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 an abrupt onset and, in the absence of proper treatment, serious consequences - in the advanced form of the disease, nerve fibers die and it is 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, and facial asymmetry. The causes of the disease consist of a number of provoking factors:

Main symptoms

The disease develops rapidly. Neuritis of the facial nerve is divided into primary (occurring for the first time due to hypothermia) and secondary (attached against the background of 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 examination, it will not be difficult for an experienced specialist to make a diagnosis and determine the location of the lesion of the facial nerve.

However, if we are not talking 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 the signs of a micro-stroke, the 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, complex treatment is prescribed. 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 the acute period, first of all, medications are prescribed 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 the acute condition is relieved, it is necessary to begin performing special gymnastics and a course of massage. 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 of the lymphatic and circulatory systems, 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 with the forearm and back of the neck, move to the occipital area and side of the neck, and end the session with a facial massage.

Pay special attention to facial massage. Perform with caution:

Acupuncture

A proven effective method of treating 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 involves inserting medical needles into active biological points. 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

By 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.

There are a large number of traditional medicine recipes that help overcome the disease. For this, herbs, tinctures, and beekeeping products are used. Warming 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 table salt or sand in a dry frying pan 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 onion juice, add beaten egg white to the resulting mixture 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

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.

Disease prevention

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 of essential vitamins and microelements and limit alcohol consumption;
• Avoid stress and anxiety; if you have 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. Do not self-medicate without being completely sure of the correct diagnosis.

Let's look at how to treat neuritis (inflammation) of the facial nerve at home, consider the best folk remedies and recipes, reviews from readers of the newspaper "Herald of Healthy Lifestyle".

• What is inflammation (neuritis) of the facial nerve?
• Causes and symptoms.
• How to treat neuritis with folk remedies
• Gymnastics and massage for inflammation
• Paralysis (paresis) of the facial nerve
• Reviews

The facial nerve performs a motor function; it is responsible for the facial muscles. You can see where the facial nerve is in the picture.

Neuritis (inflammation) of the facial nerve is a pathology of one of the main motor nerves of the face, responsible for the movement of the facial muscles of the face, eyelids, and lips. This disease is otherwise called Bell's palsy, named after the doctor who first described the symptoms of facial neuritis.
Neurologist of the Health and Longevity Center N.V. Komarova gives advice on treating and identifying symptoms of inflammation of the facial nerve.

The most common causes of neuritis:

1. Hypothermia is the main cause of neuritis, especially hypothermia of the face and neck. It happened that a person’s mouth twisted when he drove by in a car with his head out of the window, another when he walked in the cold after a bath, a third’s eye stopped closing after working for a long time in a draft.
2. Infectious diseases are the second most popular cause of neuritis; the disease often develops against the background of influenza, sore throat, and rheumatism.
3. Facial injuries and tumors
4. Inflammation of the meninges.
5. Consequences of dental operations.

Symptoms of neuritis (inflammation) of the facial nerve are as follows:

1. Pain, aching or burning, especially in the ear and back of the head in the acute period of the disease.
2. Weakness and paralysis of the facial muscles of half the face
3. Watery eyes or, conversely, dry eyes
4. Dry mouth, taste disorders
5. Pathological exacerbation of hearing - even faint sounds seem loud and unnerving.
6. The face on the affected side becomes mask-like, this symptom is especially noticeable when smiling and laughing, which increase the asymmetry. The patient cannot frown, close an eye, or puff out his cheeks. During chewing, hard pieces of food remain between the gum and cheek, and liquid food pours out of the corners of the mouth due to poor closure of the lips; the patient often bites the inside of the cheek.
7. Slurred speech.

Neuritis and facial paralysis have become very common. The first symptoms by which you can recognize that inflammation is beginning to develop:

1. When you wake up in the morning and open your eyes, one eye opens easily, but the other has to be opened with your fingers.
2. There is a feeling that you are not chewing with your own teeth.
3. Cheeks go numb
4. The neck and ears begin to hurt, often this pain turns into a headache, sometimes unbearable.

If at least one of these symptoms occurs, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible, who will prescribe treatment for neuritis. Neuritis of the facial nerve can be cured completely, but the effectiveness of treatment will depend on the efforts of the patient himself. What should you do first?

Treatment of the facial nerve at home.

1. At the first symptoms of neuritis, you need to change your image - tie a warm scarf on your head that will cover your cheeks, neck, ears, and walk around in it at home. In winter, summer and autumn, go outside with a similar headdress. Even at night, wrap your head in a warm diaper. After a bath or shower, you can’t let your head, neck and back get cold.
2. Gymnastics will help quickly cure neuritis. Move your facial nerve: make grimaces in front of the mirror, puff out your cheeks, frown, portray different facial expressions. Constantly pronounce the sounds pa, pi, pe, po, pe, ka, ku, ke. Do the exercises 3 times a day for three weeks. When the face begins to “depart”, every point on it will hurt. There is no need to despair: if it hurts, it means it’s alive.
3. Rubbing is a simple way to treat facial neuritis at home. During the acute period of inflammation, rubbing is not recommended. But there are creams that contain mumiyo, they help well with neuritis. You need to rub your face, neck, back, covering the area of ​​the shoulder blades, wrap yourself in a flannel diaper and lie down on a bag of well-heated oats - the neck and shoulder blades should warm up well. Warm-up duration is 10-40 minutes.
4. Another available treatment method is massage of the facial nerve and face. It will be good if you find a qualified specialist, but if you live in a small town, you can do it yourself. Find the most painful points (paired) on the nose, above the eyebrows, on the cheeks. Massage them on both sides at once with your fingertips.
5. Acupuncture is an effective method for treating neuritis. But here you need to find a good specialist, which is not available to everyone. You can take a match and press on a point on the chin in the hollow. Finding the point is easy - if you have neuritis, then even light pressure causes acute pain. Hold the match until the pain goes away. Sometimes the pain goes to the point above the eyebrow. Hold the match there until the pain stops.
6. Exercises. With inflammation of the facial nerve, only one exercise will help - smooth circular rotation of the head, without throwing the head back. (Recipe from the newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2005, No. 9 p. 10-11).

Drug treatment of neuritis.

• If the facial nerve is mildly affected, then with intensive treatment, neuritis can be completely cured in 2-3 weeks. But after months or years, a relapse is possible.
• If the nerve is moderately affected, then treatment lasts 7-8 weeks. If after 2 months of treatment for facial neuritis there are no signs of improvement, then complete recovery is unlikely to be possible. Consequences such as cramped facial muscles and tic-like twitching may remain.
• The following medications are prescribed for the treatment of neuritis: anti-inflammatory (aspirin, Brufen), decongestant (diuretic), antispasm (no-spa) drugs. Physiotherapy is prescribed locally: UHF, mud applications, massage, exercises for facial muscles.

How to cure facial neuritis with folk remedies.

Treatment of neuritis of the facial nerve with herbs is based on the fact that herbal medicine has a general strengthening effect on the body. Plants, having anti-inflammatory, antiviral diuretic, sedative, analgesic properties, have a positive effect on the course of diseases associated with neuritis, which neurologists usually do not deal with.
If the facial nerve was cold, and this was the cause of the disease, then the following folk remedies will help in the treatment of neuritis:

1. Mix equal parts mint leaf, elderberry, chamomile and linden flowers. 1 tbsp. l. collection, pour 500 ml of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, strain. Drink 1/4 glass every hour in the first days of illness. On the fourth day, drink 1/2 glass 3 times a day.
2. The same recipe, but instead of 1 part elderberry, take 1 part pine needles or buds, 1 part lingonberry leaves, 1 part willow bark, 2 parts raspberry leaves. Prepare and take in the same way.
3. Tincture recipe for external use. Take equal parts of marjoram, basil, lavender, rosemary, mix and pour in vodka in a weight ratio of 1:10. Leave for 2 weeks in a dark place. Apply this tincture to the affected facial muscles and cervical spine 3-4 times a day. After the procedure, wrap the sore areas with a warm scarf.
4. Bay lotions help speed up the treatment of facial neuritis very well. Pour 5-7 bay leaves with 0.5 cups of boiling water, leave for 8-10 hours. Fold the gauze into 4 layers and moisten it in a warm infusion, squeeze it lightly and apply it to the sore half of the face, wrap it and hold it until the gauze dries completely. It is better to do the procedure at night. Recipe from the newspaper Bulletin of Healthy Lifestyle 2011, No. 20 p. 6-7).

How to treat inflammation of the facial nerve at home?

• Advice from a neurologist of the highest category Zh.I. Kopylova.
  Facial neuritis most often develops in women after 40 years of age. The cause may be hypothermia, inflammation of the ear (otitis), compression - compression of the root of the facial nerve by a vein or artery, damage to the facial muscles.
  Facial neuritis can usually be cured after 3 weeks of active treatment.
  B vitamins, vasodilators and diuretics + potassium are prescribed. On the 5-6th day of illness, neuritis can be heated; dry heat in the form of heated bags of cereal, salt, flaxseed or a hot boiled egg, which is rolled along the nerve, is useful.
• Linden flowers are a simple folk remedy for neuritis.
  If the facial nerve is cold, then this folk remedy will help: brew 5 tablespoons of linden flowers with 2 cups of boiling water. Leave for 20 minutes and strain. Use for lotions and poultices. Recipe from the newspaper Bulletin of Healthy Lifestyle 2010, No. 16 p. 31.
• Treatment of a cold facial nerve using mumiyo.
  A man swam in a forest lake after a morning jog in November. As a result, inflammation of the facial nerve developed. People began going to physical therapy rooms, receiving injections, and receiving mud treatment at Crimean resorts. So 2 years passed. Until he was offered treatment for mumiyo neuritis. For 1 course you need 40-50 grams of mumiyo. The course consists of 10 rubbings. At night, wash well, moisten your face with water, and apply a layer of mumiyo. Put a clean surgical glove on your hand and rub the mumiyo for 3-5 minutes. The skin will become dry, blood circulation will increase, and the pain will immediately decrease. The man managed to completely cure facial neuritis in 3 courses. Between courses of treatment he took a break of 2 weeks. For prevention, you can conduct another course after six months. Review from the newspaper Vestnik ZOZH 2002, No. 14 p. 19.
• Treatment of neuritis of the facial nerve with a needle at home.
  Heat a metal needle on coals or a gas burner. Lightly prick the entire face with a hot needle, first the painful part, then the healthy part. Spot burns disappear quickly, leaving no trace. Recipe from the newspaper Bulletin of Healthy Lifestyle 2000, No. 19 p. 19.

Gymnastics and massage for inflammation of the facial nerve:

1. Sit in front of a mirror. If your eye does not close, try to close your eyes as hard as you can. Use your fingers to help keep your eye closed for 5 seconds. Then lower it. Do 5 repetitions of this exercise.
2. If your eyebrow is sagging, lift it with your finger, secure it in this position with an adhesive plaster and walk like this for 3 hours.
3. To ensure that the chewing muscles begin to work properly, sit in front of a mirror, rest your cheek on your hand and lift the drooping corner of your mouth. Then secure it with adhesive tape in an elevated position
4. Try to inflate balloons; if there are none, imitate this movement.
5. Take air into your mouth, rinse it, move it from side to side in your mouth. Do the same exercise with a sip of water, trying not to let it spill out.
   Pull your lips out like you would for a kiss and hold in this position for 5 seconds. Repeat the exercise 10-15 times. (Recipe from the newspaper Bulletin of Healthy Lifestyle 2009, No. 12 p. 28-29).

Paresis (paralysis) of the facial nerve is a neurological disease in which the motor function of facial muscles is impaired. Paresis of the facial nerve is quite common; the main cause of this disease is hypothermia of the body, especially the head.

Treatment of paralysis (paresis) of the facial nerve with folk remedies.

• A traditional method of treating facial palsy. Review.
  The woman suffered from paralysis for many years until she was given a prescription for treatment with Rhodiola rosea tincture.
  Recipe: you need to take 50 grams of dry crushed rhodiola roots, pour in 500 ml of vodka. Leave for 2 weeks in a dark place. Take 3 times a day half an hour before meals according to the following scheme: 1st day - 1 drop, 2nd day - 2 drops, ...., 15th day - 15 drops. From the 16th day, reduce one drop at a time until you reach 1 drop. Then a 2-week break and again the same course.
  After 3 months, the woman’s pain subsided, all symptoms disappeared, but she drank this tincture for another 2 years to consolidate the result. Review from the newspaper Bulletin of Healthy Lifestyle 2007, No. 11 p. 31-32.
• Wormwood poultices will help quickly cure facial nerve paresis.
  Pour 25 grams of dry wormwood with milk, boil for 10 minutes, strain. Place hot wormwood on a napkin with polyethylene underneath. Lie down on hot wormwood with your sore cheek. Lie until cool. To cure facial nerve paresis, 4-5 such procedures are enough. Recipe from the newspaper Bulletin of Healthy Lifestyle from Healthy Lifestyle 2007, No. 7 p. 31.
• Geranium.
  From conversations with traditional healer Klara Doronina.
  In case of paralysis of the facial nerve, a simple folk remedy will help in folk medicine - indoor geranium. To enhance the effect of treating paresis, you should not just occasionally apply a geranium leaf to a sore spot, but treat facial paralysis systematically, according to the scheme below, using geranium in compresses, applications, taking geranium infusion and oil orally, rubbing geranium oil into the affected muscles.

  How to make geranium oil at home. Place 1 cup of mashed pulp from fresh geranium leaves and flowers in a half-liter transparent jar. Pour 0.5 cups of medical alcohol. Close the lid tightly. Place in the sun for 2 weeks. Then fill the jar up to the shoulders with corn or olive oil. Cover tightly and place in the sun again for 2 weeks. Then strain, squeeze, pour the resulting geranium oil into bottles and close tightly.

Treatment of the facial nerve with geranium oil.
The following folk method is usually used:

• In the morning, take 1 tablespoon of regular vegetable oil into your mouth, suck for 10 minutes, spit out the resulting white mass, which has absorbed all the microbes. Rinse your nose and nasopharynx, brush your teeth. Take 1 teaspoon of geranium oil into your mouth, hold it for 5 minutes, as if rolling it in your mouth with your tongue, then swallow. Then chew watercress, radish, horseradish root or leaf, garlic, ginger for 1-2 minutes - you don’t have to swallow this. Change the plants for chewing every day.
  Then drink water (2 teaspoons of mashed fresh geranium pulp, pour a glass of cold boiled water, leave for 8 hours, drink in 5-6 doses) or alcohol (3 heaped tablespoons of geranium leaves and flowers ground into a pulp, pour 100 ml of alcohol. Infuse in dark, warm place for 3 days, take 15-20 drops) geranium infusion. Start the massage.
  The affected facial muscles are massaged by rubbing geranium oil, lightly tapping with the fingertips, then stroking the oil with light movements of the fingertips, turning them clockwise, without stretching the facial skin. The massage should not last more than 20 minutes. Then breakfast.
• At noon, a honey compress with aspirin is applied to the muscles affected by paralysis: spread a layer of honey on a napkin, sprinkle it with 4 tablets of crushed aspirin, hold for 1.5 hours. Wash off with warm serum.
• Before lunch, drink an infusion or tincture of geranium. Chew one of the irritating plants.
• At 16:00, drink 40 drops of tincture of peony evasive, make a compress from the same tincture on sore spots, diluting the peony tincture with water 1:2 (moisten a soft cotton napkin with the tincture, squeeze lightly, put on the face, covering all sore spots, paper on top for compresses, cotton wool, a fastening bandage. There is no need to walk with the compress, it is better to lie down for 45 minutes. Then remove the compress, rinse with warm serum, and lubricate the skin with geranium oil.
• Before dinner - infusion or tincture of geranium
• Before bed – peony tincture 40 drops.
• At night, make a compress cake according to the following recipe: 3 tbsp. l. with a heap of geranium leaves and flowers ground into a paste, pour 1 glass of cold whey, add 1 bottle of motherwort alcohol tincture. They insist from 8 am to 10 pm. So much flour is added to this tincture so that you can make a flat cake by adding a few drops of vegetable oil. This cake is rolled out and applied to the facial nerve area overnight. Recipe for the treatment of facial nerve paresis from the newspaper Vestnik ZOZH 2003, No. 13, p. 19.

Inflammation of the facial nerve develops as a result of exposure to negative factors. A person begins to experience severe pain in the facial area. Doctors call this disease facial neuritis. Inflammation of the facial nerve can occur on one or both sides.

Causes of the disease

Before starting treatment for inflammation of the facial nerve, it is necessary to find out the cause of its occurrence. This will help you prescribe treatment as correctly as possible. Facial neuritis can occur as a result of inflammation of the middle ear. Sometimes the disease is the result of injuries to the base of the skull, ear or face. The presence of infectious diseases of the face and ear also leads to neuritis of the facial nerve.

The disease can occur as a result of intoxication, hypothermia, or improper actions of the dentist. If blood circulation is impaired, this disease also develops against the background of a cold. Diagnosis of facial nerve neuritis consists of identifying the causes, to eliminate which treatment is directed.

Symptoms of the disease

The facial nerve is responsible for the activity of the facial muscles. When it becomes inflamed, a person experiences a feeling of stiffening of the face. The patient's appearance during this period deteriorates significantly. His face becomes distorted and the corners of his mouth droop on one or both sides. If the facial nerve is inflamed on one or both sides, then the eyelids of the corresponding eye open wide and the patient cannot close them.

The presence of the disease can be judged by the numbness of the face. A person loses the ability to control facial muscles. Some patients complain of increased sensitivity to loud sounds and changes in taste sensations. The presence of tinnitus and pain in this area are also a symptom of the disease. Patients complain of hearing loss. The disease can cause watery or dry eyes. Some patients with this disease experience scanty salivation, while others experience excessive salivation.

The appearance of these symptoms indicates the close location of the facial nerve to the intermediate and auditory nerves. With severe inflammation of the facial nerve, these nerves are also involved in the pathological process. During neuritis, a person experiences acute pain in the facial area. The pain is characterized by paroxysmal pain. It appears in the following areas of the face:

• lips;
• gum;
• jaws;
• language.

With neuritis of the facial nerve, pain can occur as a result of talking, brushing teeth, or strong emotions. When this disease appears, the patient cannot live a full life. The slightest movements of the facial muscles cause him discomfort.

During active treatment of facial nerve neuritis, as well as in severe forms of the disease, watching TV and the load on the facial muscles is better to reduce. This will help avoid excessive tearing, tension in the facial muscles and, accordingly, speed up the healing process.

Important! Only a doctor can establish an accurate diagnosis after a comprehensive examination.

Consequences

If you start treatment for facial neuritis or ignore the doctor’s recommendations, the consequences can be serious:

• synkinesis - friendly movements. Due to the disease, some of the nerve fibers die. Therefore, one nerve can control many muscles. Thus, when blinking, the corner of the mouth may rise;
• muscle atrophy - can occur due to impaired innervation of muscles and their inactivity;
• conjunctivitis – develops due to the inability to completely close the eyes;
• spontaneous contraction of facial muscles;
• muscle contracture - tightening of the facial muscles on the affected side of the face.

Is hospitalization required?

Treatment for facial neuritis must be started as quickly as possible to avoid irreversible consequences. Only a neurologist can prescribe the necessary treatment, including medications, physiotherapy, massage, physical therapy, and acupuncture. Due to the rather complex therapy and the possibility of serious consequences of the disease, the best solution would be hospitalization. Treatment in a day hospital under the supervision of a doctor is also possible.

Treatment of neuritis

Treatment of neuritis can be carried out at home using several methods: facial gymnastics, folk remedies and drug treatment.

Mimic gymnastics

Facial gymnastics helps restore nervous system control over the facial muscles, improves blood circulation, and prevents contraction of facial muscles. There are many facial exercises. Among them are:

• whistling;
• dilation of the nostrils;
• smile with a closed mouth;
• raising eyebrows up and down;
• smile with an open mouth;
• puffing out the cheeks;
• exposure of teeth, raising and lowering the upper and lower lips alternately;
• squinting;
• blinking;
• folding the lips into a “tube”;
• lip smacking.

Features of treatment using traditional medicine

This disease requires immediate initiation of timely treatment. Otherwise, the consequences can be disastrous. When the first signs of the disease occur, it is imperative to seek help from a doctor. If this is not possible, treatment of inflammation of the facial nerve can be done at home.

Today, there are many traditional medicine recipes that have proven effective in treating the facial nerve.

Rose tea

A fairly simple and cheap, yet effective remedy is rose tea. To prepare this medicine, take two teaspoons of rose petals. The color of the petals must be red. They are crushed. If you are taking dry petals, then this action can be done with your hands, but when using fresh petals, you need to use a knife. The resulting rose mass is poured with one glass of boiling water. The medicine must be taken in the form of tea, several glasses a day. This medicine must be used within three weeks.

Black cumin seeds

Black cumin is known for many healing properties, the main of which is strengthening the immune system. For neuritis of the facial nerve, you need to breathe in vapors of a pre-prepared remedy:

• crush and crush cumin seeds;
• soak in vinegar for 12 hours.

Also, to strengthen the general condition of the body, it is recommended to eat a teaspoon of black cumin seeds after meals.

Fir oil

Fir oil is used to treat this disease. You can buy the medicine at the pharmacy. Fir oil is rubbed daily onto the area of ​​inflammation of the facial nerve.

Important! It is necessary to use fir oil as a medicine for no more than two weeks.

Mumiyo

Mumiyo is a complex but effective folk treatment method. It can be purchased at a pharmacy. Mumiyo must be rubbed every day into the area of ​​the temporal part of the face.

Important! When using this method, only a ten percent solution of the drug is used.

The second stage of treatment involves taking a special mixture orally. To do this, take one glass of milk, in which a few drops of mumiyo and one teaspoon of honey are dissolved. This medicine can be used to treat nerve inflammation on the face for no more than twenty days. If the disease does not go away completely as a result of its use, you can take a break for 10 days and undergo the course of treatment again.

Salt

Regular table salt is very helpful for facial neuralgia. It is heated in a dry frying pan and poured into a fabric bag, which is applied to the inflamed area of ​​the face. The salt should not be very hot so that during the procedure the patient does not burn the skin of the face.

Lilac

An effective folk remedy in the treatment of the facial nerve is medicinal ointment from lilac buds. You need to take one tablespoon of lilac buds, grind them into powder and mix with lard in a ratio of 1:4. The medication is stored in the refrigerator. It is rubbed into the affected area of ​​the face daily.

Sagebrush

When the facial nerve is damaged, wormwood is often used. Recipe:

1. To prepare the medicine, take 1 tablespoon of dried wormwood flowers and pour one and a half glasses of boiling water.
2. The medicine is infused for 3-4 hours, and then filtered.
3. The resulting infusion should be rubbed into the affected areas of the face.

Egg

To treat inflammation of the facial nerve, you can use a chicken egg.

1. The white of a raw egg is separated and placed in a glass container.
2. Add pure turpentine in the amount of one tablespoon and mix well.
3. The resulting medicine is moistened with a clean cloth or gauze and applied to the area of ​​the facial nerve.
4. The lotion must be kept on the face for 10 minutes. The procedure is repeated after 7–8 hours.

Important! When preparing the medicine, you need to separate the egg white as carefully as possible. Otherwise, the medicine will be ineffective.

Massage

If the facial nerve is inflamed, acupressure can be performed at home to help relax it. This action is not difficult to perform, which allows any patient to use the method. After the massage, the patient’s face is lubricated with a medicine made from honey and black radish juice, which are mixed in equal quantities.

Coltsfoot

To treat the disease, you can use coltsfoot. One tablespoon of this herb is poured into a glass of boiling water and infused for an hour. The medication is taken before meals in the amount of 1 tablespoon. The patient should take four to six doses of medication per day.

Dog hair

To treat neuritis of the facial nerve, dog hair is used. It needs to be wrapped with gauze so that you get a small “pad” measuring approximately 10 by 10 centimeters. It must be applied to the inflamed area and wrapped with a scarf. Wear without removing for 7–8 hours. Rubbing with ointments with a local irritating effect, for example Zvezdochka, also helps. After this, the affected area should be wrapped with a bandage made of dog hair.

Elecampane root

Very often in folk medicine, crushed elecampane root is used to treat the facial nerve. Take it in the amount of one teaspoon and pour a glass of boiling water. The tincture is aged for 10 hours. The medication is taken orally along the line of glasses. The patient must take from 1 to 4 doses of medication per day.

To treat inflammation of the facial nerve, it is necessary to collect the rhizome of the tall plant. This herb is crushed and infused with 40 percent alcohol. The ratio of high alcohol and alcohol should be 1:10. The tincture is aged for a week. The medication is taken in the morning and evening - 30-40 drops. You need to take the drug with plenty of water.

If you do not have the time or opportunity to collect herbs to prepare medicine, then you can use ordinary potatoes for treatment. Juice is squeezed out of it and a quarter glass is drunk daily.

All folk remedies are effective in treating inflammation of the facial nerve. But before using them, it would be best to consult a doctor. He will be able to most accurately diagnose and prescribe treatment to eliminate the cause, which does not exclude the use of folk remedies.

Hirudotherapy

Treatment of facial neuritis with leeches is gaining increasing popularity. The healing effect is observed due to the properties of leech saliva: it restores the necessary nutrition of tissues, dilates blood vessels, and relieves pain. Thus, the use of hirudotherapy for neuritis gives:

• relieving inflammation;
• pain reduction;
• improvement of vascular function;
• strengthening the immune system;
• removal of edema.

Leeches are placed along the inflamed nerve. 4–6 individuals are used at a time, depending on the affected area. Such treatment must be agreed with your doctor.

Treatment is medicinal

Drug treatment of facial nerve neuritis is carried out according to a specific scheme. Depending on the cause of the disease and its period, different remedies are effective:

• glucocorticoids – Prednisolone, which has a strong anti-inflammatory effect;
• antiviral drugs;
• B vitamins – help improve the functioning of nerve fibers;
• vasodilators - Nicotinic acid, Complamin - improve blood circulation;
• decongestants – Furosemide, Triampur – to reduce edema and prevent the progression of pathological changes;
• painkillers – Indomethacin;
• anticholinesterase drugs - Prozerin, Galantamine - to improve the conductivity of nerve fibers;
• medications that stimulate metabolic processes - Nerobol.

Prozerin

Prozerin is an anticholinesterase drug. It helps improve signal conduction along nerve fibers to muscles, which increases their tone and restores the functions of the affected nerve. Prozerin is prescribed from the second week of treatment, one tablet 1-2 times a day, thirty minutes before meals. The course is a month and a half. If contracture of the facial muscles appears, the drug is discontinued.

Nicotinic acid

Nicotinic acid is a vasodilator vitamin. Prescribed to improve blood circulation in the area of ​​the inflamed nerve. Nicotinic acid also regulates metabolic processes. The drug is prescribed in the form of tablets or injections. Orally – 0.025–0.05 grams 2–3 times a day after meals for a month. 0.002–0.003 g per 1 kg of body weight is administered intramuscularly once a day.

Antibiotics for neuritis

Antibiotics for the treatment of facial neuritis are prescribed in case of bacterial infection. The best effect will be with intramuscular administration of antibiotics, since oral administration reduces and slows down the effect of the drug. In such cases, Amoxiclav or Claforan are prescribed. The need to use antibiotics in each individual case is determined by the attending physician after identifying the cause of neuritis.

Questions for the doctor

Is it possible to give birth with facial neuritis?

Answer: It is possible to give birth with neuritis of the facial nerve. As a rule, the condition does not worsen after childbirth. However, it is better to cure the disease before planning a pregnancy in order to avoid serious consequences. In an “interesting” state and after childbirth, treatment of neuritis becomes more complicated, since many drugs are contraindicated. Sometimes a long-term neuritis can make itself felt after childbirth.

How to sleep with facial neuritis?

Answer: The position of a person in sleep with neuritis of the facial nerve does not matter. It is better to choose a comfortable position - on your back, stomach or side. If the latter position is chosen, it is recommended to sleep on the side where the side of the face is inflamed.

In medicine, the facial nerve is called the “trigeminal” nerve. It consists of three so-called branches, which are located under the lower jaw, above the eyebrows and in the nose area.

For inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, medications, surgery, physical therapy, or home treatment are used. It is not difficult to recognize the disease; its symptoms are always pronounced and it is almost impossible to confuse them with other diseases.

Causes of inflammation

Experts divide the causes of inflammation of the facial nerve into two categories – internal and external. In all cases, the disease is caused by compression of the nerve branches. Only the methods of such influence differ.

With internal compression, the main cause of pain is considered to be injury, which results in the formation of tumors or adhesions. External factors include concomitant diseases of the mouth, nose or throat.

The most common causes of inflammation of the facial nerve are:

• facial hypothermia(weather conditions, washing with cold water, draft);
• inflammatory processes in the oral cavity(dental diseases);
• injuries and damage caused during dental procedures;
• poor quality dental work(for example, incorrect installation of a filling);
• formation of cholesterol plaques(usually observed in old age);
• vascular aneurysm(compression of the nerve occurs, as a result of which the inflammatory process begins);
• some viral and general diseases(allergies, mental disorders, disruption of the endocrine and digestive systems, decreased immunity);
• complications of infectious diseases(the hallmark is pain in the ear canal);
• Melkerson-Rosenthal syndrome(the disease belongs to the category of rare hereditary ones, in which swelling of the face is observed);
• Some careless actions can provoke inflammation(regular sudden movements when applying makeup, improper facial massage performed independently, etc.);
• regular alcohol consumption(ethyl alcohol has a negative effect on the nervous system and can cause inflammation of the nerve nodes);
• hormonal changes(pregnancy, taking hormonal drugs, age-related changes);
• internal tumors(the most common cause of neuritis of the facial nerve is a brain tumor);
• consequences of sinusitis and otitis(inappropriate treatment of diseases, premature termination of medication or procedures);
• blood pressure problems(hypertension can cause trigeminal neuritis);
• nervous system disorders, constant stress, depression.

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What are the symptoms?

Inflammation of the facial nerve is a disease that is always accompanied by severe pain. Attacks can occur suddenly and be periodic in nature.

The pain feels like an electric shock. The duration of a painful attack can be short-term or long-term, but on average an attack lasts at least several minutes.

In most cases, the patient is able to determine the location, but muscle spasms and pain tics can occur in different parts of the face and neck.

The main symptoms of inflammation of the facial nerve:

• sharp attacks of pain, aggravated by touching a certain area on the face;
• the presence of swelling in the area of ​​the source of pain (may be accompanied by redness of the skin due to poor circulation);
• pain in the eyeballs;
• muscle spasms (paralysis of part of the face is observed during an attack);
• dilated pupils;
• disorders of the jaw part (difficulty chewing food, closing the jaw);
• loss of skin sensitivity;
• decreased sense of taste;
• increased auditory sensitivity;
• dry eyes or watery eyes;
• thirst and dry mouth;
• nasal secretion;
• damage to the ear canal, tonsils and palate.

How to treat with folk remedies?

The most common method of treating facial neuritis is herbal medicine. A huge number of plants contain components that can relieve pain and speed up the healing process.

It is recommended to consult a doctor before using traditional medicine. If inflammation is accompanied by complications, then it will not be possible to get rid of it with herbs. In some cases, neuritis is treated exclusively with surgical methods.

Traditional medicine recipes for inflammation of the facial nerve:

• rubbing with black radish juice(the root vegetable must be grated, squeeze out the juice using gauze, and repeat the rubbing procedure several times a day);
• marshmallow decoction compress(marshmallow roots should be poured with boiling water and left to infuse for 12 hours, gauze or cotton wool should be soaked in the resulting infusion, and then the face should be wiped, the procedure should be repeated several times a day);
• flaxseed compress(flax seeds should be steamed, waited to cool, placed in a gauze bag and applied to the source of pain several times a day);
• fresh wormwood mask(the leaves of wormwood should be crushed as much as possible and poured boiling water, the mass should acquire the consistency of thick sour cream, after which a teaspoon of sea buckthorn oil is added to it, cooled and applied to the face in an even layer, the procedure is repeated several times a day);
• dark red rose petal tea(rose petals are brewed like regular tea, the decoction is consumed several times a day, acts as a sedative);
• black poplar bud ointment(butter and crushed black poplar buds are mixed in equal proportions, the mass is used as an ointment several times a day);
• rubbing with mumiyo solution(the product is sold in pharmacies and is a 10% solution; it should be applied to the face with a cotton pad 2-3 times a day);
• mixture of tinctures(in one glass you need to mix in equal quantities tincture of hawthorn, motherwort, calendula, marina root, add a teaspoon of honey and mix the ingredients thoroughly, take a teaspoon of the mixture in the morning before meals).

Inflammation of the facial nerve can be treated at home, but you must first consult with a specialist. The choice of medications, procedures and traditional medicine depends on the form and stage of the disease.

Self-medication can cause serious harm to health and lead to complications. Particular attention should be paid to non-drug prescriptions.

What to pay attention to:

• treatment of inflammation of the facial nerve with fir oil can lead to skin burns (when using any mixtures, a sensitivity test must be performed);
• It is better to avoid using a hot egg and other methods of heating (some causes of neuritis may worsen under the influence of heat);
• Ice compresses can cause hypothermia and worsen the disease;
• You cannot massage if the facial nerve is inflamed (only doctors have special skills, and self-massage can aggravate the situation and cause an exacerbation of neuritis);
• mechanical impact on the lymph nodes can lead to exacerbation of neuritis (do not press on the face, massage or otherwise influence the nerve nodes);
• During pregnancy, it is not recommended to give injections or take strong medications (substances included in medications can harm the health of the fetus and pose a threat to pregnancy);
• When using medications, you must carefully study the instructions (if there are contraindications, then you must definitely discard the medications).

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Methods for treating VSD with folk remedies - Prevention measures

The most effective measure to prevent inflammation (neuritis) of the facial nerve is considered paying attention to your health. If you receive facial injuries, you should consult a doctor and identify all possible consequences.

If there are diseases of the oral cavity, then they must be fully treated. Ignoring these factors can lead not only to severe pain, but also to significant impairment of appearance. Facial asymmetry, which occurs with trigeminal neuritis, can persist for many years.

The main preventive measures are:

• avoiding hypothermia of the face;
• prevention of facial injuries and their consequences;
• proper treatment of infectious and viral diseases;
• regular examination by the dentist and implementation of all necessary procedures;
• high-quality treatment of diseases associated with the oral cavity and ENT organs.

If during hygiene procedures or suddenly tingling occurs in different parts of the face, then you should contact a specialist for an examination. Inflammation of the facial nerve does not always manifest as sharp painful spasms.

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Facial neuritis (Bell's palsy) is an inflammatory process that involves one of the seven pairs of cranial nerves. In this case, clear visible manifestations are observed that distort and distort the patient’s face. Moreover, the affected side gets out of control, facial expressions suffer. Thus, a sick person cannot frown, move his eyebrow, or even smile normally. In addition, it is impossible to close the eye tightly, chew food normally, and even partially feel the taste.

The course of the disease manifests itself in a pronounced and visible form to others, which adds psychological suffering. In general, the reason for such a clinical picture during inflammation is associated with the passage of the nerve through the narrow canals of the facial bones. So that even minor inflammation leads to compression. As a rule, the inflammatory process affects one side, but in exceptional cases, which account for about 2.5%, bilateral damage occurs.

In general, neuritis of the facial nerve is a fairly common disease, which occurs with a frequency of one case per 4,000 people. The time of risk is the cold season. Very often, a surge in incidence is associated with temperature fluctuations in a given area and a general decrease in people’s immunity.

Neuritis is a disease that is protracted. You will have to stay in hospital for about a month, and for a complete recovery it may take a whole six months. But, unfortunately, such paralysis is prone to relapse in more than 10% of common cases. The general condition and prognosis depend on how deeply the nerve is damaged, whether single or bilateral damage is observed, as well as the fact how quickly and comprehensively the treatment was started.

The facial nerve itself undergoes a number of bends and overcomes a large number of small holes. Thus, it passes through the temporal bone, the internal auditory canal and the parotid gland.

When inflamed, the nerve swells and becomes pinched in these small passages, which entails all the obvious symptoms that characterize this disease.

Why does the facial nerve become inflamed?

The causes of the inflammatory process can be many factors. Let's look at the most common ones.

1. Specific viruses. Many viruses, when they enter the body, do not manifest themselves at first. But, under favorable conditions, their active reproduction occurs. The virus that is one of the main culprits of neuritis is, known to many, the herpes virus. In addition, it is believed that mumps viruses, polio, and some others can also be causative agents.
2. Unfavorable conditions. It has been observed that the highest number of cases is in the northern regions. Local and constant general hypothermia leads to decreased immunity, vascular spasms and changes in the nutrition of tissues and the nerves themselves, thus provoking clinical manifestations of neuritis.
3. Constant and large doses of alcohol. Alas, alcohol addiction and the intoxication caused by it have a detrimental effect on many systems and organs. Nerves are no exception. In this way, inflammation is provoked. Moreover, as a rule, such patients arrive with already advanced cases and are not inclined to painstaking therapy.
4. Hypertension. Changes in pressure, hemorrhages - all this affects the trophism, therefore, can lead to compression and neuritis.
5. Pregnancy. Hormonal changes have a strong impact on the entire body, and on the nervous system in particular. Therefore, disorders may occur that can cause an inflammatory process.
6. Some traumatic brain and ear injuries. When injured, rupture of nerve fibers and swelling can occur, and as a result, an inflammatory process that already covers most of the nerve.
7. Otitis, sinusitis, unsuccessful dental intervention. All this can contribute to the spread of inflammation to nearby tissues, which can cause compression of the nerve.
8. Stress, depression, long-term chronic diseases. All this can undermine the overall strength of the body.
9. Neoplasms. They are capable of both involving the nerve itself in the inflammatory process, and simply mechanically influencing it, causing compression and changes in nutrition.
10. Multiple sclerosis and atherosclerosis. They affect the condition and integrity of the nerve itself and can cause its changes and inflammation.
11. Diabetes mellitus. Affects the general condition of the body and contributes to the occurrence of foci of inflammation.

Symptoms and diagnosis

Neuritis always begins acutely and is characterized by:

• pain behind the ear, radiating to the back of the head or face, the sensation can also spread to the eye;
• there is a distortion of the face, the muscles do not control the affected side;
• the eye of the affected side does not close tightly, forming a gap through which the white is visible, which is called the “hare’s eye”;
• the corner of the mouth on the affected side droops, liquid food partially spills out because of this;
• the full ability to chew food is impaired, although the jaws are under control, food falls behind the cheek, and the patient constantly bites it;
• signals entering the brain from the salivary gland are distorted, so a constant feeling of thirst, increased salivation, and flow of the resulting saliva from the uncontrolled side may occur;
• uncontrollability of the cheek leads to unclear speech;
• tear production changes: the eye may dry out or, conversely, too much tears are produced and they constantly flow from the uncontrolled side;
• part of the tongue on the affected side ceases to sense taste;
• There may be increased irritability to loud sounds and the perception of some everyday and previously familiar sounds as loud and annoying.

To suspect a disease, it is worth carrying out simple manipulations:

• frown;
• puff out your cheeks;
• take water into your mouth;
• smile symmetrically;
• raise eyebrows in surprise;
• wrinkle your forehead and nose;
• blink alternately;
• Close both eyes tightly (assessed by another person).

If, while performing these tasks, you notice that one side of your face falls out of the process and is not under your control, consult a doctor immediately.

If the clinical picture is less clear or for additional confirmation, various studies may be prescribed, for example, electroneurography and electromyography. The essence of the research is to detect distorted transmission of nerve impulses (its decrease or absence). In this way, the diagnosis is clarified, it is assumed which area is inflamed and how severe and extensive the inflammation is.

Treatment

Drug therapy

It is worth noting that treatment should be prescribed exclusively by the attending physician, taking into account the characteristics of your case. Self-medication can lead to disastrous and irreversible consequences. This is just a general diagram.

1. Diuretics remove excess fluid, relieving the nerve from severe pressure.
2. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, as the name suggests, relieve inflammation and reduce pain.
3. Glucocorticoids relieve inflammation and pain, but most importantly, they prevent the formation of contracture (tightening of the facial muscles).
4. Antiviral drugs stop the virus from dividing.
5. Antispasmodics reduce spasms, improve nutrition and blood circulation, and reduce pain.
6. Neurotropic agents improve the functioning of nerve cells, reduce tics and contractions, and relieve pain.
7. B vitamins play a major role in the normal functioning of the nervous system, helping it cope with toxins and recover.
8. Anticholinesterase drugs normalize the function of the salivary and lacrimal glands and improve signal transmission.

Physiotherapy and massage

However, drug treatment must be combined with physiotherapy and massage. Massage should begin on days 5-7, and physiotherapy - no earlier than on the seventh day of the onset of the disease. Remember that with these types of therapy you should avoid hypothermia in general and especially in the first 20 minutes after using it. If the disease occurs in the autumn-winter period or early spring, be sure to wrap the affected side in a scarf or hood. It is advisable to avoid walking, and for the first fifteen minutes after the session you should not go outside at all.

Some of the most common physiotherapy procedures are:

• • UHF, which helps improve tissue trophism and reduce inflammation by increasing the number of leukocytes;
  • UV, which promotes the production of immunoglobulins, reducing pain and inflammation;
  • UHF, which increases the temperature in the affected area, dilates blood vessels, restores blood circulation and restores impaired nerve function;
  • electrophoresis, which has an anti-edematous and analgesic effect, and also helps to introduce medicinal substances into the lesion, achieving their high concentration exactly in the right place;
  • diadynamic therapy, which promotes muscle contraction and a kind of “charging” for better recovery and to avoid complete paralysis or incomplete recovery;

Acupuncture is a separate item. When carried out correctly, this procedure can reduce swelling and improve the patient’s general condition, leading to a speedy recovery. However, it is worth recalling that this manipulation should be carried out exclusively in medical institutions. Beware of acupuncture performed privately without proper permits. In this case, you may encounter the opposite effect and, moreover, have all the consequences of using non-sterile material.

Massage for neuritis is of great importance, as it prevents the development of contracture and muscle atrophy in the affected area. It's better to have it done by a professional. At least for the first sessions until you understand its intricacies. In the future, massage can be done independently.

Begin the massage by warming up the neck muscles. If you carry out the procedure yourself, it is enough to simply tilt your head slowly in all directions. Then they begin to knead the back of the head. After all, the lymph nodes in this area will receive additional lymph that has accumulated in the face area, at the site of swelling. Massage is performed on both the affected and healthy areas. The procedure itself should be superficial to avoid pain from strong muscle contraction. You should not massage the location of the lymph nodes directly. This can provoke too much aggravation of the process. The massage should end in the same way as it began: the back of the head and neck area is massaged. On average, the procedure takes 15 minutes.

You can develop the cheek area yourself: pulling it back, grabbing it with your fingers from the inside. So her sensitivity gradually returns.

Folk remedies

Folk wisdom has accumulated extensive experience in the fight against this disease. But, taking into account the experience of your ancestors, be sure to consult with your doctor to determine how suitable the chosen method is for you. Do not forget that, as a rule, such therapy begins no earlier than a week from the onset of the disease.

The most common means are heating. One of these methods is dry heating using sea/table salt or sand. The idea is that a small amount of this material is heated to a pleasant (not hot, but warm) temperature, placed in a cotton bag and applied to the affected area to warm up. If you take pharmaceutical sea salt, saturated with minerals and natural additives (for example, chamomile or lavender oil), then an additional beneficial effect of the components on the regeneration of the damaged area is achieved.

Chamomile can also be used separately. The pharmaceutical collection (preferably packaged) is brewed in a cup according to the instructions. The broth is drunk, and warm bags are applied to the site of inflammation under the film and insulated on top with a scarf. Application time - 15 minutes. In addition to warming, chamomile has a powerful anti-inflammatory and immunity-boosting effect. In addition, this decoction at night has a slight calming effect. After all, a person often has a hard time experiencing his condition and may not sleep well. If the chamomile is not in a bag, but as a dry product, the contents should be placed in gauze for heating.

Complications due to improper therapy

If therapy is started at the wrong time or is not carried out rationally, the most severe consequences are possible. Such as:

• • • muscle atrophy, which occurs approximately a year after the onset of the disease: the muscles seem to “shrink” from inactivity and, alas, an irreversible process of deformation results;
    • contracture of facial muscles, which can occur approximately one and a half months after the onset of the disease: the muscles “tighten”, shorten, painful pulsation and a peculiar distortion of the face are felt (squinted eye, nasolabial fold becomes clearly visible);
    • involuntary twitching of facial muscles can occur due to incorrect impulses;
    • synkinesia, which is characterized by incorrect transmission of nerve impulses, as a result of which the excitation of one zone can be incorrectly transmitted and spread to others, thus producing, for example, “crocodile tears”, when chewing irritates the lacrimal gland;
    • conjunctivitis or keratitis, which develops due to loose closure of the eye and corresponding drying out.

In exceptional cases, if therapy is unsuccessful in the first 8-10 months of the disease, surgical intervention is possible to prevent irreversible consequences caused by atrophy.
But, it is better to start treatment on time. Also, it is important not to give up. Many patients, seeing that the results do not come so quickly, despair and stop attending physical procedures and doing massages. This is what becomes the turning point, and therapy is delayed. Therefore, it is important to continue all appointments and motivate yourself to recover. And also make every effort to prevent hypothermia in the future and maintain your immunity.

Facial neuritis or Bell's palsy- this is inflammation of the 7th pair of cranial nerves, or rather one of them. The disease deprives a person of the ability to control his face and show emotions: frown, smile, raise his eyebrows in surprise, and even chew food normally. The face looks asymmetrical and skewed.

The facial nerve is most often affected. This is due to the fact that on its way it passes through the narrow canals of the facial bones. Therefore, even minor inflammation leads to constriction and oxygen starvation, which causes symptoms of the disease. For most people, the facial muscles on one side of the face fail. But in 2% of people, inflammation occurs on both sides.

Facial neuritis is a fairly common disease. Every year, 25 people per 100 thousand people suffer from this disease. Both men and women are equally susceptible to it. A surge in the disease is observed during the cold season. There are especially many patients in the northern regions.

Neuritis of the facial nerve has a protracted course. You will have to spend an average of 20-30 days in the hospital. Full recovery will take 3-6 months. But, unfortunately, in 5% of people the function of the facial muscles is not restored. This happens if facial neuritis is caused by a brain tumor or traumatic brain injury. And in 10% of cases, after recovery, a relapse occurs.

The severity of the disease and recovery time depend on which part of the nerve is damaged, to what depth and how quickly treatment was started.

The facial nerve is primarily motor and regulates the facial muscles. But it contains fibers of the intermediate nerve. They are responsible for the production of tears and saliva by the glands, as well as the sensitivity of the skin and tongue.

The nerve trunk itself is the long processes of nerve cells called neurons. These processes are covered on top with a membrane (perineurium), consisting of special cells called neuroglia. If the nerve sheath is inflamed, then the symptoms of the disease are mild and they are not as numerous as when neurons are damaged.
What does the facial nerve consist of:

• the area of ​​the cerebral cortex that is responsible for facial expressions;
• The nuclei of the facial nerve are located on the border of the medullary pons and the medulla oblongata.
  • nucleus of the facial nerve - responsible for facial expressions;
  • nucleus of the solitary tract - responsible for the taste buds of the tongue;
  • superior salivary nucleus - responsible for the lacrimal and salivary glands.
• The motor processes (fibers) of nerve cells are the nerve trunk.
• a network of blood and lymphatic vessels - capillaries penetrate the nerve sheath and are located between the processes of nerve cells, providing them with nutrition.

The facial nerve stretches from the nuclei to the muscles, bending and forming 2 extended knees along its path. Through the auditory opening, together with the fibers of the intermediate nerve, it enters the temporal bone. There, its path passes through the petrous part, the internal auditory canal and the facial nerve canal. The nerve exits the temporal bone through the stylomastoid foramen and enters the parotid gland, and there it divides into large and small branches that intertwine. The branches control the muscles of the forehead, nostrils, cheeks, orbicularis oculi and orbicularis oris.

As you can see, the facial nerve makes a tortuous path and passes through narrow channels and openings. If it becomes inflamed and swollen, the nerve fibers increase in volume. In narrow areas, this can lead to compression and destruction of nerve cells.

Causes of neuritis of the facial nerve

Scientists have not been able to definitively establish the cause of the disease. A number of factors have been associated with inflammation of the facial nerve.

1. Herpes virus. This virus lives in the body of most people and does not betray its presence in any way. But when immunity declines, the virus actively multiplies. His favorite place is nerve fibers. The herpes virus causes inflammation and swelling of the nerve. It is believed that the disease can also be caused by mumps viruses, polioviruses, enteroviruses and adenoviruses.
2. Hypothermia . Hypothermia of the body leads to decreased immunity. In the case of neuritis of the facial nerve, local hypothermia is especially dangerous. For example, you were in a draft for a long time. In this case, spasm of blood vessels and muscles occurs, which contributes to disruption of nerve nutrition and inflammation.
3. Taking large doses of alcohol . Ethyl alcohol is a poison for the nervous system. It affects not only the brain, but also causes inflammation of the nerves.
4. High blood pressure. Hypertension can lead to increased intracranial pressure. In this case, the nuclei of the facial nerve are affected. In addition, high blood pressure can cause a stroke. If the hemorrhage occurs near the facial nerve, it will also be affected.
5. Pregnancy . In this regard, the first trimester is especially dangerous. During this period, serious hormonal changes occur in a woman’s body, which affect the nervous system.
6. Brain tumors. This is a fairly rare cause of neuritis, but it should not be ruled out. The tumor compresses the nerve and disrupts the conduction of nerve impulses.
7. Open or closed head injuries, ear injuries . The blow causes damage or rupture of nerve fibers. Fluid accumulates in this area, swelling and inflammation spread throughout the nerve.
8. Unsuccessful treatment at the dentist . Stress, infection from a carious cavity or mechanical trauma to nerve endings can cause inflammation.
9. Past otitis and sinusitis . Diseases of the ENT organs caused by viruses or bacteria can spread to surrounding tissues or cause compression of the nerve in the temporal bone canal.
10. Diabetes mellitus. This disease is accompanied by metabolic disorders, which leads to the appearance of foci of inflammation.
11. Atherosclerosis . The capillaries that supply blood to the nerve become clogged with fatty plaques. As a result, the nerve starves and its cells die.
12. Stress and depression . Such conditions undermine the health of the nervous system and the body's defenses as a whole.
13. Multiple sclerosis . This disease is associated with the destruction of the myelin sheath of nerve fibers and the formation of plaques in their place. Such processes often cause inflammation of the optic and facial nerves.

The mechanism of development of neuritis of the facial nerve

These factors lead to spasm (narrowing) of the arteries. In this case, the blood stagnates in the capillaries, and they expand. The liquid component of the blood penetrates the capillary wall and accumulates in the intercellular spaces. Swelling of the tissue occurs, as a result of which the veins and lymphatic vessels are compressed - the outflow of lymph is disrupted.

This leads to disruption of the blood circulation of the nerve and its nutrition. Nerve cells are very sensitive to lack of oxygen. The nerve trunk swells and hemorrhages appear in it. This leads to the fact that nerve impulses are poorly transmitted from the brain to the muscles. The command given by the brain does not travel through the fibers, the muscles do not hear it and are inactive. All signs of the disease are associated with this.

Symptoms and signs of facial neuritis

Neuritis of the facial nerve always has an acute onset. If symptoms appear slowly, this indicates another pathology of the nervous system.

Symptom	Its manifestations	Cause	Photo
1-2 days before the disturbance in facial expressions, pain appears behind the ear.	The pain can radiate to the back of the head and face. After a few days, the eyeball begins to hurt.	The discomfort is caused by swelling of the nerve. It is compressed at the exit from the auditory opening of the temporal bone.
The face is asymmetrical and resembles a mask on the affected side.	The eye is wide open, the corner of the mouth is lowered, the nasolabial fold and folds on the forehead are smoothed. The asymmetry becomes more noticeable when talking, laughing, or crying.	The brain loses the ability to control the facial muscles of one side of the face.
The eye on the affected side does not close.	When you try to close your eyes, the eye on the affected side does not close, and the eyeball turns upward. A gap remains through which the white membrane of the hare's eye is visible.	The orbicularis oculi muscle is poorly innervated. The muscles of the eyelid on the affected side do not obey.
The corner of the mouth droops. The mouth becomes like a tennis racket with the handle turned towards the affected side.	When eating, liquid food pours out from one side of the mouth. But at the same time, the person retains the ability to move the jaw and chew.	The buccal branches of the facial nerve cease to control the orbicularis oris muscle.
The cheek muscles do not obey.	While eating, a person bites his cheek and food constantly falls behind it.	The facial nerve does not transmit brain signals to the cheek muscles.
Dry mouth.	Constant thirst, feeling of dry mouth, while eating food is not sufficiently moistened with saliva. But in some cases, excessive salivation occurs. Saliva runs in a stream from the lowered corner of the mouth.	The salivary gland receives distorted commands from the brain.
Speech becomes slurred.	Half of the mouth is not involved in the articulation of sounds. Noticeable problems arise when pronouncing consonant sounds (b, v, f).	The facial nerve supplies the lips and cheeks, which are responsible for the pronunciation of sounds.
Dryness of the eyeball.	Not enough tears are produced, and the eye is wide open and rarely blinks. This causes it to dry out.	The functioning of the lacrimal gland is disrupted; it produces an insufficient amount of tear fluid.
Tearing.	For some people the situation is the opposite. Tears are produced in excess. And they, instead of going into the tear duct, flow down the cheek.	Active work of the lacrimal gland, disruption of the outflow of tears.
The perception of taste on one half of the tongue is impaired.	The anterior 2/3 of the tongue on the affected side of the face cannot taste food.	This is caused by inflammation of the nerve fibers that carry signals from the taste buds on the tongue to the brain.
Increased hearing sensitivity.	Sounds on one side seem louder than they really are. This is especially true for low tones.	The facial nerve is inflamed in the temporal bone near the auditory receptors, which affects their function. The nucleus of the facial nerve is located next to the nucleus of the auditory nerve. Therefore, inflammation affects the functioning of the auditory analyzer.

Based on the symptoms of the disease, an experienced doctor can determine exactly where the lesion has occurred on the facial nerve.

• Damage to the cerebral cortex which is responsible for the facial nerve - paralysis of the facial muscles of the lower half of the face, nervous tics, involuntary movements of the facial muscles. When laughing and crying, the asymmetry is not noticeable.
• Damage to the facial nerve nuclei - involuntary rapid movements of the eyeballs (nystagmus), a person cannot wrinkle his forehead, decreased sensitivity of the skin on half of the face (numbness), frequent twitching of the palate and pharynx occurs. Impaired coordination of movements in the entire half of the body may occur.
• Damage to the facial nerve in the cranial cavity and in the pyramid of the temporal bone - paralysis of facial muscles, salivary glands do not produce enough saliva, dry mouth, the front part of the tongue does not feel taste, heightened hearing or nervous deafness, dry eyes.

You can independently determine whether you have facial neuritis. See your doctor immediately if you cannot:

• frown;
• wrinkle your forehead;
• wrinkle your nose;
• whistle;
• blow out the candle;
• puff out your cheeks;
• take water into your mouth;
• blink both eyes in turn;
• close your eyes (there is a gap on the affected side through which the white of the eye is visible).

If you start treatment in the first hours after these signs appear, you will be able to cope with the disease much faster. The doctor prescribes decongestants (Furosemide), which relieve swelling of the nerve.

Diagnosis of the causes of neuritis of the facial nerve

If you experience signs of facial neuritis, consult a neurologist on the same day. An experienced doctor can make a diagnosis without additional research. But in some cases, instrumental examinations are carried out. This is necessary to identify the cause of nerve inflammation. Neuritis can be caused by tumors, inflammation of the membranes of the brain, and similar symptoms occur with a stroke.

Blood test

1. Muscle atrophy - muscles decrease in volume and weaken. This happens because the muscles have been inactive for a long time and their nutrition has been disrupted. Atrophy is an irreversible process. It develops about a year after the onset of the disease. To prevent muscle atrophy, do exercises daily, massage and rub your face with baby cream with the addition of fir oil (10 drops of oil per 1 tsp of cream).
2. Contracture of facial muscles - tightening of the facial muscles of the affected side, loss of their elasticity. The muscles become painful to the touch and pulsate weakly. This condition develops if improvement does not occur within 4 weeks. In this case, a muscle spasm develops, they shorten and tighten the affected side of the face: the eye looks squinted, the nasolabial fold is clearly visible. Warming (salt, ozokerite), adhesive plaster stickers and massage help prevent this complication.
3. Involuntary twitching of facial muscles: facial hemispasm, blepharospasm. Rhythmic contractions of the orbicularis oculi muscle or other facial muscles that are not controlled by a person. The cause is believed to be compression of the facial nerve at the base of the brain by pulsating blood vessels. As a result, the conduction of biocurrents along the nerve is disrupted, and uncontrolled muscle contractions occur. Properly selected drug treatment will help prevent the development of hemispasm.
4. Facial synkinesis. This complication is due to the fact that the isolation of electrical impulses in the nerve branch is disrupted. As a result, a “short circuit” occurs, and excitation from one area spreads to others along incorrectly grown nerve fibers. For example, when chewing, the lacrimal gland is stimulated, and “crocodile tears” appear, or when closing an eye, the corner of the mouth rises. To prevent this complication, it is necessary to do self-massage and gymnastics daily.
5. Conjunctivitis or keratitis. The inner lining of the eyelids and the cornea become inflamed due to the fact that the person cannot close the eye. In this case, the eyeball is not moistened by tears, it dries out, and dust particles remain on it, which cause inflammation. To avoid this, during illness, use Systane and Oxial drops. At night, cover the eye with a bandage containing Parin moisturizing ointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What to do to prevent facial neuritis?

It happens that neuritis of the facial nerve occurs again on the same side of the face, then they talk about a relapse of the disease. In this case, longer treatment is required and the chances of recovery are lower. But if you follow preventive measures, a relapse will be avoided.

Avoid hypothermia. Scientists have proven that this is the main risk factor. Even small drafts are dangerous. Therefore, avoid being under air conditioning, sitting in a vehicle near an open window, do not go outside with a wet head, and in the cold season, wear a hat or a hood.

Treat viral diseases in a timely manner. If you feel that you are getting sick, then immediately take antiviral drugs: Groprinosin, Aflubin, Arbidol. You can instill drops with immunoglobulin Viferon into your nose. This will help prevent the virus from reproducing in nerve cells.

Avoid stress. Severe stress weakens the immune defense and disrupts the functioning of the nervous system. Therefore, it is advisable to learn how to relieve nervous tension with the help of auto-training and meditation. You can take Glycised, motherwort or hawthorn tincture.

Go to the resort. To consolidate the results of treatment, it is advisable to go to a resort. The dry hot climate of the resorts is ideal: Kislovodsk, Essentuki, Pyatigorsk, Zheleznovodsk.

Eat right. Your nutrition should be complete. The main goal is to strengthen the immune system. To do this, you need to consume a sufficient amount of protein foods (meat, fish, cottage cheese, eggs), as well as fresh vegetables and fruits.

Take vitamins. It is very important to consume a sufficient amount of vitamins, especially group B. They take part in the transmission of impulses along nerve cells and are part of their membranes.

Toughen up. Gradual hardening strengthens the immune system, and you become insensitive to hypothermia. Start by taking sun-air baths or simply sunbathing. Take a contrast shower: for the first week, the temperature difference between cold and hot water should be only 3 degrees. Make the water a little colder every week.

Self-massage. For a year, massage your face along the massage lines for 10 minutes, 2 times a day. Place one palm on the healthy side and the other on the sore side. Lower the muscles of the healthy side down, and pull the sick side up. This will help get rid of the residual effects of the previous neuritis and avoid relapse.

Is surgery performed for facial neuritis?

If it is not possible to achieve improvement with the help of medications within 8-10 months, then surgery is prescribed. Surgical treatment of facial neuritis is effective only during the first year of the disease. Then irreversible changes in the muscles begin.

Most often, surgery is necessary for ischemic neuritis, when the facial nerve is compressed in the narrow fallopian canal. This happens as a result of prolonged inflammation of the middle ear or a fracture of the skull bones. Surgical treatment is also required for traumatic neuritis of the facial nerve, when the nerve is torn as a result of injury .

Indications for surgery

• nerve rupture due to traumatic neuritis;
• lack of effect of conservative treatment for 8-12 months;
• instrumental studies indicate degeneration of the nerve.

Procedure for performing facial nerve decompression surgery
A semicircular incision is made behind the auricle. Find the place where the nerve exits the stylomastoid foramen. The outer wall of the facial nerve canal is removed with a special surgical instrument. This is done very carefully so as not to damage the nerve trunk. As a result, the nerve no longer passes in a “tunnel”, but in an open groove, and the temporal bone stops squeezing it. After this, stitches are applied. The operation is performed under general anesthesia.

Procedure for suturing a torn facial nerve
An incision is made near the auricle. The surgeon finds the torn ends of the nerve under the skin and muscles and “cleans out” the rupture site so that the nerve heals better. Then the surgeon acts according to the circumstances:

• If the distance between the ends of the nerve is no more than 3 mm, then they are sutured. This is the best option, but it is not always possible to implement it;
• If up to 12 mm of nerve fiber is missing, then the nerve has to be freed from the surrounding tissues and a new, shorter course is laid out for it. This operation makes it possible to connect the ends of the nerve with one suture, but its blood supply is disrupted;
• Nerve connection using autograft. A section of the nerve of the required length is taken from the thigh and inserted at the site of the break. In this way, a section several centimeters long can be restored. But in this case the nerve has to be sutured in 2 places, and this disrupts the transmission of signals.

What gymnastics to perform for neuritis of the facial nerve?

Before gymnastics, do a few exercises to stretch the muscles of your neck and shoulder girdle. Then sit in front of a mirror and relax the muscles on both sides of your face. Perform each exercise 5-6 times.

1. Raise your eyebrows in surprise.
2. Frown your eyebrows angrily.
3. Look down and close your eyes. If that doesn't work, lower your eyelid with your finger.
4. Squint your eyes.
5. Make circular movements with your eyes.
6. Smile without showing your teeth.
7. Raise your upper lip and show your teeth.
8. Lower your lower lip and show your teeth.
9. Smile with your mouth open.
10. Lower your head and snort.
11. Flare your nostrils.
12. Puff out your cheeks.
13. Move air from one cheek to the other.
14. Blow out an imaginary candle.
15. Try whistling.
16. Pull your cheeks in.
17. Push your lips out with a straw.
18. Lower the corners of your mouth downwards, lips closed.
19. Place your upper lip over your lower lip.
20. Move your tongue from side to side with your mouth open and closed.

If you are tired, rest and stroke your facial muscles. The duration of the gymnastics is 20-30 minutes. The complex must be repeated 2-3 times a day - this is a prerequisite for recovery.

After the gymnastics, take a scarf, fold it diagonally and secure your face by tying the ends of the scarf at the crown of your head. After this, tighten the facial muscles on the sore side up, and on the healthy side, lower them down.

What does a patient with facial nerve neuritis look like, photo?

The appearance of a person with facial neuritis is very characteristic. The face resembles a distorted mask.

On the sore side:

• the eye is wide open;
• the lower eyelid sags;
• lacrimation may occur;
• the outer edge of the eyebrow droops;
• the corner of the mouth is lowered, saliva often oozes from it;
• the mouth will be pulled to the healthy side;
• the cheek muscles are drooping;
• frontal and nasolabial folds are smoothed.

Signs of the disease become even more noticeable when a person speaks or shows emotions. The affected side of the face remains motionless when smiling and raising the eyebrows.

Is acupuncture effective for facial neuritis?

Acupuncture or reflexology is considered one of the most effective treatments for facial neuritis. Impact on acupuncture points helps:

• relieve inflammation in the nerve and speed up its recovery;
• relieve pain;
• get rid of paralysis of facial muscles faster;
• eliminate involuntary twitching of the eyes and lips.

Acupuncture helps restore muscle tone on the affected side of the face and relax the healthy one. Thus, the face becomes more symmetrical from the first days.

But remember, the key to successful treatment is an experienced specialist. He must select the necessary techniques and find sensitive points. Disposable needles are used for the procedure, this eliminates the possibility of infection.

Your inner attitude is important for effective treatment. Pay attention to how you feel. You will feel slight pain while the skin is pierced. Then heat or coolness, a feeling of pressure, and tingling will concentrate around the needles. This indicates that the needles are installed in the right places.

From the first days, the disease affects only the healthy side. From 5-7 days you can do acupuncture on the affected side. Many people have become convinced that acupuncture can reduce treatment time by 2 times (up to 2 weeks).

The treatment process for facial neuritis is quite lengthy. You will need to be patient and follow your doctor's recommendations exactly. But remember, there are many effective treatments that can help you overcome the disease.

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 an abrupt onset and, in the absence of proper treatment, serious consequences - in the advanced form of the disease, nerve fibers die and it is 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, and facial asymmetry. The causes of the disease consist of a number of provoking factors:

Main symptoms

The disease develops rapidly. Neuritis of the facial nerve is divided into primary (occurring for the first time due to hypothermia) and secondary (attached against the background of 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 examination, it will not be difficult for an experienced specialist to make a diagnosis and determine the location of the lesion of the facial nerve.

However, if we are not talking 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 the signs of a micro-stroke, the 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, complex treatment is prescribed. 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 the acute period, first of all, medications are prescribed 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 the acute condition is relieved, it is necessary to begin performing special gymnastics and a course of massage. 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 of the lymphatic and circulatory systems, 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 with the forearm and back of the neck, move to the occipital area and side of the neck, and end the session with a facial massage.

Pay special attention to facial massage. Perform with caution:

Acupuncture

A proven effective method of treating 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 involves inserting medical needles into active biological points. 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

By 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.

There are a large number of traditional medicine recipes that help overcome the disease. 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 table salt or sand in a dry frying pan 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 onion juice, add beaten egg white to the resulting mixture 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

A complex mixture of pharmaceutical tinctures has long proven itself in the successful treatment of 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.

Disease prevention

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 of essential vitamins and microelements and limit alcohol consumption;
• Avoid stress and anxiety; if you have aching pain in your heart, contact a cardiologist.

In order to avoid relapses of the disease, treatment of primary neuritis should be comprehensive and carried out under the supervision of a doctor (see also: how to properly massage with neuritis of the facial nerve?). Do not self-medicate without being completely sure of the correct diagnosis.

Let's look at how to treat neuritis of the facial nerve with folk remedies, consider the best home recipes and reviews from readers of the newspaper "Bulletin of Healthy Lifestyle".

• What is inflammation (neuritis) of the facial nerve?
• Causes and symptoms.
• How to treat neuritis with folk remedies
• Gymnastics and massage for inflammation
• Paralysis (paresis) of the facial nerve
• Reviews

The facial nerve performs a motor function; it is responsible for the facial muscles. You can see where the facial nerve is in the picture.

Neuritis (inflammation) of the facial nerve is a pathology of one of the main motor nerves of the face, responsible for the movement of the facial muscles of the face, eyelids, and lips. This disease is otherwise called Bell's palsy, named after the doctor who first described the symptoms of facial neuritis.
Neurologist of the Health and Longevity Center N.V. Komarova gives advice on treating and identifying symptoms of inflammation of the facial nerve.

Causes of neuritis.

1. Hypothermia is the main cause of neuritis, especially hypothermia of the face and neck. It happened that a person’s mouth twisted when he drove by in a car with his head out of the window, another when he walked in the cold after a bath, a third’s eye stopped closing after working for a long time in a draft.
2. Infectious diseases are the second most popular cause of neuritis; the disease often develops against the background of influenza, sore throat, and rheumatism.
3. Facial injuries and tumors
4. Inflammation of the meninges.
5. Consequences of dental operations.

Symptoms of neuritis (inflammation) of the facial nerve are as follows:

1. Pain, aching or burning, especially in the ear and back of the head in the acute period of the disease.
2. Weakness and paralysis of the facial muscles of half the face
3. Watery eyes or, conversely, dry eyes
4. Dry mouth, taste disorders
5. Pathological exacerbation of hearing - even faint sounds seem loud and unnerving.
6. The face on the affected side becomes mask-like, this symptom is especially noticeable when smiling and laughing, which increase the asymmetry. The patient cannot frown, close an eye, or puff out his cheeks. During chewing, hard pieces of food remain between the gum and cheek, and liquid food pours out of the corners of the mouth due to poor closure of the lips; the patient often bites the inside of the cheek.
7. Slurred speech.

Neuritis and facial paralysis have become very common. The first symptoms by which you can recognize that inflammation is beginning to develop:

1. When you wake up in the morning and open your eyes, one eye opens easily, but the other has to be opened with your fingers.
2. There is a feeling that you are not chewing with your own teeth.
3. Cheeks go numb
4. The neck and ears begin to hurt, often this pain turns into a headache, sometimes unbearable.

If at least one of these symptoms occurs, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible, who will prescribe treatment for neuritis. Neuritis of the facial nerve can be cured completely, but the effectiveness of treatment will depend on the efforts of the patient himself. What should you do first?

Treatment of the facial nerve at home.

1. At the first symptoms of neuritis, you need to change your image - tie a warm scarf on your head that will cover your cheeks, neck, ears, and walk around in it at home. In winter, summer and autumn, go outside with a similar headdress. Even at night, wrap your head in a warm diaper. After a bath or shower, you can’t let your head, neck and back get cold.
2. Gymnastics will help quickly cure neuritis. Move your facial nerve: make grimaces in front of the mirror, puff out your cheeks, frown, portray different facial expressions. Constantly pronounce the sounds pa, pi, pe, po, pe, ka, ku, ke. Do the exercises 3 times a day for three weeks. When the face begins to “depart”, every point on it will hurt. There is no need to despair: if it hurts, it means it’s alive.
3. Rubbing is a simple way to treat facial neuritis at home. During the acute period of inflammation, rubbing is not recommended. But there are creams that contain mumiyo, they help well with neuritis. You need to rub your face, neck, back, covering the area of ​​the shoulder blades, wrap yourself in a flannel diaper and lie down on a bag of well-heated oats - the neck and shoulder blades should warm up well. Warm-up duration is 10-40 minutes.
4. Another available treatment method is massage of the facial nerve and face. It will be good if you find a qualified specialist, but if you live in a small town, you can do it yourself. Find the most painful points (paired) on the nose, above the eyebrows, on the cheeks. Massage them on both sides at once with your fingertips.
5. Acupuncture is an effective method for treating neuritis. But here you need to find a good specialist, which is not available to everyone. You can take a match and press on a point on the chin in the hollow. Finding the point is easy - if you have neuritis, then even light pressure causes acute pain. Hold the match until the pain goes away. Sometimes the pain goes to the point above the eyebrow. Hold the match there until the pain stops.
6. Exercises. With inflammation of the facial nerve, only one exercise will help - smooth circular rotation of the head, without throwing the head back. (Recipe from the newspaper “Vestnik ZOZH” 2005, No. 9 p. 10-11).

Drug treatment of neuritis.

• If the facial nerve is mildly affected, then with intensive treatment, neuritis can be completely cured in 2-3 weeks. But after months or years, a relapse is possible.
• If the nerve is moderately affected, then treatment lasts 7-8 weeks. If after 2 months of treatment for facial neuritis there are no signs of improvement, then complete recovery is unlikely to be possible. Consequences such as cramped facial muscles and tic-like twitching may remain.
• The following medications are prescribed for the treatment of neuritis: anti-inflammatory (aspirin, Brufen), decongestant (diuretic), antispasm (no-spa) drugs. Physiotherapy is prescribed locally: UHF, mud applications, massage, exercises for facial muscles.

How to cure facial neuritis with folk remedies.

Treatment of neuritis of the facial nerve with herbs is based on the fact that herbal medicine has a general strengthening effect on the body. Plants, having anti-inflammatory, antiviral diuretic, sedative, analgesic properties, have a positive effect on the course of diseases associated with neuritis, which neurologists usually do not deal with.
If the facial nerve was cold, and this was the cause of the disease, then the following folk remedies will help in the treatment of neuritis:

1. Mix equal parts mint leaf, elderberry, chamomile and linden flowers. 1 tbsp. l. collection, pour 500 ml of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, strain. Drink 1/4 glass every hour in the first days of illness. On the fourth day, drink 1/2 glass 3 times a day.
2. The same recipe, but instead of 1 part elderberry, take 1 part pine needles or buds, 1 part lingonberry leaves, 1 part willow bark, 2 parts raspberry leaves. Prepare and take in the same way.
3. Tincture recipe for external use. Take equal parts of marjoram, basil, lavender, rosemary, mix and pour in vodka in a weight ratio of 1:10. Leave for 2 weeks in a dark place. Apply this tincture to the affected facial muscles and cervical spine 3-4 times a day. After the procedure, wrap the sore areas with a warm scarf.
4. Bay lotions help speed up the treatment of facial neuritis very well. Pour 5-7 bay leaves with 0.5 cups of boiling water, leave for 8-10 hours. Fold the gauze into 4 layers and moisten it in a warm infusion, squeeze it lightly and apply it to the sore half of the face, wrap it and hold it until the gauze dries completely. It is better to do the procedure at night. Recipe from the newspaper Bulletin of Healthy Lifestyle 2011, No. 20 p. 6-7).

How to treat inflammation of the facial nerve at home?

• Advice from a neurologist of the highest category Zh.I. Kopylova.
  Facial neuritis most often develops in women after 40 years of age. The cause may be hypothermia, inflammation of the ear (otitis), compression - compression of the root of the facial nerve by a vein or artery, damage to the facial muscles.
  Facial neuritis can usually be cured after 3 weeks of active treatment.
  B vitamins, vasodilators and diuretics + potassium are prescribed. On the 5-6th day of illness, neuritis can be heated; dry heat in the form of heated bags of cereal, salt, flaxseed or a hot boiled egg, which is rolled along the nerve, is useful.
• Linden flowers are a simple folk remedy for neuritis.
  If the facial nerve is cold, then this folk remedy will help: brew 5 tablespoons of linden flowers with 2 cups of boiling water. Leave for 20 minutes and strain. Use for lotions and poultices. Recipe from the newspaper Bulletin of Healthy Lifestyle 2010, No. 16 p. 31.
• Treatment of a cold facial nerve using mumiyo.
  A man swam in a forest lake after a morning jog in November. As a result, inflammation of the facial nerve developed. People began going to physical therapy rooms, receiving injections, and receiving mud treatment at Crimean resorts. So 2 years passed. Until he was offered treatment for mumiyo neuritis. For 1 course you need 40-50 grams of mumiyo. The course consists of 10 rubbings. At night, wash well, moisten your face with water, and apply a layer of mumiyo. Put a clean surgical glove on your hand and rub the mumiyo for 3-5 minutes. The skin will become dry, blood circulation will increase, and the pain will immediately decrease. The man managed to completely cure facial neuritis in 3 courses. Between courses of treatment he took a break of 2 weeks. For prevention, you can conduct another course after six months. Review from the newspaper Vestnik ZOZH 2002, No. 14 p. 19.
• Treatment of neuritis of the facial nerve with a needle at home.
  Heat a metal needle on coals or a gas burner. Lightly prick the entire face with a hot needle, first the painful part, then the healthy part. Spot burns disappear quickly, leaving no trace. Recipe from the newspaper Bulletin of Healthy Lifestyle 2000, No. 19 p. 19.

Gymnastics and massage for inflammation of the facial nerve:

1. Sit in front of a mirror. If your eye does not close, try to close your eyes as hard as you can. Use your fingers to help keep your eye closed for 5 seconds. Then lower it. Do 5 repetitions of this exercise.
2. If your eyebrow is sagging, lift it with your finger, secure it in this position with an adhesive plaster and walk like this for 3 hours.
3. To ensure that the chewing muscles begin to work properly, sit in front of a mirror, rest your cheek on your hand and lift the drooping corner of your mouth. Then secure it with adhesive tape in an elevated position
4. Try to inflate balloons; if there are none, imitate this movement.
5. Take air into your mouth, rinse it, move it from side to side in your mouth. Do the same exercise with a sip of water, trying not to let it spill out.
   Pull your lips out like you would for a kiss and hold in this position for 5 seconds. Repeat the exercise 10-15 times. (Recipe from the newspaper Bulletin of Healthy Lifestyle 2009, No. 12 p. 28-29).

Paresis (paralysis) of the facial nerve is a neurological disease in which the motor function of facial muscles is impaired. Paresis of the facial nerve is quite common; the main cause of this disease is hypothermia of the body, especially the head.

Treatment of paralysis (paresis) of the facial nerve with folk remedies.

• A traditional method of treating facial palsy. Review.
  The woman suffered from paralysis for many years until she was given a prescription for treatment with Rhodiola rosea tincture.
  Recipe: you need to take 50 grams of dry crushed rhodiola roots, pour in 500 ml of vodka. Leave for 2 weeks in a dark place. Take 3 times a day half an hour before meals according to the following scheme: 1st day - 1 drop, 2nd day - 2 drops, ...., 15th day - 15 drops. From the 16th day, reduce one drop at a time until you reach 1 drop. Then a 2-week break and again the same course.
  After 3 months, the woman’s pain subsided, all symptoms disappeared, but she drank this tincture for another 2 years to consolidate the result. Review from the newspaper Bulletin of Healthy Lifestyle 2007, No. 11 p. 31-32.
• Wormwood poultices will help quickly cure facial nerve paresis.
  Pour 25 grams of dry wormwood with milk, boil for 10 minutes, strain. Place hot wormwood on a napkin with polyethylene underneath. Lie down on hot wormwood with your sore cheek. Lie until cool. To cure facial nerve paresis, 4-5 such procedures are enough. Recipe from the newspaper Bulletin of Healthy Lifestyle from Healthy Lifestyle 2007, No. 7 p. 31.
• Geranium.
  From conversations with traditional healer Klara Doronina.
  In case of paralysis of the facial nerve, a simple folk remedy will help in folk medicine - indoor geranium. To enhance the effect of treating paresis, you should not just occasionally apply a geranium leaf to a sore spot, but treat facial paralysis systematically, according to the scheme below, using geranium in compresses, applications, taking geranium infusion and oil orally, rubbing geranium oil into the affected muscles.

  How to make geranium oil at home. Place 1 cup of mashed pulp from fresh geranium leaves and flowers in a half-liter transparent jar. Pour 0.5 cups of medical alcohol. Close the lid tightly. Place in the sun for 2 weeks. Then fill the jar up to the shoulders with corn or olive oil. Cover tightly and place in the sun again for 2 weeks. Then strain, squeeze, pour the resulting geranium oil into bottles and close tightly.

Treatment of the facial nerve with geranium oil.
The following folk method is usually used:

• In the morning, take 1 tablespoon of regular vegetable oil into your mouth, suck for 10 minutes, spit out the resulting white mass, which has absorbed all the microbes. Rinse your nose and nasopharynx, brush your teeth. Take 1 teaspoon of geranium oil into your mouth, hold it for 5 minutes, as if rolling it in your mouth with your tongue, then swallow. Then chew watercress, radish, horseradish root or leaf, garlic, ginger for 1-2 minutes - you don’t have to swallow this. Change the plants for chewing every day.
  Then drink water (2 teaspoons of mashed fresh geranium pulp, pour a glass of cold boiled water, leave for 8 hours, drink in 5-6 doses) or alcohol (3 heaped tablespoons of geranium leaves and flowers ground into a pulp, pour 100 ml of alcohol. Infuse in dark, warm place for 3 days, take 15-20 drops) geranium infusion. Start the massage.
  The affected facial muscles are massaged by rubbing geranium oil, lightly tapping with the fingertips, then stroking the oil with light movements of the fingertips, turning them clockwise, without stretching the facial skin. The massage should not last more than 20 minutes. Then breakfast.
• At noon, a honey compress with aspirin is applied to the muscles affected by paralysis: spread a layer of honey on a napkin, sprinkle it with 4 tablets of crushed aspirin, hold for 1.5 hours. Wash off with warm serum.
• Before lunch, drink an infusion or tincture of geranium. Chew one of the irritating plants.
• At 16:00, drink 40 drops of tincture of peony evasive, make a compress from the same tincture on sore spots, diluting the peony tincture with water 1:2 (moisten a soft cotton napkin with the tincture, squeeze lightly, put on the face, covering all sore spots, paper on top for compresses, cotton wool, a fastening bandage. There is no need to walk with the compress, it is better to lie down for 45 minutes. Then remove the compress, rinse with warm serum, and lubricate the skin with geranium oil.
• Before dinner - infusion or tincture of geranium
• Before bed – peony tincture 40 drops.
• At night, make a compress cake according to the following recipe: 3 tbsp. l. with a heap of geranium leaves and flowers ground into a paste, pour 1 glass of cold whey, add 1 bottle of motherwort alcohol tincture. They insist from 8 am to 10 pm. So much flour is added to this tincture so that you can make a flat cake by adding a few drops of vegetable oil. This cake is rolled out and applied to the facial nerve area overnight. Recipe for the treatment of facial nerve paresis from the newspaper Vestnik ZOZH 2003, No. 13, p. 19.

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 an abrupt onset and, in the absence of proper treatment, serious consequences - in the advanced form of the disease, nerve fibers die and it is 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, and facial asymmetry. The causes of the disease consist of a number of provoking factors:

Main symptoms

The disease develops rapidly. Neuritis of the facial nerve is divided into primary (occurring for the first time due to hypothermia) and secondary (attached against the background of 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 examination, it will not be difficult for an experienced specialist to make a diagnosis and determine the location of the lesion of the facial nerve.

However, if we are not talking 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 the signs of a micro-stroke, the 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, complex treatment is prescribed. 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 the acute period, first of all, medications are prescribed 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 the acute condition is relieved, it is necessary to begin performing special gymnastics and a course of massage. 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 of the lymphatic and circulatory systems, 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 with the forearm and back of the neck, move to the occipital area and side of the neck, and end the session with a facial massage.

Pay special attention to facial massage. Perform with caution:

1. Place your hands in front of the ear. Pull the facial muscles on the healthy side down, on the sore side - up.
2. Using kneading movements, massage the muscles around the eyes in a clockwise direction.
3. Use your fingers to massage the wings of the nose in an upward direction for the healthy side, and in a downward direction for the sick side.
4. Rub the muscles in the area of ​​the bridge of the nose, move downwards on the healthy side, upwards on the sore side.

Acupuncture

A proven effective method of treating 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 involves inserting medical needles into active biological points. 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

By 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.

There are a large number of traditional medicine recipes that help overcome the disease. For this, herbs, tinctures, and beekeeping products are used. Warming 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 table salt or sand in a dry frying pan 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 onion juice, add beaten egg white to the resulting mixture 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

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.

Disease prevention

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 of essential vitamins and microelements and limit alcohol consumption;
• Avoid stress and anxiety; if you have 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. Do not self-medicate without being completely sure of the correct diagnosis.

In medicine, the facial nerve is called the “trigeminal” nerve. It consists of three so-called branches, which are located under the lower jaw, above the eyebrows and in the nose area.

For inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, medications, surgery, physical therapy, or home treatment are used. It is not difficult to recognize the disease; its symptoms are always pronounced and it is almost impossible to confuse them with other diseases.

Causes of inflammation

Experts divide the causes of inflammation of the facial nerve into two categories – internal and external. In all cases, the disease is caused by compression of the nerve branches. Only the methods of such influence differ.

With internal compression, the main cause of pain is considered to be injury, which results in the formation of tumors or adhesions. External factors include concomitant diseases of the mouth, nose or throat.

The most common causes of inflammation of the facial nerve are:

• facial hypothermia(weather conditions, washing with cold water, draft);
• inflammatory processes in the oral cavity(dental diseases);
• injuries and damage caused during dental procedures;
• poor quality dental work(for example, incorrect installation of a filling);
• formation of cholesterol plaques(usually observed in old age);
• vascular aneurysm(compression of the nerve occurs, as a result of which the inflammatory process begins);
• some viral and general diseases(allergies, mental disorders, disruption of the endocrine and digestive systems, decreased immunity);
• complications of infectious diseases(the hallmark is pain in the ear canal);
• Melkerson-Rosenthal syndrome(the disease belongs to the category of rare hereditary ones, in which swelling of the face is observed);
• Some careless actions can provoke inflammation(regular sudden movements when applying makeup, improper facial massage performed independently, etc.);
• regular alcohol consumption(ethyl alcohol has a negative effect on the nervous system and can cause inflammation of the nerve nodes);
• hormonal changes(pregnancy, taking hormonal drugs, age-related changes);
• internal tumors(the most common cause of neuritis of the facial nerve is a brain tumor);
• consequences of sinusitis and otitis(inappropriate treatment of diseases, premature termination of medication or procedures);
• blood pressure problems(hypertension can cause trigeminal neuritis);
• nervous system disorders, constant stress, depression.

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What are the symptoms?

Inflammation of the facial nerve is a disease that is always accompanied by severe pain. Attacks can occur suddenly and be periodic in nature.

The pain feels like an electric shock. The duration of a painful attack can be short-term or long-term, but on average an attack lasts at least several minutes.

In most cases, the patient is able to determine the location, but muscle spasms and pain tics can occur in different parts of the face and neck.

The main symptoms of inflammation of the facial nerve:

• sharp attacks of pain, aggravated by touching a certain area on the face;
• the presence of swelling in the area of ​​the source of pain (may be accompanied by redness of the skin due to poor circulation);
• pain in the eyeballs;
• muscle spasms (paralysis of part of the face is observed during an attack);
• dilated pupils;
• disorders of the jaw part (difficulty chewing food, closing the jaw);
• loss of skin sensitivity;
• decreased sense of taste;
• increased auditory sensitivity;
• dry eyes or watery eyes;
• thirst and dry mouth;
• nasal secretion;
• damage to the ear canal, tonsils and palate.

How to treat with folk remedies?

The most common method of treating facial neuritis is herbal medicine. A huge number of plants contain components that can relieve pain and speed up the healing process.

It is recommended to consult a doctor before using traditional medicine. If inflammation is accompanied by complications, then it will not be possible to get rid of it with herbs. In some cases, neuritis is treated exclusively with surgical methods.

Traditional medicine recipes for inflammation of the facial nerve:

• rubbing with black radish juice(the root vegetable must be grated, squeeze out the juice using gauze, and repeat the rubbing procedure several times a day);
• marshmallow decoction compress(marshmallow roots should be poured with boiling water and left to infuse for 12 hours, gauze or cotton wool should be soaked in the resulting infusion, and then the face should be wiped, the procedure should be repeated several times a day);
• flaxseed compress(flax seeds should be steamed, waited to cool, placed in a gauze bag and applied to the source of pain several times a day);
• fresh wormwood mask(the leaves of wormwood should be crushed as much as possible and poured boiling water, the mass should acquire the consistency of thick sour cream, after which a teaspoon of sea buckthorn oil is added to it, cooled and applied to the face in an even layer, the procedure is repeated several times a day);
• dark red rose petal tea(rose petals are brewed like regular tea, the decoction is consumed several times a day, acts as a sedative);
• black poplar bud ointment(butter and crushed black poplar buds are mixed in equal proportions, the mass is used as an ointment several times a day);
• rubbing with mumiyo solution(the product is sold in pharmacies and is a 10% solution; it should be applied to the face with a cotton pad 2-3 times a day);
• mixture of tinctures(in one glass you need to mix in equal quantities tincture of hawthorn, motherwort, calendula, marina root, add a teaspoon of honey and mix the ingredients thoroughly, take a teaspoon of the mixture in the morning before meals).

Inflammation of the facial nerve can be treated at home, but you must first consult with a specialist. The choice of medications, procedures and traditional medicine depends on the form and stage of the disease.

Self-medication can cause serious harm to health and lead to complications. Particular attention should be paid to non-drug prescriptions.

What to pay attention to:

• treatment of inflammation of the facial nerve with fir oil can lead to skin burns (when using any mixtures, a sensitivity test must be performed);
• It is better to avoid using a hot egg and other methods of heating (some causes of neuritis may worsen under the influence of heat);
• Ice compresses can cause hypothermia and worsen the disease;
• You cannot massage if the facial nerve is inflamed (only doctors have special skills, and self-massage can aggravate the situation and cause an exacerbation of neuritis);
• mechanical impact on the lymph nodes can lead to exacerbation of neuritis (do not press on the face, massage or otherwise influence the nerve nodes);
• During pregnancy, it is not recommended to give injections or take strong medications (substances included in medications can harm the health of the fetus and pose a threat to pregnancy);
• When using medications, you must carefully study the instructions (if there are contraindications, then you must definitely discard the medications).

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Methods for treating VSD with folk remedies - Prevention measures

The most effective measure to prevent inflammation (neuritis) of the facial nerve is considered paying attention to your health. If you receive facial injuries, you should consult a doctor and identify all possible consequences.

If there are diseases of the oral cavity, then they must be fully treated. Ignoring these factors can lead not only to severe pain, but also to significant impairment of appearance. Facial asymmetry, which occurs with trigeminal neuritis, can persist for many years.

The main preventive measures are:

• avoiding hypothermia of the face;
• prevention of facial injuries and their consequences;
• proper treatment of infectious and viral diseases;
• regular examination by the dentist and implementation of all necessary procedures;
• high-quality treatment of diseases associated with the oral cavity and ENT organs.

If during hygiene procedures or suddenly tingling occurs in different parts of the face, then you should contact a specialist for an examination. Inflammation of the facial nerve does not always manifest as sharp painful spasms.

Symptoms may appear gradually. For example, if you do not wear a hat in winter, neuritis will develop at a slower pace, which will turn into a serious disease that will have to be treated for a long time.

Additional tips in this video:

Inflammation of the facial nerve develops as a result of exposure to negative factors. A person begins to experience severe pain in the facial area. Doctors call this disease facial neuritis. Inflammation of the facial nerve can occur on one or both sides.

Causes of the disease

Before starting treatment for inflammation of the facial nerve, it is necessary to find out the cause of its occurrence. This will help you prescribe treatment as correctly as possible. Facial neuritis can occur as a result of inflammation of the middle ear. Sometimes the disease is the result of injuries to the base of the skull, ear or face. The presence of infectious diseases of the face and ear also leads to neuritis of the facial nerve.

The disease can occur as a result of intoxication, hypothermia, or improper actions of the dentist. If blood circulation is impaired, this disease also develops against the background of a cold. Diagnosis of facial nerve neuritis consists of identifying the causes, to eliminate which treatment is directed.

Symptoms of the disease

The facial nerve is responsible for the activity of the facial muscles. When it becomes inflamed, a person experiences a feeling of stiffening of the face. The patient's appearance during this period deteriorates significantly. His face becomes distorted and the corners of his mouth droop on one or both sides. If the facial nerve is inflamed on one or both sides, then the eyelids of the corresponding eye open wide and the patient cannot close them.

The presence of the disease can be judged by the numbness of the face. A person loses the ability to control facial muscles. Some patients complain of increased sensitivity to loud sounds and changes in taste sensations. The presence of tinnitus and pain in this area are also a symptom of the disease. Patients complain of hearing loss. The disease can cause watery or dry eyes. Some patients with this disease experience scanty salivation, while others experience excessive salivation.

The appearance of these symptoms indicates the close location of the facial nerve to the intermediate and auditory nerves. With severe inflammation of the facial nerve, these nerves are also involved in the pathological process. During neuritis, a person experiences acute pain in the facial area. The pain is characterized by paroxysmal pain. It appears in the following areas of the face:

• lips;
• gum;
• jaws;
• language.

With neuritis of the facial nerve, pain can occur as a result of talking, brushing teeth, or strong emotions. When this disease appears, the patient cannot live a full life. The slightest movements of the facial muscles cause him discomfort.

During active treatment of facial nerve neuritis, as well as in severe forms of the disease, watching TV and the load on the facial muscles is better to reduce. This will help avoid excessive tearing, tension in the facial muscles and, accordingly, speed up the healing process.

Important! Only a doctor can establish an accurate diagnosis after a comprehensive examination.

Consequences

If you start treatment for facial neuritis or ignore the doctor’s recommendations, the consequences can be serious:

• synkinesis - friendly movements. Due to the disease, some of the nerve fibers die. Therefore, one nerve can control many muscles. Thus, when blinking, the corner of the mouth may rise;
• muscle atrophy - can occur due to impaired innervation of muscles and their inactivity;
• conjunctivitis – develops due to the inability to completely close the eyes;
• spontaneous contraction of facial muscles;
• muscle contracture - tightening of the facial muscles on the affected side of the face.

Is hospitalization required?

Treatment for facial neuritis must be started as quickly as possible to avoid irreversible consequences. Only a neurologist can prescribe the necessary treatment, including medications, physiotherapy, massage, physical therapy, and acupuncture. Due to the rather complex therapy and the possibility of serious consequences of the disease, the best solution would be hospitalization. Treatment in a day hospital under the supervision of a doctor is also possible.

Treatment of neuritis

Treatment of neuritis can be carried out at home using several methods: facial gymnastics, folk remedies and drug treatment.

Mimic gymnastics

Facial gymnastics helps restore nervous system control over the facial muscles, improves blood circulation, and prevents contraction of facial muscles. There are many facial exercises. Among them are:

• whistling;
• dilation of the nostrils;
• smile with a closed mouth;
• raising eyebrows up and down;
• smile with an open mouth;
• puffing out the cheeks;
• exposure of teeth, raising and lowering the upper and lower lips alternately;
• squinting;
• blinking;
• folding the lips into a “tube”;
• lip smacking.

Features of treatment using traditional medicine

This disease requires immediate initiation of timely treatment. Otherwise, the consequences can be disastrous. When the first signs of the disease occur, it is imperative to seek help from a doctor. If this is not possible, treatment of inflammation of the facial nerve can be done at home.

Today, there are many traditional medicine recipes that have proven effective in treating the facial nerve.

Rose tea

A fairly simple and cheap, yet effective remedy is rose tea. To prepare this medicine, take two teaspoons of rose petals. The color of the petals must be red. They are crushed. If you are taking dry petals, then this action can be done with your hands, but when using fresh petals, you need to use a knife. The resulting rose mass is poured with one glass of boiling water. The medicine must be taken in the form of tea, several glasses a day. This medicine must be used within three weeks.

Black cumin seeds

Black cumin is known for many healing properties, the main of which is strengthening the immune system. For neuritis of the facial nerve, you need to breathe in vapors of a pre-prepared remedy:

• crush and crush cumin seeds;
• soak in vinegar for 12 hours.

Also, to strengthen the general condition of the body, it is recommended to eat a teaspoon of black cumin seeds after meals.

Fir oil

Fir oil is used to treat this disease. You can buy the medicine at the pharmacy. Fir oil is rubbed daily onto the area of ​​inflammation of the facial nerve.

Important! It is necessary to use fir oil as a medicine for no more than two weeks.

Mumiyo

Mumiyo is a complex but effective folk treatment method. It can be purchased at a pharmacy. Mumiyo must be rubbed every day into the area of ​​the temporal part of the face.

Important! When using this method, only a ten percent solution of the drug is used.

The second stage of treatment involves taking a special mixture orally. To do this, take one glass of milk, in which a few drops of mumiyo and one teaspoon of honey are dissolved. This medicine can be used to treat nerve inflammation on the face for no more than twenty days. If the disease does not go away completely as a result of its use, you can take a break for 10 days and undergo the course of treatment again.

Salt

Regular table salt is very helpful for facial neuralgia. It is heated in a dry frying pan and poured into a fabric bag, which is applied to the inflamed area of ​​the face. The salt should not be very hot so that during the procedure the patient does not burn the skin of the face.

Lilac

An effective folk remedy in the treatment of the facial nerve is medicinal ointment from lilac buds. You need to take one tablespoon of lilac buds, grind them into powder and mix with lard in a ratio of 1:4. The medication is stored in the refrigerator. It is rubbed into the affected area of ​​the face daily.

Sagebrush

When the facial nerve is damaged, wormwood is often used. Recipe:

1. To prepare the medicine, take 1 tablespoon of dried wormwood flowers and pour one and a half glasses of boiling water.
2. The medicine is infused for 3-4 hours, and then filtered.
3. The resulting infusion should be rubbed into the affected areas of the face.

Egg

To treat inflammation of the facial nerve, you can use a chicken egg.

1. The white of a raw egg is separated and placed in a glass container.
2. Add pure turpentine in the amount of one tablespoon and mix well.
3. The resulting medicine is moistened with a clean cloth or gauze and applied to the area of ​​the facial nerve.
4. The lotion must be kept on the face for 10 minutes. The procedure is repeated after 7–8 hours.

Important! When preparing the medicine, you need to separate the egg white as carefully as possible. Otherwise, the medicine will be ineffective.

Massage

If the facial nerve is inflamed, acupressure can be performed at home to help relax it. This action is not difficult to perform, which allows any patient to use the method. After the massage, the patient’s face is lubricated with a medicine made from honey and black radish juice, which are mixed in equal quantities.

Coltsfoot

To treat the disease, you can use coltsfoot. One tablespoon of this herb is poured into a glass of boiling water and infused for an hour. The medication is taken before meals in the amount of 1 tablespoon. The patient should take four to six doses of medication per day.

Dog hair

To treat neuritis of the facial nerve, dog hair is used. It needs to be wrapped with gauze so that you get a small “pad” measuring approximately 10 by 10 centimeters. It must be applied to the inflamed area and wrapped with a scarf. Wear without removing for 7–8 hours. Rubbing with ointments with a local irritating effect, for example Zvezdochka, also helps. After this, the affected area should be wrapped with a bandage made of dog hair.

Elecampane root

Very often in folk medicine, crushed elecampane root is used to treat the facial nerve. Take it in the amount of one teaspoon and pour a glass of boiling water. The tincture is aged for 10 hours. The medication is taken orally along the line of glasses. The patient must take from 1 to 4 doses of medication per day.

To treat inflammation of the facial nerve, it is necessary to collect the rhizome of the tall plant. This herb is crushed and infused with 40 percent alcohol. The ratio of high alcohol and alcohol should be 1:10. The tincture is aged for a week. The medication is taken in the morning and evening - 30-40 drops. You need to take the drug with plenty of water.

If you do not have the time or opportunity to collect herbs to prepare medicine, then you can use ordinary potatoes for treatment. Juice is squeezed out of it and a quarter glass is drunk daily.

All folk remedies are effective in treating inflammation of the facial nerve. But before using them, it would be best to consult a doctor. He will be able to most accurately diagnose and prescribe treatment to eliminate the cause, which does not exclude the use of folk remedies.

Hirudotherapy

Treatment of facial neuritis with leeches is gaining increasing popularity. The healing effect is observed due to the properties of leech saliva: it restores the necessary nutrition of tissues, dilates blood vessels, and relieves pain. Thus, the use of hirudotherapy for neuritis gives:

• relieving inflammation;
• pain reduction;
• improvement of vascular function;
• strengthening the immune system;
• removal of edema.

Leeches are placed along the inflamed nerve. 4–6 individuals are used at a time, depending on the affected area. Such treatment must be agreed with your doctor.

Treatment is medicinal

Drug treatment of facial nerve neuritis is carried out according to a specific scheme. Depending on the cause of the disease and its period, different remedies are effective:

• glucocorticoids – Prednisolone, which has a strong anti-inflammatory effect;
• antiviral drugs;
• B vitamins – help improve the functioning of nerve fibers;
• vasodilators - Nicotinic acid, Complamin - improve blood circulation;
• decongestants – Furosemide, Triampur – to reduce edema and prevent the progression of pathological changes;
• painkillers – Indomethacin;
• anticholinesterase drugs - Prozerin, Galantamine - to improve the conductivity of nerve fibers;
• medications that stimulate metabolic processes - Nerobol.

Prozerin

Prozerin is an anticholinesterase drug. It helps improve signal conduction along nerve fibers to muscles, which increases their tone and restores the functions of the affected nerve. Prozerin is prescribed from the second week of treatment, one tablet 1-2 times a day, thirty minutes before meals. The course is a month and a half. If contracture of the facial muscles appears, the drug is discontinued.

Nicotinic acid

Nicotinic acid is a vasodilator vitamin. Prescribed to improve blood circulation in the area of ​​the inflamed nerve. Nicotinic acid also regulates metabolic processes. The drug is prescribed in the form of tablets or injections. Orally – 0.025–0.05 grams 2–3 times a day after meals for a month. 0.002–0.003 g per 1 kg of body weight is administered intramuscularly once a day.

Antibiotics for neuritis

Antibiotics for the treatment of facial neuritis are prescribed in case of bacterial infection. The best effect will be with intramuscular administration of antibiotics, since oral administration reduces and slows down the effect of the drug. In such cases, Amoxiclav or Claforan are prescribed. The need to use antibiotics in each individual case is determined by the attending physician after identifying the cause of neuritis.

Questions for the doctor

Is it possible to give birth with facial neuritis?

Answer: It is possible to give birth with neuritis of the facial nerve. As a rule, the condition does not worsen after childbirth. However, it is better to cure the disease before planning a pregnancy in order to avoid serious consequences. In an “interesting” state and after childbirth, treatment of neuritis becomes more complicated, since many drugs are contraindicated. Sometimes a long-term neuritis can make itself felt after childbirth.

How to sleep with facial neuritis?

Answer: The position of a person in sleep with neuritis of the facial nerve does not matter. It is better to choose a comfortable position - on your back, stomach or side. If the latter position is chosen, it is recommended to sleep on the side where the side of the face is inflamed.