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NeuralgiaNeuralgia Overview Trigeminal neuralgia causes facial pain. Trigeminal neuralgia develops in mid to late life. The condition is the most frequently occurring of all the nerve pain disorders. The pain, which comes and goes, feels like bursts of sharp, stabbing, electric-shocks. This pain can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. People with trigeminal neuralgia become plagued by intermittent severe pain that interferes with common daily activities such as eating and sleep. They live in fear of unpredictable painful attacks, which leads to sleep deprivation and undereating. The condition can lead to irritability, severe anticipatory anxiety and depression, and life-threatening malnutrition. Suicidal depression is not uncommon. People often call trigeminal neuralgia "tic douloureux" because of a characteristic muscle spasm that accompanies the pain. The pain comes from one or more branches of the trigeminal nerve—the major carrier of sensory information from the face to the brain. There are 3 branches of the trigeminal nerve: the ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular. The pain of trigeminal neuralgia occurs almost exclusively in the maxillary and mandibular divisions. You most commonly feel pain in the maxillary nerve, which runs along your cheekbone, most of your nose, upper lip, and upper teeth. Next most commonly affected is the mandibular nerve, affecting your lower cheek, lower lip, and jaw. In almost all cases (97%), pain will be restricted to one side of your face. Most of the time, doctors cannot identify any disease of the trigeminal nerve or the central nervous system. Trigeminal neuralgia most frequently affects women older than 50 years. The disease occurs rarely in those younger than 30 years. Such cases are usually linked to damage from diseases of central nervous system, for example, multiple sclerosis. Trigeminal Neuralgia Causes The condition has no clear-cut cause. Some experts argue that the syndrome is caused by traumatic damage to the nerve as it passes from the openings in the skull to the muscles and tissue of the face. The damage compresses the nerve, causing the nerve cell to shed the protective and conductive coating (demyelination). Others believe the cause stems from biochemical change in the nerve tissue itself. A more recent notion is that an abnormal blood vessel compresses the nerve as it exits from the brain itself. In all cases, though, an excessive burst of nervous activity from a damaged nerve causes the painful attacks. Trigeminal Neuralgia Symptoms A defining feature of trigeminal neuralgia is the trigger zone—a small area in the central part of the face, usually on a cheek, nose, or lip, that, when stimulated, triggers a typical burst of pain. A light touch or vibration is the most effective trigger. Because of this, many common daily activities trigger the attacks. Washing your face, brushing your teeth, shaving, or talking Common sensations such as having wind hit your face Eating and chewing Many people avoid food and drink rather than experience the severe pain. These people risk weight loss and dehydration, a leading cause of hospitalization in this group. People frequently require hospitalization for rapid pain control when their trigeminal neuralgia becomes unmanageable at home. Between attacks, most people remain relatively pain-free. A subgroup, however, experience a dull ache between attacks, suggesting physical compression of the affected nerve, either by a blood vessel or some other structure. When to Seek Medical Care Contact your doctor when you begin to have these pains. It is essential you see a doctor familiar with the care of patients with trigeminal neuralgia early on to help prevent the development of more severe complications. It is especially important to work with your doctor because with appropriate drug therapy trigeminal neuralgia can almost always be controlled. Seek immediate medical attention or go to a hospital’s Emergency Department under the following circumstances: When your current medication does not control the pain and you need immediate relief When your pain prevents eating and drinking and places you at risk for malnutrition or dehydration When you experience profound side effects of your medication such as severe drowsiness, sedation, nausea, or vomiting When a doctor advises you to seek evaluation and treatment for any of these problems Self-Care at Home The action of essential oil and massage on the various activities of the nervous system play a large part in aromatherapy. Pain killing essential oils such as Chamomile, Clary Sage, Lavender, Marjoram and Rosemary can offer the sufferer some relief and the best way is to make a hot compress and place it over the affected part of the body. |
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