Trigeminal neuropathy
The trigeminal nerve refers to the cranial nerves. Its three branches contain neurons that transmit signals to the central nervous system (afferents), they come from the face and mouth, innervate the skin, teeth, oral mucosa, tongue and cornea of the eye. Information enters the brain through the trigeminal nerve and is integrated into the motor reflexes of the head muscles and other autonomic reflexes.
The trigeminal nerve innervates the skin of the face, the anterior half of the scalp, the pterygoid muscles, and the muscles responsible for chewing. With neuropathy of the trigeminal nerve, the sensitivity of the face is disturbed, and the weakening of the masticatory muscles is manifested. Numbness and parasthesia of the face indicates the presence of idiopathic trigeminal neuropathy.
The disease can last for months or years. The cause of neuropathy can be leprosy, various tumors. The pathogenesis of the disease is not yet fully understood. Modern doctors believe that the disease occurs as a result of compression of the trigeminal nerve by tortuous, pathologically altered vessels. In patients with multiple sclerosis, a plaque affects the nerve, which is necessarily formed in such a disease in the area of the sensitive nucleus of the trigeminal nerve.
Among the reasons are hereditary factors, pathological phenomena during pregnancy, traumatic brain injury. Often, neuropathy of the branches of the trigeminal nerve occurs from injuries with dentures or from maxillofacial operations. The emergence of neuropathy in dental prosthetics is associated with the toxic and allergic effects of plastics, metals and other synthetic materials used in dentistry.
A feeling of aching pain above the eye in the brow area, especially in cold weather, is also a sign of trigeminal neuralgia. The pain is characterized by short-term attacks, it is intense, shooting in nature. The pain is one-sided, causing a spasm of the facial muscles. Attacks can appear at any time - during a conversation, chewing food, washing your face and with any tension of the facial muscles.
People with this problem feel painful manifestations in the area of the eyes, ears, nose, lips, cheeks, scalp and in any other area of the face and head. Symptoms and severity of the course of the disease depends on the individual characteristics of the location of the trigeminal nerve. Some patients may complain to the doctor about pain in the index finger of the left hand.
How do I fix the problem?
Treatment of neuropathy is carried out, taking into account the reasons that contribute to its occurrence. In the complex of therapeutic measures, anti-inflammatory therapy is introduced, including drugs of a fortifying and stimulating effect. It is also important to take analgesics, vitamins of group B. From this problem, which brings not only suffering, but also often changes the appearance of people, a course of antiepileptic drugs helps. In the case of neuropathy of allergic or toxic origin, irritating factors must be eliminated.
If trigeminal neuropathy develops due to loss of teeth and inappropriate choice of prosthetics, orthopedic treatment is recommended. Modern methods of treatment, such as the use of alternating currents with spontaneously changing frequency and amplitude, exposure to the body using ultrasonic waves (phonophoresis of hydrocortisone), longitudinal galvanization of the nerve using lidase, vitamin B12, novocaine, thiamine.
Good results are obtained from acupuncture. These procedures are very effective in combination with the use of salicylates, urotropin, dibazol, proserin, galantamine. But it must be remembered that all these methods are the competence of specialists. Self-medication, as a rule, ends in failure. If medications do not give the desired result, surgical methods of treatment are prescribed.
Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist
Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".
