- 1. Use of medicines
- 2. Physiotherapy sessions
- 3. Surgery
- 4. Natural options
- How to recognize the symptoms
Trigeminal neuralgia is a nervous disorder characterized by dysfunction of the trigeminal nerve, which is the nerve responsible for transporting sensitive information from the face to the brain, in addition to controlling the muscles involved in chewing. Therefore, this disorder is characterized by intense pain, usually sudden, in the face, eyes, nose or jaw.
Treatment should be indicated by a neurologist according to the history of each person and the intensity of the symptoms, but it is usually started with the use of medications, and, in certain cases, surgery may be necessary, especially when there is no improvement in symptoms.. Better understand what trigeminal neuralgia is, why it happens and what the symptoms are.
The main treatment options include:
1. Use of medicines
The use of medicines is usually the first form of treatment recommended by the neurologist, and some medicines can be:
- Painkillers, such as Paracetamol or Dipyrone; Anticonvulsants, such as Carbamazepine, Gabapentin or Lamotrigine; Muscle relaxants, such as Baclofen; Antidepressants, such as Amitriptyline or Nortriptyline.
Trigeminal neuralgia is a disease that causes severe pain and resembles an electric shock to the face, and drug treatment is usually performed to control nerve irritation and decrease symptoms.
2. Physiotherapy sessions
Physiotherapeutic treatment of trigeminal neuralgia can be done through electrostimulation, in which small electric shocks are released on the face to control nerve sensitivity and relieve pain.
3. Surgery
Surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia is done when treatment with drugs does not show results or when the pain is very intense. Thus, surgical treatment can be performed in 3 ways:
- Injection of alcohol, called glycerol, into the branches of the trigeminal nerve in the face to block nerve function; Heat injection with radiofrequency, which burns the trigeminal nerve, causing analgesia in the face; Surgery to remove a tumor or vessel that causes pressure on the trigeminal nerve.
Another technique is the balloon for treating trigeminal neuralgia, which is inflated for about 1 minute at the nerve root, interrupting blood circulation and causing the nerve to stop hurting.
4. Natural options
In some cases, trigeminal neuralgia can also be relieved with a few simple steps, such as placing a towel dipped in hot water and salt on the back of the neck, to decrease nerve inflammation.
Another home treatment option for trigeminal neuralgia is the application of cayenne pepper mixed with olive oil or facial cream, without perfume, in the affected region. Discover another home remedy option for neuralgia.
How to recognize the symptoms
Symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia are triggered by any movement that promotes nerve compression, such as brushing teeth or chewing. The symptoms are related to the place where the nerve was compressed, being mainly:
- Pain in the lips, gums, cheeks, chin and difficulty in chewing; Pain in the eyes and forehead; Sensation of heat in the nerve path; Tingling in the affected region.
The pain is usually sudden, can last between seconds and hours, appears as if it were a shock, and quite intense, and can be located in only one region or spread across the face. When pain attacks occur several times a day, they can be quite uncomfortable for the person, being advised to seek guidance from the neurologist.
Trigeminal neuralgia can happen due to blows to the head or face, decreased blood circulation in the region, surgery or use of medications, for example. The diagnosis is made by the neurologist through the evaluation of the symptoms described by the person, but additional tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging, for example, can also be indicated to check if there is any more serious condition responsible for trigeminal neuralgia, such as a tumor, for example.
