It should be applied to the sore spot and kept until it cools down. You need to do such warm-ups up to three times a day.
- Grind a few ripe dates in a meat grinder, and the resulting gruel 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.
- Make a raspberry vodka liqueur. To do this, take dry leaves of the plant and fill them with vodka in a ratio of 1: 3. Seal the jar and leave to infuse for nine to ten days. The finished tincture is drunk for three months in small portions before meals.
Again, in order for the treatment to be successful, you need to know exactly what worries it is the inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, and not another disease similar in symptomatology to the aforementioned ailment. Otherwise, while the fight against the phantom disease is going on, the real one will actively develop.