Introduction
The so-called inflammation of the trigeminal nerve is actually the trigeminal neuralgia and is only erroneously called “inflammation”. It is a very painful disease of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve). The nerve comes directly from the brain, runs in the face and supplies the skin there sensitively. It is also responsible for the function of the chewing muscles. The inflammation usually affects the lower two thirds of the face, which is due to the division of the trigeminal nerve into its three main branches.
Symptoms
Inflammation of the trigeminal nerve causes extremely strong, attack-like pain, which often reaches the highest level on the pain scale (level 10). These pains typically occur very suddenly and last only a few seconds. However, the attacks can occur very frequently, sometimes more than 100 times a day.
In most cases, the pain can be provoked, especially by touching the area supplied by the nerve (so-called tactile stimuli) such as the cheek or chin. Attacks can also be triggered in many patients by chewing while eating. Since the pain is extremely strong, the persons affected also suffer greatly. Not infrequently, the pain even leads to severe depression with all the associated consequences.
Pain
The pain associated with trigeminal inflammation is often described as very strong and stabbing (“lancing”). Since the trigeminal nerve is responsible for the sensitivity in the face, touch can also trigger pain attacks. In severe cases, even a small draught of air is sufficient to trigger such a lightning-like pain attack, which then lasts for a few seconds.
At the beginning of the disease, the affected persons are usually free of pain between such attacks. However, if no adequate therapy is given, the pain can become chronic and lead to a dull, continuous pain. If such pain occurs, a consultation with the family doctor or, even better, with a neurologist should take place as soon as possible so that the cause can be eliminated and the pain can be treated.
The main task of the trigeminal nerve is the sensitive treatment of the face and teeth. If a pronounced damage occurs in the course of the nerve, which is accompanied by severe pain, this sensation of pain can spread to the other sensitive structures of the nerve region, since the brain can no longer distinguish where the source of the pain really lies. The consequences can include severe toothache.
A good attitude with appropriate painkillers, here above all antiepileptic drugs and antidepressants, is indispensable. An inflammation of the trigeminal nerve very often leads to radiations into other areas of the supply area of the trigeminal nerve, which sometimes includes the meninges. In many cases, accompanying symptoms such as toothache, extreme sensitivity of the skin or even headaches are part of the clinical picture.
Headaches are usually described as stabbing and pulling. Attempts to relieve the pain with conventional headache medication such as ASA or ibuprofen usually remain unsuccessful, as nerve pain (so-called neuropathic pain) cannot be treated with these. Trigeminal neuralgia is accompanied by severe pain in almost all cases.
Since the main function of this nerve is the sensitive supply of many structures in the head area, this pain can also spread to these other areas, such as the ear. This is because the brain cannot distinguish whether the pain stimulus really comes from the ear, or whether the nerve is inflamed in the course of the disease and thus the pain stimulus is triggered. Many patients with trigeminal inflammation also report severe pain in the ears, which can be intensified by loud noises.
