home Calculators Inflammation of the facial nerve around the left eye. Inflammation of the facial nerve: initial symptoms - how to treat neuritis with folk remedies at home

Inflammation of the facial nerve around the left eye. Inflammation of the facial nerve: initial symptoms - how to treat neuritis with folk remedies at home

For inflammation facial nerve the facial muscles located in one part of the face are affected, a phenomenon such as paresis or paralysis occurs due to which a person’s face can acquire an asymmetrical shape. At this phenomenon the right decision would be a visit to the dentist, who, with the help of special examination and the necessary professional tools will determine the nature of the inflammatory process, and it can be central or peripheral.

It is worth knowing that inflammation of the facial nerve does not always turn into neuritis, since for this you need to physically influence it. This can often happen when applying makeup, brushing teeth, touching the face, even the lightest, shaving, talking.

Symptoms of facial neuritis

Only a dental specialist can make this diagnosis correctly, but some people are able to detect facial neuritis in themselves based on symptoms and photos, and prescribe treatment on their own using folk remedies. This is usually done when a person experiences:

Pain behind the ears
Hearing disorders
Impaired motor functions, that is, paralysis or paresis,
Difficulty eating and swallowing water,
Decreased skin sensitivity
Changes in the sense of taste
Disturbances in the area of salivation.

In case of inflammation of the facial nerve, you should immediately consult a doctor

If any of the above symptoms occur, you should contact dental clinic, since although there are known cases and methods of curing this disease independently using only means traditional medicine, but it’s still not worth the risk. If treatment is not provided in time, a person may develop serious consequences, in addition to a feeling of constant discomfort, you can get a deformed, paralyzed face. In addition to the dentist, the patient will most likely also have to visit a neurologist, who, in order to exclude a tumor of any kind, encephalitis and the development of an abscess, will prescribe an MRI procedure and other examinations that determine the location of the inflammation.

Treatment of an inflamed nerve with medications

It is known that in addition to traditional medicine, this disease can be cured with the help of drugs from the pharmacy. But, nevertheless, you should not look for answers to questions about what to do if the facial nerve is inflamed, how and how to treat inflammation of the facial nerve, symptoms and treatment, medications and photos only using the Internet. The information will be useful for familiarization and general development, but not for the purpose of self-medication. All procedures and medications must be prescribed only by a doctor. As a rule, patients who managed to contact initial stage illness, the doctor prescribes glycerol, triampur or furosemide - drugs that eliminate swelling, as well as prednisolone. Analgesics will help the patient get rid of pain, and dilate blood vessels - coplamine, theonicol, a nicotinic acid. Very often, doctors also prescribe physiotherapy, for example, Sollux, paraffin therapy and UHF.

Carrying out medical therapy in the treatment of neuritis of the facial nerve

A week after drug treatment, the specialist prescribes massage, phonophoresis, exercise therapy, and ultrasound to the patient. This treatment is also prescribed for symptoms of pinching and neuralgia of the facial nerve. In cases where inflammation of the facial nerve is congenital or acquired after injury, surgery may be required.

Also surgical method nerve inflammation is treated if drug treatment was ineffective or there is a possibility of developing more serious diseases.

Folk remedies for the treatment of nerve inflammation

In order for the treatment of the inflammatory process of the facial nerve to be effective, it can be used simultaneously with medications. traditional methods treatment, but also after consulting with your doctor. The following are considered to be very effective:

At timely treatment and contacting a doctor, inflammation of the facial nerve will be defeated, but you should understand that it is impossible to recover in one day, so you need to be patient.

Most often, noticeable relief occurs within a week, and complete recovery within a month. Disturbances in facial expressions completely disappear within three months, but there are also cases when they remain with the patient for life.

This phenomenon may occur due to untimely seeking of medical help, too long treatment independently folk remedies or failure to follow the recommendations given by the doctor. Therefore, it is very important to follow all the advice of a specialist, take prescribed medications and be treated with traditional medicine only with the permission and under the supervision of the attending physician.

One of the most common neurological diseases today is facial nerve neuropathy. This disease manifests itself in immobilization of the muscles of the affected part of the face..

A face affected by neuropathy becomes like a mask, its facial wrinkles no longer work, the corner of the mouth may droop, and the affected half of the face figuratively “slides” down.

To win the fight against this disease, in this article we will take a detailed look at the symptoms and treatment of the facial nerve at home.

Description of facial neuralgia

Neuritis of the facial nerve affects about 20-30 people out of 100,000. This disease is more often observed in elderly people over 70 years of age, but this is not a reason to think that more people young this disease will not affect you.

What is the function of the main facial nerve? It is responsible for the interaction of all facial muscles, promotes normal operation and sensitivity of taste buds on the tongue and lacrimal gland.

Under the influence of internal and external factors this relationship can be disrupted, which, in turn, leads to neuralgia of the facial area.

Facial nerve neuropathy has a number of striking symptoms, causes a lot of trouble for the patient, such as physical and psychological inconvenience, and therefore requires immediate and effective treatment.

The good news is that although this disease is extremely unpleasant, it is completely curable even at home.

Treatment with folk remedies for inflammation of the facial nerve can give noticeable positive results, since the causes of the disease can be very different:

Interestingly, neuralgia of the facial nerve does not always lead to neuritis, because this will require physical impact to the area of the diseased nerve.

This usually happens during a conversation, brushing teeth and shaving, applying makeup and even a simple blow of wind, as well as as a result of careless touching of the face.

Paralysis (paresis) of the facial nerve is a disease nervous system, which develops in just a few days in a way that is completely unexpected for the patient.

Usually all symptoms are detected after waking up in the morning, which, unfortunately, immediately become noticeable to others.

So, the symptoms of facial nerve paresis:

In addition to the main symptoms listed above, the patient’s taste is impaired, the secretion of tears and saliva in the affected area is reduced, and the sound is perceived as unpleasant and rude.

Facial nerve paralysis

Before choosing trigeminal facial nerve treatment at home, you should consider Special attention for the presence of specific symptoms and realistically assess your capabilities.

In case of severe, prolonged pain, swelling and impaired facial expression of the affected area, you should immediately contact your therapist or neurologist, and not engage in such dangerous self-medication.

Traditional medicine can be effective only in the case of temporary minor lesions, mild injuries and inflammation in the early stages.

Treatment should be carried out especially carefully during pregnancy, because the use of most standard medications for this disease is contraindicated for pregnant women, so the doctor must find a suitable alternative.

If you, after weighing all the pros and cons, still decide to treat facial neuritis with folk remedies, they will help you simple recipes, outlined below.

A simple cabbage lotion is almost always effective in treating this disease.. To do this, you need to boil a few cabbage leaves, cool them and apply them to the sore area of the face.

Wrap a thick towel around your face on top of the lotion and wait until it cools completely. cabbage leaf, then replace it with a warmer one.

Clay and mud applications can also soothe the affected area and relax the nerve. For this procedure, you need to dilute the dry material to the consistency of thick sour cream and distribute evenly over the inflamed area of the face.

From above you need to wrap the affected part of the face with cling film and cover with a thick towel. You need to keep the mask on for about half an hour, and it is recommended to resort to this procedure a couple of times a day.

A compress made from radish seeds is effective. To prepare it, you need to pour boiling water over the seeds and steam under the lid for 15 minutes. Place the already soaked radish seeds on a bandage and apply to the area of inflammation.

Herbal tea can effectively calm the entire body and eliminate inflammatory processes in it.. To prepare anti-inflammatory tea, you need to take 200 g of dry St. John's wort herb, 150 g of dried lavender herb and mix well.

For one dose, we will need 1 tablespoon of dry herbal mass, which should be poured with half a liter of boiling water and covered with a tight lid. The infusion should stand for 20-30 minutes, then it should be strained and cooled.

You need to take the medicinal drug 1 glass twice a day until the discomfort and other unpleasant symptoms disappear completely.

Mint drink is also effective. To prepare it, you need to take 1 tablespoon of fresh mint, pour a glass of boiling water over it and simmer the broth over low heat for about 10 minutes.

Then you should carefully strain the prepared drink, divide it in half and drink it in 2 doses throughout the day.

Yarrow decoction has a calming and general strengthening effect . To prepare it, you will need one teaspoon of dried herbs and a glass of boiling water.

After brewing healing tea you need to put it in a warm place and leave for half an hour. The drink should be consumed no more or less than 70 g three times a day before meals.

You will like it not only for its gastronomic properties, but also for its high efficiency red rose tea. It’s not difficult to prepare; you just need to take the petals of this plant and brew them like regular tea.

The essence of this treatment is that essential oils and others useful material Roses help normalize the passage of impulses in nerve fibers and the entire functioning of the nervous system.

The more you drink this medicinal drink, the faster you'll be done with unpleasant symptoms neuralgia.

A noticeable effect is obtained by taking orally tinctures of motherwort, hawthorn, calendula and peony.. You can either prepare these tinctures yourself or buy them ready-made at the pharmacy.

For cooking medicine for neuralgia of the facial nerve they must be mixed in equal quantities, approximately 30 ml. Add 3 teaspoons to the prepared mixture natural honey and 15 ml Corvalol.

The resulting mixture must be mixed thoroughly. It should be consumed before bed, 1 teaspoon. The duration of treatment for neuritis with this remedy is quite long and generally amounts to 3 months.

After completing one course of treatment, a break is taken for the same period, and the treatment is repeated again.

Massage has proven itself to be excellent for treating the facial nerve.. To do this, rub in with gentle massage movements. fir oil into the affected area of the face. The course of massage treatment is approximately 2 weeks until the symptoms of the disease completely disappear.

The simplest and at the same time very effective method treatment of neuritis is warm salt. It helps completely eliminate nerve inflammation. To do this, you will need to heat the salt using a dry and clean frying pan.

Next, you need to put the salt in a small cloth bag and apply it to the inflamed area of the face. Keep the compress until the salt cools completely. It is recommended to repeat the procedure at least three times a day, always before going to bed.

Although the treatment of facial nerve paresis using salt is quite long, the results will not be long in coming. The main thing in salt treatment is not to interrupt the treatment and not to skip salt warming sessions.

Applications from freshly harvested wormwood have proven useful in the treatment of neuritis of the facial nerve.. To prepare such a remedy, you will need to chop the herb and pour in a small amount of boiling water until a thick paste forms.

Add 1 teaspoon to the resulting mixture sea buckthorn oil, and after that the compress can be applied to the affected area of the face. First cover the resulting applique with polyethylene, and then wrap it well with a scarf or a warm scarf.

In addition, it is recommended to take a decoction of wormwood orally. To prepare it, you will need to brew an incomplete handful of freshly picked herbs with half a liter of boiling water and leave to brew for about an hour and a half.

The resulting infusion should be taken one tablespoon 5 times a day. To improve the taste, you can add sugar or honey to the broth.

overcome severe pain A decoction of flaxseed will also help.. To prepare it, you need to place a small handful of flaxseed in a cloth bag, which must be placed in a double boiler. The contents in the bag should steam strongly.

After achieving this result, apply the bag of seed to the affected area of the face. In order to increase the effectiveness of treatment, wrap your face with a towel or scarf over the compress.

Healing honey in the treatment of neuralgia of the facial nerve is used as part of healing masks, and for oral administration. A mixture of dried apricots, raisins, nuts, honey and lemon zest has proven to be an excellent remedy.

All components need to be crushed and mixed. It is recommended to take the resulting medicine 1 tablespoon orally in the morning.

With damage to the facial nerve good remedy is a mummy. To do this, you need to take 0.2 grams of mumiyo, mix with a small amount of honey and dissolve the mixture in a glass of hot milk. It is recommended to take this remedy 1 glass twice a day.

Practice shows that if treatment for facial neuritis is started immediately, it will be successful. It is necessary to follow all recommendations, remain patient and do not expect dramatic improvement after the first procedures.

As a rule, positive dynamics occur within a week, and after a month we can already talk about recovery. In some cases residual effects diseases manifest themselves in the form of impaired facial expressions.

Such effects in most patients disappear over the next few months. Extremely in rare cases they can stay forever.

Therefore, be patient, be diligent in following all the doctor’s recommendations and do not forget about the ancient time-tested methods!

Inflammation of the facial nerve in medicine is classified as neuritis - this disease occurs in people of both sexes, regardless of age and type labor activity. Inflammation of the facial nerve is a rather unpleasant pathology, which not only needs to be diagnosed in time, but also treated correctly in order to avoid complications.

Causes and types of inflammation of the facial nerve

Any one specific reason in question pathological condition It is impossible to single out, but it is quite possible to list the provoking factors. And the main one is considered to be hypothermia - for example, riding in transport near open window, sleeping in a draft, long stay directly under the operating air conditioner and so on. But besides this, the inflammatory process can be provoked by:

Due to the variety of provoking factors, doctors conditionally classify the disease in question into two types:

primary neuritis– occurs as a consequence of hypothermia, but there are no organic changes in the brain area;
secondary neuritis of the facial nerve– progresses against the background of existing pathologies of the ENT organs and brain diseases.

Symptoms of inflammation of the facial nerve

Most often, doctors diagnose unilateral inflammation facial nerve, but 2% of all cases of detection of the disease in question occur in bilateral inflammation. Depending on how strongly the inflammatory process progresses, it will depend clinical picture diseases. Doctors identify only a few of the most common symptoms of facial neuritis:

pain and simultaneous loss of sensitivity (complete or partial) in the ear and mastoid area;
partial or complete violation movements of facial muscles from the side of the nerve affected by the inflammatory process - the patient cannot fully smile (one edge of the mouth remains motionless), show his teeth, stretch out his lips;
hearing disorder – a person will notice either a decrease in hearing or an increase in its severity;
taste disturbance;
profuse lacrimation or, conversely, complete absence tears;
increased or decreased salivation;
violation of oculomotor function - the patient cannot look away to the side.

It is not at all necessary for the disease in question to have all of them present at once. indicated symptoms, most often only 1-3 are noted brightly pronounced signs. But even this is enough for a competent diagnosis - inflammation of the facial nerve does not need to be clarified by any complex studies. The doctor may prescribe to the patient or to confirm the diagnosis of “secondary neuritis” and identify organic damage brain.

Treatment of inflammation of the facial nerve

It is very important to start therapy quickly, because this is the only way to avoid the development of complications. In the acute period of the disease in question, doctors prescribe:

If doctors diagnose a secondary form of neuritis, which develops against the background of any disease (infectious or viral), then they first need to carry out full treatment of the main pathology, and only then take measures to restore the functions of the facial nerve. In some cases, despite timely treatment, there is too much slow recovery motor functions of muscles - it is appropriate to prescribe the patient Nerobol (a drug with a metabolic effect) and Galantamine or Prozerin (anticholinesterase drugs).

Physiotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of inflammation of the facial nerve - procedures are prescribed a few days after the start of treatment acute form neuritis. Moreover, the appointment of certain physical procedures should be strictly step-by-step:

first, a Minin and Solux lamp to warm up the affected part of the face;
a little later - ultrasound with hydrocortisone, paraffin therapy, applications with ozokerite and acupuncture;
after the second week of illness - massage of facial muscles and physical therapy.

note: if within 10 months the muscle functions of the affected part of the face are not restored, then doctors will raise the question of surgical treatment. For example, experts often recommend autotransplantation in this case.

The prognosis for inflammation of the facial nerve is favorable - complete recovery and restoration of muscle functions is observed in 75% of patients. But if such dysfunction persists for 3 months or more, then the patient’s chances of recovery drop sharply. If the disease in question is associated with injury or pathology of the hearing organ, then complete recovery may not occur at all. But as for recurrent neuritis, each new episode is more severe than the previous one, and recovery period gets longer each time.

Acute pain in the face, swelling and immobility will make everyone worry. Spasms, asymmetry, weakness and swelling of the facial muscles may indicate such a common disease as facial neuritis. The disease has abrupt start and, in the absence of proper treatment, serious consequences - if neglected form The disease kills nerve fibers and makes it difficult to restore normal motor function of the face. Let's take a closer look at this disease, its causes, symptoms and the possibility of treatment at home.

Facial neuritis: causes of the disease

Neuritis of the facial nerve is often a unilateral inflammation of the facial nerve responsible for movement and facial expressions, which results in pain in the affected area, inability to control facial muscles, facial asymmetry. The causes of the disease consist of a number of provoking factors:

Main symptoms

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The disease develops rapidly. Neuritis of the facial nerve is divided into primary (occurring for the first time due to hypothermia) and secondary (joined against the background concomitant diseases). Depending on the degree of damage, the following symptoms appear:

Later, characteristic facial asymmetry appears, protrusion of the eye, inability to close an eye or raise an eyebrow. Eating becomes difficult, taste buds are disrupted. Hearing becomes more acute, all sounds seem unbearably loud.

Diagnosis methods

If symptoms of neuritis are detected, you should consult a neurologist. After inspection, experienced specialist It will not be difficult to make a diagnosis and determine the location of the lesion of the facial nerve.

However, if we're talking about not about primary neuritis, additional studies will be ordered to determine the cause:

a blood test showing the presence of a bacterial inflammatory process;
magnetic resonance imaging (detects tumors and inflammation of the brain, ischemic diseases);
computed tomography (determines signs of a micro-stroke, consequences of a head injury - brain hematomas).

To determine the extent of nerve damage, electroneurography and electromyography are prescribed. Consultation with an otolaryngologist or dentist may be recommended.

Therapy for neuritis

Depending on the degree of damage and the cause of the disease, it is prescribed complex treatment. With timely treatment, the prognosis for recovery is good; relapses of the disease occur in 10% of cases. In another 10% of patients, the motor functions of the facial muscles cannot be restored. Comprehensive treatment is the key to successful recovery.

Medicines

When diagnosing a secondary form of neuritis, its cause is treated first. In the primary form, treatment is carried out both in the hospital and at home, strictly under the supervision of a doctor. IN acute period, first of all, are appointed medications to relieve pain, swelling and inflammation. Additionally, sedatives are prescribed.

Group of medicines	Names of drugs	Action
Diuretics	Trifas, Furosemide, Lasix	Removes fluid from tissues, which helps reduce swelling and avoid compression of blood vessels
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs	Nurofen, Mig-400, Nimesil	Relieves pain and inflammation of nerve fibers
Glucocorticosteroids	Prednisone, Hydrocortisone	Relieves swelling, pain and inflammation, relaxes muscles
Antispasmodics	No-shpa, Spazmalgon	Relaxes smooth muscles, promotes dilation of arteries
Neurotropic drugs	Carbamazepine, Finlepsin, Neuralgin	Relaxes muscles, relieves nervous tics
B vitamins	Neurobion, Neurobex, Neuromultivit	Improves the functioning of the nervous system

Gymnastics and massage

After removal acute condition need to start implementing special gymnastics and conducting a massage course. They can be carried out at home.

It is necessary to start a complex of special gymnastics after exercises that warm up the muscles of the neck and shoulder girdle. To do this, perform circular movements with your shoulders, turns and bends of your neck with a small amplitude. It is better to perform the movements while sitting with a straight back. After warming up, facial gymnastics is performed:

Massage increases the effectiveness of gymnastics; it is better to carry it out after performing facial gymnastics. For safety, it is better to entrust this process to a specialist; if this is not possible, do it yourself. Benefits of massage:

the conductivity of the facial nerve improves, swelling and congestion in the canals decreases;
by improving the condition lymphatic system and circulatory system, the functions of facial muscles are restored.

You should massage your neck collar area and face. Perform alternately stroking, kneading, pressing and rubbing actions. Start from the forearm area and back surface neck, move to occipital region and the side surface of the neck, end the session with a facial massage.

Pay special attention to facial massage. Perform with caution:

Acupuncture

Verified effective method The treatment for neuritis is acupuncture. To ensure the effectiveness of the procedure, certain rules are followed:

start acupuncture after pain and swelling are relieved;
do not combine with other physiotherapy procedures;
exclude painkillers;
Perform acupuncture an hour after meals.

The procedure is that in active biological points medical needles are inserted. This helps to activate the body's own defenses. The method is painless, a slight tingling and warmth is felt at the injection site. Sessions are carried out on both the healthy and the affected side. It will take 10-15 sessions, you can repeat the procedure in a month.

Treatment of neuritis with folk remedies

Assessing the severity of the diagnosis and after consulting with a doctor, treatment of neuritis can be supplemented with folk remedies at home. Traditional medicine recommends using fir oil when performing a massage and adding dates to your diet.

Exists a large number of traditional medicine recipes that help overcome illness. For this, herbs, tinctures, and bee products are used.

Warming up with salt and sand

The inflamed facial nerve loves exposure to heat. Home heating with salt and sand will help replace ultra-high frequency therapy (UHF) carried out in hospitals.

To do this, heat it in a dry frying pan. table salt or sand and place them in a bag made of natural fabric (a sock will do). Apply to the affected side of the face for 30 minutes at least twice a day. After warming up, cold and drafts should be avoided.

Artemisia applications

A wormwood compress is considered an effective folk remedy for relieving nerve inflammation. To do this, fresh or dry wormwood grass is crushed and mixed with a small amount of boiling water to form a paste. Add a teaspoon of sea buckthorn oil to the mixture. Apply warmly to the sore spot, covering the top with thick polyethylene and wrapping it in a woolen scarf. Keep the application until the mixture cools completely.

Honey based masks

The healing properties of honey are also used to treat neuritis. The simple composition of the product allows you to successfully use this mask: mix a tablespoon of honey with freshly squeezed juice onions, add the whipped mixture to the resulting mixture egg white and mix gently. Apply the mixture to a strip of cloth and apply to your face for 40-60 minutes.

Special mustard plasters are also prepared from honey. Mix honey, propolis tincture and any oil in equal parts. Apply the mixture to gauze, apply to your face and cover with mustard plaster on top of the gauze. Keep for no more than 15 minutes.

Herbal tinctures

Complex mixture pharmaceutical tinctures has long established itself in successful treatment heart disorders and nervous tension. It will not be superfluous in the treatment of neuritis, as it has a calming and relaxing effect.

Mix tinctures of peony, hawthorn, motherwort, and valerian in equal quantities, add half a bottle of Corvalol (15 ml) to the mixture. Take a teaspoon 30 minutes before bedtime for three months.

Prevention of disease

Prevention of the disease includes a set of measures to support general immunity:

consult a doctor in a timely manner so as not to miss severe infectious diseases;
choose a qualified dentist and visit him once every six months for preventive purposes;
avoid hypothermia and drafts, especially during colds;
eat rationally, take a complex essential vitamins and microelements and limit alcohol consumption;
avoid stress and anxiety when aching pain In your heart, contact a cardiologist.

To avoid relapse of the disease, treatment of primary neuritis should be comprehensive and carried out under the supervision of a physician (see also:). Do not self-medicate without being completely sure of the correct diagnosis.

(Bell's palsy) is an inflammatory lesion of the nerve innervating the facial muscles of one half of the face. As a result, weakness develops in these muscles, leading to a decrease (paresis) or complete absence (paralysis) of facial movements and the appearance of facial asymmetry. Symptoms of facial neuritis depend on which part of the nerve is involved in pathological process. In this regard, a distinction is made between central and peripheral neuritis of the facial nerve. Typical clinic facial neuritis there is no doubt about the diagnosis. However, to exclude the secondary nature of the disease, it is necessary to conduct an instrumental examination.

Symptoms of facial neuritis

Typically, neuritis of the facial nerve develops gradually. At the beginning, pain occurs behind the ear; after 1-2 days, facial asymmetry becomes noticeable. On the side of the affected nerve, the nasolabial fold is smoothed out, the corner of the mouth droops and the face tilts towards the healthy side. The patient cannot close his eyelids. When he tries to do this, his eye turns upward (Bell's sign). The weakness of the facial muscles is manifested by the inability to carry out movements with them: smile, bare teeth, frown or raise an eyebrow, stretch out the lips in a tube. In a patient with neuritis of the facial nerve, the eyelids are wide open on the affected side and lagophthalmos (“hare’s eye”) is observed - a white strip of sclera between the iris and the lower eyelid. There is a decrease or complete absence taste sensations on the anterior part of the tongue, also innervated by the facial nerve. Dry eyes or watery eyes may occur. In some cases, the symptom of “crocodile tears” develops - against the background constant dryness The patient's eyes water while eating. There is drooling. On the side of the facial nerve neuritis may increase auditory sensitivity(hyperacusis) and normal sounds seem louder to the patient.

Neuritis of the facial nerve with mumps accompanied by symptoms of general intoxication (weakness, headache, aching limbs), fever and increased salivary glands(appearance of swelling behind the ear). Neuritis of the facial nerve with chronic otitis media occurs as a result of the spread infectious process from the middle ear. In such cases, paresis of the facial muscles develops against the background of shooting pain in the ear. Melkerson-Rosenthal syndrome is hereditary disease with paroxysmal course. In his clinic, there is a combination of facial neuritis, a characteristic folded tongue and dense facial edema. Bilateral neuritis of the facial nerve occurs only in 2% of cases. A recurrent course of neuritis is possible.

Complications of facial neuritis

In some cases, especially in the absence of adequate treatment, neuritis of the facial nerve can lead to the development of contractures of the facial muscles. This can happen 4-6 weeks from the moment of illness if the motor functions of the facial muscles have not been fully restored. Contractures tighten the affected side of the face, causing discomfort and involuntary muscle contractions. In this case, the patient’s face looks as if the muscles on the healthy side are paralyzed.

Diagnosis of neuritis of the facial nerve

The clinical picture of neuritis of the facial nerve is so clear that the diagnosis does not cause difficulties for a neurologist. Additional examinations(MRI or CT scan of the brain) are prescribed to exclude the secondary nature of neuritis, such as tumor or inflammatory processes(abscess, encephalitis)

If complete restoration of the facial nerve does not occur within the first 2-3 months, hyaluronidase and biostimulants are prescribed. When contractures appear, anticholinesterase drugs are discontinued and tolperisone is prescribed.

Surgery indicated in cases of congenital neuritis of the facial nerve or complete rupture of the facial nerve as a result of trauma. It involves suturing the nerve or performing neurolysis. If there is no effect from conservative therapy after 8-10 months and identification of electrophysiological data on nerve degeneration, it is also necessary to decide on the operation. Surgical treatment of neuritis of the facial nerve makes sense only during the first year, since in the future irreversible atrophy of the facial muscles that are left without innervation occurs, and they can no longer be restored.

Facial nerve plastic surgery is performed by autotransplantation. Typically, the graft is taken from the patient's leg. Through it, 2 branches of the facial nerve from the healthy side are sutured to the muscles on the affected half of the face. In this way, the nerve impulse from the healthy facial nerve is transmitted immediately to both sides of the face and causes natural and symmetrical movements. After the operation, a small scar remains near the ear.

Forecast and prevention of neuritis of the facial nerve

The prognosis of facial neuritis depends on its location and presence concomitant pathology(otitis, mumps, herpes). In 75% of cases, complete recovery occurs, but when the disease lasts more than 3 months full recovery nerve is much less common. The most optimistic prognosis is if the facial nerve is damaged at its exit from the skull. Recurrent neuritis has a favorable prognosis, but each subsequent relapse is more severe and prolonged.

Prevention of injuries and hypothermia, adequate treatment inflammatory and infectious diseases of the ear and nasopharynx help to avoid the development of neuritis of the facial nerve.