Neuralgia called painful condition, which is caused by an inflamed or irritated nerve. Such pain can be temporary or chronic, is of varying intensity - mild, barely noticeable, to almost unbearable.
Some types of neuralgia occur more frequently than others, including:
1. Trinity neuralgia nerve, characterized by lightning pains (quick passing, but strong) in the face. There is, as a rule, people over the age of 50 years. In women, this neuralgia is more common than in men.
2. Neuralgia gluteal nerve or nerves of the lower extremities, which are highly vulnerable. Neuralgia, for example, can cause inflammation of the sciatic nerve.
3. Postherpetic neuralgia, which arises after undergoing homonymous infections (also called herpes zoster) and is accompanied by continuous burning sensation in the affected area.
Symptoms of the disease
The main symptom is a sudden neuralgia pain on the location of the nerve, which may be acute resembling a burn. Sometimes accompanied by pain hypersensitivity in the place of destruction, burning, itching.
Also, a characteristic feature is a pain (persistent or intermittent, lasting even up to a few weeks), resulting in a certain place, and is most often seen unilaterally.
Access to a doctor
Contact a specialist for consultation and examination is needed if:
- spine source of pain is (are damaged as a herniated or compression on the nerve);
- pain is very strong (if it could be nothing of the actual nerve damage);
- facial neuralgia becomes wider to the eye after herpes (it could face blindness);
- signs of the disease include impaired control over the anal and / or urinary sphincter:
- there is a tug of feet (in this case it is possible disorder of the nervous system).
Causes of neuralgia
As a rule, is an inflammation or irritation of the nerve, bone compression or compression of the nerve connective tissue.
Furthermore, the reasons may be:
- injuries of muscles, the spine;
- Compression side of the vessel;
- infection (viral).
Treatment
In most cases for the treatment of neuralgia appointed analgesics (with moderate disease) or the opioid drugs (with strong forms of the disease).
Also, the patient may be prescribed:
- antiepileptics;
- ointment based on capsaicin;
- corticosteroids, and sedatives.
Assigned in many cases manipulation of the spine, soft tissue, performed by a chiropractor. Additionally, you may be prescribed:
- Acupuncture (very effective method in the fight against neuralgia);
- physiotherapy (usually by Alexandrova method);
- deep massage, consistently penetrating into the muscles and connective tissue.
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