Chronic facial inflammation is more common in women of mature age, mostly older than 50 years. This form of neuralgia is accompanied by very painful and specific symptoms, so it is easy to diagnose. It is important to constantly engage in the prevention of recurrence of the disease and at the proper time to treat them in order to prevent complications.
Neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve - causes
The exact origin of the described pathology has not yet been elucidated. There are suggestions that the facial nerve is irritated as a result of squeezing it with blood vessels. According to another version, trigeminal neuralgia arises against the infringement of the trigeminal root by large neoplasms in the area of the Varoliev bridge (part of the brain). Sometimes the causes of inflammatory processes are other negative factors.
Atypical neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve
The stimulator of facial pains in this case is an intense psychological or emotional load. This trigeminal neuralgia is often diagnosed in women with migraines and regularly subject to stress. The signs of pathology are systematically amplified, in the course of time they can be present constantly. Atypical neuralgia is provoked by the following circumstances:
- dental procedures;
- weather change;
- thermal effects;
- climate change;
- lack of sleep.
Postherpetic neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve
This type of disease is associated with previously transferred shingles. Calling him herpes (zoster) affects the branches of the facial nerve, provoking inflammatory processes. Even after recovery, the virus remains in organic structures for a long time and periodically leads to relapse of the disease. Postherpetic neuralgia often results in complete recovery after 4-6 weeks. In rare situations, mainly in the absence of correct treatment, pathology is complicated or transformed into a chronic form.
Neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve - symptoms
The main symptom of this ailment is pain syndrome. It arises from attacks that can last from 2 seconds to several days. Neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve is characterized by painful, acute or "shooting" pain on one side of the face (less often - from both). During a relapse, a person tries not to move and stops, not to provoke an increase in unpleasant sensations.
Trigeminal neuralgia - symptoms:
- spasms of facial muscles ( tick );
- spread of pain to the neck, ear, jaw and eyes;
- changing facial expressions;
- irradiation of the pain syndrome in the arm (often - the index finger on the left).
Neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve - diagnosis
A qualified and experienced neurologist is able to differentiate the described pathology and other similar diseases. The doctor scrupulously examines the patient and collects a detailed anamnesis, determines the incidence of pain and all the factors that provoke it. On the basis of the obtained data, the diagnosis "neuralgia" is established. To clarify the causes of inflammation, the doctor can prescribe a magnetic resonance imaging of the head.
How to treat neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve?
Completely eliminate the disease in question is extremely rare. The reason for this is the difficulty in finding out the factors that provoke inflammation. The main goal of therapy is the relief or absolute relief of the symptoms of the pathology (pain and spasms). Neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve treatment involves a complex:
- taking medications;
- acupuncture;
- manual effects;
- natural means;
- Surgical intervention (with ineffectiveness of other methods).
Neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve: treatment - drugs
The basis of the traditional medical approach is the use of anticonvulsants in parallel with muscle relaxants and antispasmodics. The most effective medicines:
- Finlepsin ;
- Carbamazepine;
- Lamotrigine;
- Oxcarbazepine;
- Baclofen;
- Gabapentin;
- Phenytoin;
- Clonazepam;
- preparations of sodium valproate;
- Tegretol.
The listed preparations are recommended for long reception with gradual decrease in a dosage up to a level of a supporting portion. Standard anti-inflammatory analgesics for trigeminal neuralgia are not used because of their low effectiveness. Anesthetics can not adequately suppress unpleasant sensations and relieve spasms of facial muscles.
If the conservative approach does not work and the trigeminal neuralgia continues to progress, intraosseous blockades or injections into the Gasser's node (ganglion) are used. At the same time, physiotherapeutic manipulations are carried out. In the absence of the expected effect, the specialist will advise a minimally invasive surgical method to combat the problem.
Acupuncture in trigeminal neuralgia
Acupuncture is considered a popular procedure for alleviating the pain syndrome, but qualified doctors say it is skeptical. According to numerous studies only with the help of conservative medicine, trigeminal neuralgia is curtailed - acupuncture treatment refers to a number of alternative techniques without scientific justification. According to the results of the tests, acupuncture affects only those patients who believe in its efficacy ( placebo effect ). There is no reliable evidence of pain relief through the introduction of needles into the skin.
Massage with trigeminal neuralgia
Any manual procedures are prescribed only by a doctor as part of complex conservative therapy. Especially often it is recommended to massage, if the trigeminal neuralgia is aggravated during pregnancy, when it is dangerous for the fetus to use standard treatment options. Manipulation is carried out by an experienced specialist with a course of 15-22 sessions. The manual effect assumes only stroking, rubbing and light vibration. Other massage techniques are prohibited.
Neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve - surgery
The most effective and safe method of surgical treatment of the described inflammatory process is radiofrequency destruction (rhizotomy). Neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve of the face is accompanied by severe pain due to the arrival of electrical impulses in the brain. If you stop sending such signals, all the unpleasant sensations will disappear.
During a minimally invasive operation, a very thin needle is inserted through the skin of the cheeks under local anesthesia and X-ray inspection. When it reaches the root of the affected nerve, a powerful high-frequency electromagnetic pulse is applied to the tip of the device. It leads to a sharp increase in temperature in the damaged structure and its subsequent destruction.
Neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve is removed and other surgical methods:
- Operation Shokvista;
- microvascular decompression;
- Operation Spiller-Freger (retroasseral transection of the nerve root);
- exery of peripheral branches;
- balloon transcutaneous decompression;
- the Dandy operation;
- vascular decompression;
- cryodestruction;
- radiosurgery (gamma knife);
- classical decompression.
The listed variants of medical interventions are associated with high risks of serious side effects and postoperative complications, therefore they are used extremely rarely and only in the presence of direct indications (tumors, pathological arrangement of blood vessels). In some situations, the impact on the affected roots can lead to an irreversible change in mimicry and even disability.
Neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve - treatment with folk remedies
Alternative therapies are allowed only with the permission of a neurologist as additional procedures. Treating neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve at home can help in alleviating the pain syndrome and reducing the severity of the inflammatory process, but sometimes using folk recipes provokes a worsening of a person's condition.
Altaic tincture
Ingredients :
- cold clean water (you can take boiled) - 210-220 ml;
- crushed and dried roots of althea - 4 teaspoons.
Preparation, use:
- In the morning, pour water on the plant raw materials.
- In the evening, stir the solution, imbue them with a gauze cut.
- Apply a compress to the painful areas.
- Warm the gauze with a cellophane film and a warm cloth.
- After 1-2 hours, remove the lotion and go to bed.
- Repeat manipulation every evening for a week.
In addition to anesthetizing, folk healers are advised to lubricate problem areas with the following products:
- fir oil ;
- juice from black raw radish;
- chamomile broth (strong);
- garlic oil;
- balm "Asterisk".