The most important of all pairs of maxillofacial nerves is the trigeminal nerve. It is named so because it has three nerve branches – ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular. Inflammation of the trigeminal nerve is a fairly common condition affecting one side of the face (most often the right).
Causes
Inflammation of the nerve can be triggered by internal causes or external factors. External factors include local hypothermia, shingles (the virus resides in nerve cells and activates when immunity is lowered), bacterial infections of the teeth, and closed-type traumatic brain injuries. Endogenous or internal causes include nerve compression due to tumor pressure, vascular aneurysms, multiple sclerosis (which damages nerve sheaths), and impaired nutrition of nerve cells associated with age-related changes.
Symptoms of Trigeminal Nerve Inflammation
The nerve branches consist of motor and sensory fibers, so the main symptoms of the inflammatory process in the trigeminal nerve are severe paroxysmal pain, resembling shooting pains on one side of the face. During a pain attack, the patient remains motionless, and when the acute phase passes, a dull pain is observed in the area – ear-eye-nose. The second sign is the contraction of the facial chewing muscles, leading to facial asymmetry, inability to open the mouth, and painful sensations during the chewing process.
Diagnosis of Trigeminal Nerve Inflammation in Israel
The fact of trigeminal nerve inflammation is not difficult to determine, as the symptoms are obvious. Diagnosis conducted in Israel aims to identify the causes of the disorder. For this purpose, the patient is prescribed a blood test for herpes virus antibodies, a dental examination to identify tooth infections, angiography of the brain vessels, and a CT scan of the head to visualize possible neoplasms.
Treatment of Trigeminal Nerve Inflammation in Israel
Treatment of trigeminal nerve inflammation in Israel is conducted in two directions. The first is the treatment of the primary disease, and the second is the alleviation of pain syndrome. Etiotropic treatment consists of antiviral and cholesterol-lowering medications, and surgical intervention if a tumor or aneurysm is present. To reduce the intensity of pain sensations, medications are also prescribed. These may include non-steroidal analgesics, sedatives, and anticonvulsants.
Prevention
Trigeminal nerve disease can be avoided by eliminating the provoking factors – stress, overwork, hypothermia, and regular sleep deprivation.