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Most people know that inflammation of any nerve is a very painful process that has to be treated for a long time. This also applies to the trigeminal nerve inflammation. This nerve is located on the face of a person, and is called the trigeminal because it has three main branches. One branch is located at the level of the forehead, the second - on both sides of the nose, and the third - in the area of the chin. With inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, a person feels a sharp pain in one of these branches or the entire trigeminal nerve. In this case, there is a strong spasm that deforms the face, sometimes the patient cannot close the mouth until the seizure is complete. To confuse such a disease with something else is extremely difficult.
Diagnosis of trigeminal inflammation
Sometimes pain gives to the jaw, which causes the patient to turn first to the dentist. An experienced doctor will quickly recognize the true cause of the pain and send the patient to a neurologist. The pain can be paroxysmal, which lasts for 2-3 minutes and then subsides. Inflammation of the trigeminal nerve brings pain only on one side of the face. Sometimes the pain may not be progressive, but aching, constant. Often, such painful sensations are not stopped by painkillers and their treatment is much longer and more serious.
Among the symptoms of the disease, in addition to acute pain, paralysis of the facial muscles, loss of skin sensitivity, asymmetry of the face, feeling of numbness can be noted. In this case, the person behaves restlessly, because he knows that another attack can occur at any moment.
If suspected inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, the patient is prescribed diagnostic procedures - computed tomography, MRI, ECG and ultrasound, if necessary. It helps to find out the cause of the inflammation. And with the help of palpation, the doctor determines the location and size of the inflamed nerve.
Causes of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve
Among the reasons that could give impetus to the inflammatory process, the following factors can be noted.
- The trigeminal nerve may become inflamed due to simple hypothermia. Draft, walking in the frost without a cap, washing with ice water - all this can provoke an attack.
- Head injury and concussion can lead to unexpected consequences, including inflammation of the trigeminal nerve.
- Deformation and squeezing of the nerve can occur due to a tumor on the face.
- Often the trigeminal nerve becomes inflamed due to neglected diseases of the oral cavity - gingivitis, stomatitis, pulpitis, periodontitis. If dental diseases are not treated on time, they affect adjacent tissues.
- Herpes infections can also trigger this inflammation. This is especially noticeable against the background of weakened immunity.
- Often the disease occurs in older people who are over 50 years old. This is due to the appearance of cholesterol plaques, which are also present in the vessels feeding the trigeminal nerve. Lack of nutrition leads to inflammation and cramping.
- The trigeminal nerve may also be inflamed due to improper bite,due to ENT diseases, as well as in atherosclerosis.
To identify the cause of the disease on their own is almost impossible. However, it depends on this competent treatment tactics and the prevention of subsequent attacks of neuralgia.
Drug treatment of inflammation
Drug treatment of this disease is to take the following medicines.
- To relieve muscle spasm, to provide analgesic and anticonvulsant effects, it is necessary to take anti-epileptic drugs, for example, Carbamopesin. The drugs in this group are considered essential in the treatment of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve.
- In addition, the patient is prescribed antihistamines, which enhance the effect of Karbomezepina.
- In the presence of severe pain, the patient is shown to receive painkillers, sometimes - a blockade in the form of injections in the front part to relieve muscle spasm.
- In addition, it is important to cure a disease that caused nerve inflammation. If the etiology of inflammation is herpes, the patient is shown to receive antiviral drugs, for example, Acyclovir. For tumors, the question of surgery is decided.In case of head injuries, tremor should be treated, and only then nerve inflammation can be removed.
- In the complex treatment, anti-inflammatory drugs of the non-steroid group, for example, Nimesil, are also used.
- It is very important to maintain the health of the central nervous system, to take sedatives. Long-term use of Glycine will help relieve anxiety and the likelihood of another attack.
- In addition, much attention is paid to strengthening the human immunity. To do this, the patient is prescribed various vitamins and immunomodulators.
The treatment of each patient is purely individual. In no case, drug treatment should not be prescribed independently, without consulting a neurologist. Remember that drugs that have helped your girlfriend or neighbor with "similar" symptoms can aggravate the course of your illness.
Physiotherapy and massage
In the treatment of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, a special place is given to physiotherapeutic procedures. One of the effective procedures is magnetic therapy. The impact of magnetic fields has a beneficial effect on the muscles - it allows you to remove the spasm, reduces pain.It is possible to improve blood circulation in the area of inflammation, as well as to warm up the inflamed area using high-frequency currents, or UHF procedure. Good results show the treatment of inflammation by electrophoresis - electrical impulses relax the nerve, relieve spasm, stop the process of inflammation.
In addition to physiotherapy, massage is used to treat trigeminal inflammation. It should be made only by the doctor in the exercise therapy room. An experienced massage therapist stimulates the right muscles, which relax and stop squeezing the inflamed nerve. During the full course of the massage, which should consist of 15-20 sessions, the muscles come to tone, the attacks stop, the painful sensations no longer return.
Folk remedies against trigeminal inflammation
Since such a disease is far from uncommon, the piggy bank of popular recipes and wisdom has gathered a lot of recommendations that will help you speed up your recovery.
- Facial massage for inflammation of the trigeminal nerve can be done independently. For this, it is enough to follow the movements of a professional several times. To improve the result, use fir oil during massage.Dilute it with water in a 1: 1 ratio and rub into the area of inflammation.
- The marsh mallow helps to fight inflammation very well, namely, its infusion. This infusion can be purchased at the pharmacy or cook yourself. Fill a glass bottle with a green plant and fill it with alcohol. Leave in a dark cool place for a couple of weeks. Every day, shake the composition. If the inflammation of the trigeminal nerve is a frequent occurrence, such a composition should always be on the alert. It is enough to moisten a piece of tissue or bandage in it and attach it to the inflamed area. Repeat in the morning and evening, until complete cure.
- A warm hard-boiled egg helps not only with a cold, but also with inflammation of the trigeminal nerve. Half a boiled egg keeps heat for a long time, which helps to get rid of inflammation caused by hypothermia.
- You can cope with an attack of neuralgia with chamomile. Warm concentrated decoction should be taken in the mouth and kept until the pain recedes.
- Take the usual clay and knead the dough with warm vinegar. Cooked cakes should be applied to the inflamed areas for 10-15 minutes, covered with a towel so that they cool down as long as possible.Folk healers say that the clay with vinegar draws all the disease.
These simple but effective home remedies are aimed at anesthesia, warming and removing the inflammatory process.
Inflammation of the trigeminal nerve is an unpleasant, long and very uncomfortable disease. However, an integrated approach in the form of medical treatment, physiotherapy, massage and folk remedies can speed recovery significantly. Be healthy and do not let the disease conquer your body!
Video: trigeminal neuralgia
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