Where is the trigeminal nerve. Diseases of the trigeminal nerve. Neuralgia as the main pathology of the nerve

The trigeminal nerve is the fifth pair of twelve pairs of cranial nerves and consists of three branches that innervate areas of the face and neck. According to the international classification of diseases, trigeminal neuralgia, atypical facial pain, and a lesion of unspecified etiology are distinguished. Treatment of these diseases is possible with the help of traditional medicine and folk remedies.

The structure and function of the nerve fiber

The trigeminal nerve is mixed in its structure. This means that it contains motor and sensory fibers. In addition to them, a small number of secretory fibers fit into the nerve ganglion. They are responsible for the functioning of the external secretion glands.

The trigeminal nerve comes to the surface of the brain from the lateral part of the bridge, passes through the thickness of the variolius and forms the trigeminal ganglion in the middle cerebral fossa. Three main branches come out of this thickening: n. ophthalmicus, n. maxillaris and n. mandibullaris. This feature in anatomy is the key to understanding the pathogenesis of pain in a particular innervated area.

Diseases

The main diseases of the trigeminal nerve are neuralgia and neuritis. They differ in etiological factor, but their clinical manifestations are very similar.

Trigeminal neuralgia is an increase in sensitivity in the areas of innervation. Its pathogenesis is not fully understood, and the most common etiological factors include pinching in the trigeminal node and malnutrition due to atherosclerotic changes. Compression can be caused by a neuroma or be the result of an injury.

Trigeminal neuritis is a disease with an inflammatory etiology. These include the herpes simplex virus, past infectious diseases, the pathogens of which are tropic to the nervous tissue. It is also important to note local and general hypothermia, mental stress, any foci of infection in the body. With improper treatment with folk remedies, neuritis can become chronic.

The symptoms of these two diseases are very similar. This is pain along the nerve fibers and loss of functions. The localization of these symptoms depends on which branch or section of the nerve is affected, so knowledge of the anatomy is important for correct diagnosis.

• If the orbital branch is damaged, then the patient complains of a violation of sensitivity in the innervated areas, namely: the skin of the forehead, the back of the nose, the upper eyelid and the inner corner of the eye. On examination, dryness of the mucous membranes of the eye and nose is noted. The neurologist may notice a decrease in the superciliary and corneal reflexes;
• When the second (maxillary) branch is affected, the patient notes a decrease in sensitivity and pain in the lower eyelid, outer corner of the eye, lateral surface of the face, upper cheek, upper jaw and upper row of teeth. With neuralgia, pain can be triggered by shaving, brushing your teeth;
• The defeat of the third branch is accompanied not only by a violation of pain and tactile sensitivity, but also by a decrease in the function of the glands. Such symptoms are associated with damage to the secretory fibers. The patient also notes paralysis of the masticatory muscles, difficulty swallowing.

Symptoms can be unilateral or bilateral. This is due to the different nature of the damage to the nerve fiber and the etiology of the disease.

Diagnostics

In order to correctly determine the affected area, it is necessary not only to focus on the complaints of the patient himself, but also a thorough neurological examination. The trigeminal nerve can be affected throughout, so it is important to identify the point of localization of the pathological process.

The doctor examines the exit points of the trigeminal nerve to the surface for pain and discomfort. To do this, the doctor runs a finger along the superciliary arch, palpates the projection of the "dog fossa" and the fossa on the chin. All these places correspond to the exit points of the three branches of the 5th pair of cranial nerves and are called points of Balle.

If not a separate branch is affected, but part of the trigeminal nucleus, then the doctor should check the sensitivity and soreness in the Zelder zones. They have a head start in brackets and each of them corresponds to a certain nucleus in the thickness of the brain. In these zones, temperature and pain sensitivity drops out, i.e. superficial, while the deep remains intact. This is used to differentiate the lesion.

The sensitivity test is performed using a neurological hammer with a blunt needle at the end. The doctor checks it with a slight tingling in a segmental type.

Movement disorders can be identified due to the asymmetry of the lower jaw. The range of motion can be different on both sides. On palpation of the muscles, its atrophy or excessive sensitivity can be detected.

Instrumental methods of examination include radiography of the skull and MRI.

Therapy Methods

Treatment of the trigeminal nerve depends on the etiological factor. In the presence of a pathogen, the doctor prescribes etiotropic treatment (antibiotics, antifungal or antiviral drugs). For the treatment of neuritis caused by the herpes virus, the use of acyclovir is indicated for a long course.

To stop the pain syndrome, various medications are prescribed: from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to narcotic analgesics in case of an uncontrolled attack.

Also, pain can be relieved with the help of folk remedies. The most common and well-known recipes include bags with sand, salt or any cereal heated in a pan. Dry heat helps to reduce the pain symptom. When the second and third branches are affected, it is useful to use a decoction of chamomile as a folk remedy, which should be held in the mouth before drinking. It has a weak anti-inflammatory effect.

Warm fir oil can be used as a compress. Folk remedies are used in cases where it is not recommended to take traditional therapy.

In the scheme of conservative treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, anticonvulsants in small doses are successfully used. Also, to relieve the pain symptom, antispasmodics and muscle relaxants are prescribed.

Sometimes surgical treatment is indicated. This is the Janette operation or injections of glycerol along the nerve fiber. Surgical interventions are sometimes unsuccessful due to the complex topographic anatomy of the nerve.

Trigeminal neuralgia is a fairly common disease of the peripheral nervous system, the main symptom of which is paroxysmal, very intense pain in the innervation zone (connection to the central nervous system) of one of the branches of the trigeminal nerve.

Trigeminal neuralgia is not painless, it is a rather serious ailment. This disease most often affects women aged 50-70 years. In some cases, even surgery is required.

What is neuralgia, types of disease

The trigeminal nerve originates from the trunk of the anterior part of the pons, located next to the middle cerebellar peduncles. It is formed from two roots - a large sensory and a small motor. Both roots from the base are directed to the top of the temporal bone.

The motor root, together with the third sensory branch, exits through the foramen ovale and then joins with it. In the cavity at the level of the upper part of the pyramidal bone is the semilunar node. Three main sensory branches of the trigeminal nerve come out of it (see photo).

Neuralgia in translation means pain along the nerve. Having 3 branches in the structure, the trigeminal nerve is responsible for the sensitivity of one side of the face and innervates strictly defined zones:

• 1 branch - orbital region;
• 2 branch - cheek, nostril, upper lip and gum;
• 3 branch - lower jaw, lip and gum.

All of them, on their way to the innervated structures, pass through certain holes and channels in the bones of the skull, where they can be squeezed or irritated. Neuralgia of the 1st branch of the trigeminal nerve is extremely rare, most often the 2nd and / or 3rd branch is affected.

If one of the branches of the trigeminal nerve is affected, then a variety of disorders can appear. For example, the area of ​​innervation may become insensitive. Sometimes, on the contrary, it becomes too sensitive, almost to the point of a painful state. Often part of the face seems to sag, or becomes less mobile.

Conventionally, all types of trigeminal neuralgia can be divided into primary (true) and secondary neuralgia.

1. Primary (true) neuralgia It is considered a separate pathology resulting from nerve compression or impaired blood supply in this area.
2. Secondary neuralgia- the result of other pathologies. These include tumor processes, severe infectious diseases.

The reasons

The exact cause of the development of trigeminal neuralgia has not been clarified, as mentioned above, it refers to idiopathic diseases. But there are factors that most often lead to the development of this disease.

The reasons for the development of trigeminal neuralgia are very different:

• compression of the nerve in the area of ​​​​its exit from the cranial cavity through the bone canal with an abnormal arrangement of cerebral vessels;
• aneurysm of a vessel in the cranial cavity;
• metabolic disorders:, diabetes mellitus, and other endocrine pathologies;
• hypothermia of the face;
• chronic infectious diseases in the facial area (chronic, dental caries);
• metabolic disorders (diabetes mellitus, gout);
• chronic infectious diseases (tuberculosis, syphilis, herpes);
• mental disorders;
• suppuration of the bones of the skull, especially the jaws (osteomyelitis);
• severe allergic diseases;
• (worms);
• multiple sclerosis;
• brain tumors.

Symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia

The disease is more typical for middle-aged people, more often diagnosed in 40-50 years. The female sex suffers more often than the male. Damage to the right trigeminal nerve is more often observed (70% of all cases of the disease). Very rarely, trigeminal neuralgia can be bilateral. The disease is cyclic, that is, periods of exacerbation are replaced by periods of remission. Exacerbations are more typical for the autumn-spring period.

So, typical signs of pain in trigeminal neuralgia:

• the nature of the pain in the face is shooting, extremely hard; patients often compare it with an electrical discharge
• duration of an attack of neuralgia - 10-15 seconds (no more than two minutes)
• the presence of a refractory period (the interval between attacks)
• localization of pain - does not change for several years
• pain of a certain direction (from one part of the face passes to another)
• the presence of trigger zones (areas of the face or oral cavity, irritation of which causes a typical paroxysm)
• the presence of trigger factors (actions or conditions in which a pain attack occurs; for example, chewing, washing, talking)
• the characteristic behavior of the patient during an attack is the absence of crying, screaming and a minimum of movements.
• twitching of masticatory or facial muscles at the peak of a painful attack.

Of the secondary symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia, a phobic syndrome should be distinguished. It is formed against the background of “protective behavior”, when a person avoids certain movements and postures so as not to provoke an exacerbation of the disease.

1. Chewing food with the side that is opposite to the painful half;
2. Neuropathic complications of neuralgia lead to secondary pain sensations in the head;
3. Accompanying irritation of the auditory and facial nerves.

Symptoms are difficult to interpret correctly if the pain syndrome is mild in the patient.

Due to the fact that all patients suffering from trigeminal neuralgia use only the healthy half of the mouth for chewing, muscle seals form on the opposite side. With a long course of the disease, it is possible to develop dystrophic changes in the masticatory muscles, and a decrease in sensitivity on the affected side of the face.

Pain localization

Pain attacks may not be single, but follow each other with a short interval. The pathogenesis of the development of trigeminal neuralgia is very diverse:

1. Usually, discomfort in any part of the face manifests itself in the form of an attack.
2. Pain fetters a person for a couple of minutes and temporarily recedes. Then comes again. Between painful attacks passes from 5 minutes to an hour.
3. The defeat is like being hit with a stun gun. Discomfort is usually localized in one part of the face, but often the patient feels pain in several places at once.
4. It seems to a person that the pain covers the entire head, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe eyes, ears, nose. It is very difficult to speak during an attack.
5. From the pain that reduces the oral cavity, it is extremely difficult to pronounce words. This can cause severe muscle twitching.

Other diseases are similar to the symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia. These include temporal tendinitis, Ernest's syndrome, and occipital neuralgia. With temporal tendinitis, pain captures the cheek and teeth, there is a headache and pain in the neck.

With neuralgia of the occipital nerve, the pain is usually located in front and behind the head and can sometimes spread to the face.

What is the most common cause of pain in trigeminal neuralgia?

In the event that the patient has neuralgia, then each attack occurs due to irritation of the trigeminal nerve, due to the existence of trigger, or "trigger" zones. They are localized on the face: in the corners of the nose, eyes, nasolabial folds. When irritated, sometimes extremely weak, they can begin to "generate" a steady, long painful impulse.

Causes of pain may include:

1. shaving procedure for men. Therefore, the appearance of a patient with a shaggy beard can lead an experienced doctor to "neuralgia with experience";
2. just a light touch on the face. Such patients protect the face very carefully, do not use a handkerchief, a napkin.
3. the process of eating, the procedure of brushing teeth. Movement of the muscles of the oral cavity, cheek muscles, and constrictors of the pharynx provoke pain, as the skin of the face begins to shift;
4. fluid intake process. One of the painful conditions, since the quenching of thirst is punished by severe pain;
5. a normal smile, as well as crying and laughter, conversation;
6. applying makeup to the face;
7. a feeling of pungent odors, which are called "triple" - acetone, ammonia.

The consequences of neuralgia for humans

Trigeminal neuralgia in a neglected state entails certain consequences:

• paresis of facial muscles;
• hearing loss;
• paralysis of the facial muscles;
• development of facial asymmetry;
• prolonged pain;
• damage to the nervous system.

The risk group is made up of people of the older age category (usually women), people suffering from cardiovascular diseases or with impaired metabolism.

Diagnostics

A neurologist needs to differentiate frontal sinusitis, dental diseases, otitis, parotitis, ethmoiditis or sinusitis. For this, a comprehensive examination is prescribed.

Usually the diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia is made on the basis of the patient's complaints and his examination. In the diagnosis of the cause of neuralgia, magnetic resonance imaging is important. It allows you to identify a tumor or signs of multiple sclerosis.

Basic diagnostic methods:

1. Consultation of a neurologist. Based on the results of the initial examination, the doctor determines further types of examination.
2. Dental examination. Neuralgia often occurs against the background of dental diseases, low-quality prostheses.
3. Panoramic x-ray of the skull and teeth. Helps to see formations that could pinch the nerve.
4. MRI. The study helps to see the structure of the nerves, the presence and localization of vascular pathologies, various types of tumors.
5. Electromyography - designed to study the characteristics of the passage of impulses along the nerve.
6. Blood test - allows you to exclude the viral origin of pathological changes in the trigeminal nerve.

If you have been diagnosed with neuralgia, then do not be alarmed, in general the prognosis is favorable, but timely treatment plays a big role.

Treatment of trigeminal neuralgia

It is extremely difficult to cure this disease and not always even radical methods of treatment give a positive result. But the right therapy can relieve pain and greatly alleviate human suffering.

The main methods of treatment for trigeminal neuralgia include:

• medication;
• physiotherapy;
• surgical treatment.

Medications

In drug treatment, various groups of drugs are used, among which are such as:

• Anticonvulsants
• Antispasmodics and muscle relaxants.

Before using any drug, it is necessary to consult a neuropathologist.

Finlepsin for trigeminal neuralgia is one of the most common anticonvulsants. The active substance of this drug is carbamazepine. This remedy plays the role of an analgesic in idiopathic neuralgia or a disease that has arisen against the background of multiple sclerosis.

In patients with trigeminal neuralgia, Finlepsin stops the onset of pain attacks. The effect is noticeable after 8 - 72 hours after taking the drug. The dosage is selected only by the doctor individually for each patient.

The dose of Finlepsin (carbamazepine), at which patients can talk and chew painlessly, should remain unchanged for a month, after which it must be gradually reduced. Therapy with this drug can last until the patient notes the absence of seizures for six months.

Other drugs for trigeminal neuralgia:

• Gabapentin;
• Baclofen;
• Valproic acid;
• Lamotrigine;
• Pregabalin.

Each of these drugs has indications for use in trigeminal neuralgia. Sometimes these drugs do not help, so phenytoin is prescribed at a dose of 250 mg. The drug has a cardiodepressant effect, so it should be administered slowly.

Physiotherapy procedures

Physiotherapeutic procedures include paraffin applications, the use of various types of currents, acupuncture. To get rid of severe pain, doctors give the patient alcohol-novocaine blockades. This is enough for a while, but the blockades are less and less effective each time.

• The following methods apply:
• Acupuncture;
• Magnetotherapy;
• Ultrasound;
• laser treatment;
• Electrophoresis with drugs.

Surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia

During surgical treatment, the doctor tries to eliminate the compression of the nerve trunk by the blood vessel. In other cases, the destruction of the trigeminal nerve itself or its node is carried out in order to relieve pain.

Surgical treatments for trigeminal neuralgia are often minimally invasive. In addition, the surgical method also includes the so-called. radiosurgery is a bloodless intervention that does not require incisions or sutures.

There are the following types of operations:

1. percutaneous surgery. Apply in the early stages of the disease. Under local anesthesia, the trigeminal nerve is destroyed by exposure to chemicals or radio waves.
2. Nerve decompression. Such an operation is aimed at correcting the location of the arteries that compress the trigeminal nerve.
3. Radiofrequency destruction of the nerve root. During this operation, only a certain part of the nerve is destroyed.

The type of operation is prescribed depending on the individual characteristics of the course of the disease in the patient.

A characteristic feature of all surgical methods is a more pronounced effect when they are performed early. Those. the earlier this or that operation is carried out, the higher the likelihood of a cure.

Folk remedies for home use

How to treat neuralgia folk remedies? When using folk remedies, it is important to remember that only symptoms are removed in this way. Of course, first of all, you should use folk recipes that can effectively help in the fight against the inflammatory process.

It is important to remember that the use of a particular treatment method should be discussed with the doctor. Pay attention to the consequences that drug treatment can bring.

Folk remedies for the treatment of neuralgia at home:

1. Birch juice. Taking it inside or lubricating it with the side of the face affected by neuralgia, one can achieve a reduction in the symptoms of the disease. You need to drink this juice 4-5 glasses a day.
2. Beets are rubbed on a coarse grater. A small envelope is made from the bandage (the bandage is folded in several layers), into which the grated beets are put. Such a bundle is introduced into the ear canal from the side where the inflammation appeared.
3. Black radish juice will also help. It can be mixed with lavender tincture or lavender essential oil and rubbed into the sore spot. Then you should wrap yourself in a scarf and lie down for half an hour. It is permissible during an attack to do fumigation of the room in which the patient is located. For this you need a wormwood cigar. It is twisted from dry leaves of wormwood and set on fire. Fumigation should last no more than 7-10 minutes. Such manipulations must be carried out within a week.
4. In a frying pan, heat a glass of buckwheat, pour the cereal into a cotton bag and apply to the affected area. The bag is removed when it has completely cooled down. This procedure is carried out twice a day.
5. We treat trigeminal neuralgia with pharmacy chamomile - an excellent sedative for TN. You can make morning tea from it. You should take a certain amount of warm drink into your mouth, but do not swallow it, but keep it as long as possible.
6. Grate the horseradish root on a coarse grater, wrap the resulting slurry in a napkin and apply in the form of lotions to the affected area.
7. To relieve tension in the body and relieve neuralgic pains, hot baths with the addition of a decoction of young aspen bark are recommended.

Prevention

Of course, it is not possible to influence all the probable causes of the disease (for example, the congenital narrowness of the canals cannot be changed). However, many factors in the development of this disease can be prevented:

• avoid hypothermia of the face;
• timely treat diseases that can cause trigeminal neuralgia (diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, caries, herpes infection, tuberculosis, etc.);
• prevention of head injuries.

It should also be borne in mind that the methods of secondary prevention (i.e., when once the disease has already manifested itself) include high-quality, complete and timely treatment.

So, getting rid of trigeminal neuralgia is possible. It is only necessary to seek help from specialists in time and undergo an examination. The neurologist will immediately prescribe the necessary drugs to combat the disease. If such funds do not help in the fight against trigeminal neuralgia, they resort to the help of a neurosurgeon who solves the problem in an operative way.

The trigeminal nerve has three branches that run above the eyebrows, on both sides of the nose, and in the mandible.

Its task is to control the neurological state of the face.

Let us consider in more detail the causes of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve (neuralgia) and methods of treating this unpleasant condition at home.

Inflammation of the trigeminal nerve: causes

To date, there is no exact cause of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, however, doctors identify such factors that can contribute to the development of this disease:

1. Severe hypothermia of the face. At the same time, neuralgia can be caused not only by being in the wind and frost, but also by simply washing with cold water.

2. A trauma to the face (a fall, a blunt blow, a bruise, etc.) can trigger the process of inflammation and, as a result, the development of neuralgia.

3. A disease such as vascular aneurysm or oncological pathology can compress the nerves, causing their inflammation.

4. Various diseases of the oral cavity can easily provoke further spread of the infection in the face. Usually such diseases are pulpitis, periodontitis and sinus diseases.

5. Meningitis.

6. Malocclusion of the teeth can distort and compress the nerves, making them more vulnerable to inflammation.

7. Multiple sclerosis, which is not treated.

8. Acute form of herpes.

9. Concussion.

10. Various acute viral or bacterial diseases.

11. Acute respiratory diseases.

12. Metabolic disorders in the body.

In addition, an attack of acute neuralgia can sometimes occur spontaneously (when a person laughs, shaves, washes or just talks).

In most cases, this disease affects people between the ages of fifty and sixty who have problems with blood vessels and the heart.

Inflammation of the trigeminal nerve: symptoms and signs

The following symptoms of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve are distinguished:

1. Pain is the most distinctive feature of this disease. It will be localized in the lower jaw, and give to the entire face, eyes, neck.

The pain will increase when talking, hypothermia or eating. It cannot be removed with conventional painkillers.

In addition, neuralgia pain is divided into two separate types: typical and atypical.

For typical pain a person will have a wave-like pain syndrome (the pain will either get worse, then subside again). The nature of such pain is sharp, shooting, throbbing, burning. The frequency of manifestation is different (in some patients, pain occurs every hour, in others it may occur only a few times a day).

Atypical pain observed less frequently. Her character is aching. It can run monotonously for several hours. It is this type of pain that is more difficult to treat.

2. Redness and swelling of the eyelids.

3. Tearing.

4. Increased salivation.

5. Involuntary contraction of the muscles of the face.

6. Loss of sensitivity of the skin of the face.

7. Violation of taste.

8. Weakness.

9. Sleep disturbance.

10. Muscle spasms.

11. Anxiety of the patient in anticipation of new attacks of pain.

12. The appearance of facial asymmetry due to muscle distortion.

13. The appearance of sharp flashes (lumbago) of pain, which is similar to an electric shock.

14. Increasing the sensitivity of the face.

15. Numbness of nose and cheeks.

16. Increase in body temperature.

17. Appearance of a rash in the affected part of the face.

18. Headaches.

19. Weakness.

It's important to know, that inflammation of the trigeminal nerve has a progressive course, and if it is not eliminated in time, then most of the symptoms may not go away even after further therapy. This means that from time to time a person can still be disturbed by severe pain attacks, facial numbness and muscle tremors.

Besides, trigeminal neuralgia is very similar in its symptoms to occipital neuralgia and Ernest's syndrome.

For this reason, it is worth being extremely careful in diagnosing and accurately identifying the root cause of the disease. This will greatly simplify the treatment process and help the doctor choose the right drugs.

If the treatment of this type of neuralgia is not carried out on time, then it can cause such complications in the patient's condition:

1. Hearing impairment.

2. Violation of taste.

3. Chronic pain.

4. Paresis of the facial muscles.

5. Atrophy of the facial muscles.

6. Damage to the nervous system.

7. Deterioration in the work of the central nervous system (isolation of the patient due to constant pain).

8. Sleep disturbance.

Inflammation of the trigeminal nerve: treatment at home

One of the most effective remedies for home treatment of neuralgia is massage. Its main task is considered to be the rapid removal of pain in the patient and the mitigation of muscle tension in the affected muscle groups.

In addition, with the help of massage, you can improve blood circulation, relieve inflammation and swelling from the face. The technique of this procedure is simple: the patient needs to sit down and put his head on the headrest so that the muscles of his face relax.

After that, you should begin to make light circular movements on the face in the area of ​​the affected muscle groups. Gradually, it is necessary to increase pressure and stroking movements. The duration of the procedure should be no more than twenty minutes. Repeat it preferably twice a day for two weeks.

Also, during the massage, moisturizers and oils can be applied to the face to improve tissue elasticity.

Another effective method of treating neuralgia at home is the use of alcohol blockades. They have a pronounced analgesic and antispasmodic effect. For their preparation, you need to use an 80% solution of alcohol and novocaine.

Despite this, these blockades have a risk of opening bleeding, so it is still advisable to carry them out in a hospital under medical supervision.

In order not to cause any complications, you should be aware of such procedures that cannot be done with inflammation of the trigeminal nerve:

1. You can not warm your face with heating pads and apply warm compresses for a long time, as this will only increase swelling and inflammation.

2. Do not apply ice to the face for a long time, as this can further worsen the sensitivity of the skin and disrupt blood circulation.

3. It is not advisable to take any medications without a doctor's prescription. Moreover, it is strictly forbidden to inject yourself with medicines without the prior permission of the doctor.

Features of the treatment of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve at home

The fastest recipes for an attack of facial neuralgia are:

1. Fir oil remedy. It must be diluted with olive oil in a ratio of 1:5 and rubbed into the skin of the face for three days in a row.

2. Chamomile recipe. To do this, pour 1 liter of boiling water into 1 tbsp. l. dry pharmaceutical chamomile and insist for an hour. The finished solution should be taken into the mouth and held there for at least five minutes. The tool will help relieve swelling, pain and inflammation.

3. Fry buckwheat in a pan and put it warm in a cloth bag. Apply to face for ten minutes every day. At the same time, it is important to know that such a procedure can be done only at the initial stages of the course of the disease, when it is not yet very advanced.

4. Wipe the skin of the face with black radish juice twice a day.

5. Apply a compress of honey and fresh cabbage leaves on the face at night. The tool will help relieve swelling and severe pain.

6. Wipe the face with small ice cubes after each attack of pain. In this case, it is advisable to massage the face with warm hands after this procedure.

7. Rub your face with a mixture of vodka and almond oil. It will help relieve pain and acute inflammation.

8. Mix vinegar and white cosmetic clay and make thin layers from the finished mixture. Apply them to your face for three days.

9. Grind a few dates and mix them with milk. Eat the finished mass in a tablespoon during the week. The tool will help relieve muscle paralysis.

Before using traditional medicine, be sure to consult with your doctor.

If a week after the development of symptoms of neuralgia, the person’s condition does not improve, then in this case, doctors recommend starting traditional drug therapy, which involves taking painkillers, antispasmodics, and drugs to improve the functioning of the human nervous system.

Neuritis is an inflammation of the nerve that manifests itself in the form of neurological symptoms. Such a pathological process is usually accompanied by acute, aching and shooting pain, and it can last from 2-3 weeks to a year. Such ailments include inflammation of the trigeminal facial nerve ().

According to statistics, such a disease most often occurs on the right side and predominantly the female sex after 45-55 years suffers from it. You can eliminate the inflammation of the trigeminal nerve on the face with the help of a course of therapy aimed at eliminating the pain attack and the cause of the disease.

The trigeminal nerve divides into three major branches. One of them passes over the eye, and the other two under the lower and above the upper jaw. Such branches cover the entire face of a person and respond to the innervation (connection with the central nervous system) of muscle tissue, skin and mucous membranes in this area. The main symptom that occurs with inflammation of the trigeminal nerve on the face is a sharp pain. It can be described as follows:

• The inflamed nerve usually manifests itself in the form of severe pain resembling a burning sensation;
• Signs of pain are predominantly localized in one place, but can be given throughout the face;
• Attacks are usually extremely intense, but last mostly no longer than 3 minutes;
• During a seizure, the patient has a twitching of muscle tissue;
• With inflammation of the nerve on the face, hyperemia (blood congestion) sometimes occurs, as well as intense salivation and lacrimation;
• If the inflammatory process is strong enough, then the attacks may not actually stop for hours, and the pause between them will be no more than 2 minutes;
• With severe pain, a person does not control facial expressions and freezes during an attack with a strange grimace.

The symptoms of inflammation of the trigeminal facial also include pain that radiates to the gums. This symptom is especially manifested if the 2nd and 3rd nerve branches are damaged.

The patient often visits the dentist at the same time to find out how to treat the tooth, although it has nothing to do with it and it is necessary to eliminate the inflammation of the jaw nerve. An attack is usually provoked by any external stimulus and even laughter.

If left untreated, the triple nerve will not stop hurting. Attacks will occur more often and last longer. In such a situation, unpleasant sensations appear with any external stimuli and the slightest work of the muscles. Over time, half of the face will begin to go numb where the inflammation of the trigeminal nerve is localized and there will be a feeling of crawling on the skin, as well as tingling. In addition to the symptoms of paresthesia, signs of deterioration in the general condition can also be distinguished:

• Weakness;
• Sleep disturbance;
• Groundless irritability;
• Depression.

The symptoms of trigeminal inflammation only get worse as the problem develops, and the patient gets the feeling that the pain radiates to other parts of the body, such as the hand. Physiologically, this is impossible, because other nerve branches are responsible for the limbs.

The reasons

The attending physician should look for the causes of facial numbness and pain attacks. The nerve branch can become inflamed as a result of compression or due to failures in the circulatory system. Such problems are usually the result of internal failures and external stimuli. Neurologists often name the following causes of inflammation:

• The appearance of a tumor or adhesions that compress the nerve branches;
• Aneurysm (protrusion) of the arteries;
• Dental pathologies (pulpitis, periodontitis, etc.);
• Inflammatory process localized in the nasopharynx or in the jaw area;
• Infection in the oral cavity;
• The appearance of sclerotic plaques in the vessels that feed the facial nerve;
• Getting a head injury;
• Hypothermia.

Sometimes the appearance of a numb area and acute pain is provoked by other pathologies:

• Mental disorders;
• Cardiovascular pathologies;
• Herpes;
• Disruptions in metabolism and endocrine disorders;
• Multiple sclerosis ().

The triple nerve can also become inflamed due to hormonal changes, for example, in women during menopause. Sometimes the reason is hidden in a banal lack of nutrients.

Medical therapy

With inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, the symptoms and treatment at home are interconnected, because the main task is to relieve pain attacks and eliminate the cause of the problem. The course of drug therapy consists of the following tablets:

• Good help with trigeminal neuralgia drugs with anticonvulsant effect. Among the drugs from this group, carbamazepine is most often used. Due to its composition, the drug reduces the intensity and frequency of attacks. The effect becomes noticeable after about 2-3 days from the start of administration, and the duration of the course is selected individually;
• In the early days, the treatment of inflammation of the trigeminal nerve at home takes place with the help of anti-inflammatory drugs like Ibuprofen;
• Anesthetics and antispasmodics like Baclofen help to remove pain. In severe cases, the doctor will prescribe narcotic drugs that can only be bought by prescription;
• To improve the mental state, drugs with a sedative effect are used, as well as antidepressants, such as Amitriptyline. You can buy it only by prescription;
• Vitamin complexes with a large concentrate of B vitamins will help to strengthen the immune system and improve the general condition, and Neurobion is most often prescribed.

In addition to stopping seizures, it is necessary to eliminate the main problem, and for this, the following drugs are useful:

• If the cause lies on a viral infection, for example, herpes, then antiviral drugs are prescribed by the type of Gerpevir;
• If a patient has a demyelinating disease, then drugs are used to slow down the course of the pathology and improve the passage of a nerve impulse;
• In atherosclerosis, medicines are used to dissolve cholesterol plaques like Atoris;
• If the cause of the pathology is a protrusion of the wall of the artery, then often the treatment is carried out surgically.

Physiotherapy and folk methods

Physiotherapy goes well with a course of pills, because it accelerates the regeneration of damaged tissues and improves blood circulation. Doctors often prescribe the following procedures:

• Ultraviolet irradiation (UVI). It serves to reduce pain;
• Ultra high frequencies (UHF). This procedure is designed to eliminate pain and normalize blood circulation;
• Electrophoresis with diphenhydramine and vitamins from group B. This remedy serves to reduce muscle spasm and improve the nutrition of nerve fibers;
• laser therapy. It does not allow the nerve signal to pass through the damaged tissues and reduces the intensity of the pain attack;
• Electricity. It reduces the intensity of attacks and increases the breaks between them.

Together with a course of physiotherapy, treatment with folk remedies can also be used. This includes various lotions and decoctions of medicinal herbs, for example, lemon balm, chamomile, hawthorn, oak bark, calendula, etc. They are usually prepared in a standard way; for this, you need to mix the main ingredient with water in a ratio of 1 tbsp. l. for 250 ml of liquid and put on fire until boiling. Then the broth is turned off and infused for 1-2 hours. The remedy is used depending on the selected components, but it is recommended to consult a doctor before use.

Treatment with leeches

Usually, leeches are placed in special clinics by experienced specialists and this treatment is called hirudotherapy. Reducing pain and reducing the inflammatory process is achieved due to the enzyme produced by leeches. These worms also help cleanse the walls of blood vessels and improve blood circulation.

During research, experts have found that the bite of a leech activates the immune system, as a result of which it is strengthened. After all, lymph comes out of the wound, therefore, the body begins to actively produce it.

This useful procedure has its own contraindications:

• Pregnancy;
• Low pressure;
• Anemia;
• Low blood clotting;
• Individual intolerance to leeches.

Surgical treatments

With inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, the treatment lasts quite a long time (from 2 weeks to a year), but if there are no results after 4-5 months, then the doctor recommends surgery. The most commonly used surgical methods are:

• Enlargement of the opening in the skull from which the nerves exit. An operation is performed in the region of the infraorbital canal;
• microvascular decompression. During the procedure, the surgeon will move away all the vessels interfering with the nerve and, if necessary, remove them.

If a neoplasm is detected, then the operation is mandatory. After all, only by removing it can the inflammation of the trigeminal nerve be removed. In the case of a successful operation, pain attacks should no longer torment.

Sometimes it is difficult to understand how to treat inflammation of the trigeminal nerve and doctors can only reduce its conduction with the following procedures:

• Rhizotomy. In this case, electrocoagulation is used to cut the damaged fibers;
• balloon compression. During this operation, an air balloon is used to compress the ganglion of the facial nerve;
• radiofrequency destruction. It is performed to eliminate the modified roots of the facial nerve.

Prevention

Inflammation of the triple nerve always proceeds with an abundance of pain attacks, but they can be avoided by observing preventive measures:

• Do not overcool;
• Strengthen immunity;
• Try to avoid stress, as well as mental and physical overload;
• Make the right diet
• Timely treat emerging diseases, especially those related to the oral cavity and nasopharynx.

Forecast

Trigeminal neuralgia is an unpleasant pathological process, but not fatal. With a properly selected course of therapy and compliance with the rules of prevention, you can get rid of it. The duration of treatment depends on the degree of damage to the nerve tissue, but varies from 2-3 weeks to 10-12 months. Gradually, the attacks will decrease in frequency and intensity of manifestations, and then they will completely disappear.

Any neuritis, including inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, is quite treatable if not delayed with it. Otherwise, the symptoms of the disease will worsen significantly and surgery may be required.