What causes trigeminal neuralgia?
Today I will share with you the knowledge of trigeminal neuralgia and how it is caused. If it happens to solve the problem you are currently facing, don't forget to follow this site. Let's start now! What causes trigeminal neuralgia? What are the factors that cause trigeminal neuralgia? This is a question that many people want to know because everyone knows that trigeminal neuralgia is a highly harmful disease. Therefore, understanding the etiology of trigeminal neuralgia is very helpful for preventing the occurrence of the disease. So what are the factors that cause trigeminal neuralgia? Let's take a detailed look.
1. Excessive consumption of stimulating foods In addition to nutritional imbalances, long-term consumption of stimulating foods can also lead to trigeminal neuralgia. Examples of such foods include excessively hot or cold foods, nicotine in cigarettes causing blood vessel constriction, strong tea enhancing neural excitability and causing small artery spasms, cheese, pickled fish, and pickles containing tyramine, and ham containing nitrites. These foods can cause cerebral vasodilation and stimulate nerves, leading to trigeminal neuralgia. This is one of the etiological factors of trigeminal neuralgia.
2. Trigeminal neuralgia caused by peripheral pathologies Any lesion occurring in any part of the trigeminal nerve from the peripheral terminal to the brainstem nucleus can stimulate the trigeminal nerve, causing physiological dysfunction and organic changes in the central nervous system, resulting in paroxysmal severe pain within the distribution area of the trigeminal nerve and causing trigeminal neuralgia.
3. Stimulation of pain trigger points Neglecting the protection of pain trigger points is also one of the causes of trigeminal neuralgia. About half of trigeminal neuralgia patients have one or more particularly sensitive trigger points on their faces. A slight touch can trigger pain, which then radiates throughout the body. The location and size of each patient's trigger point varies. They can be as small as a single point or a single beard hair and are mostly found on the lips, nostrils, cheeks, mouth corners, tongue, and eyes.
4. Psychological stimulation Some trigeminal neuralgia patients have a condition where the more afraid they are of headaches, the more severe their headaches become. A small number of patients may have difficulty releasing their emotions and moods due to their illness, causing them to worry about the pain and feel anxious and depressed, which leads to trigeminal neuralgia attacks. Studies have shown that under the same painful stimulus, individuals with calm emotions have a lighter pain response.
5. Genetic factors Some diseases in daily life have genetic factors. According to relevant surveys, 2% of trigeminal neuralgia patients have parents who have suffered from trigeminal neuralgia. 6. Stress and high tension A large part of trigeminal neuralgia is triggered by long-term intense emotional stress. Especially for office workers who are constantly under high stress and pressure, their nerves are tense and emotions are inevitably tense. Patients must pay special attention to this. The more you fear the pain, the more it will manifest. If the patient is in a state of high tension for a long time, feeling listless, it can easily worsen the condition of trigeminal neuralgia.
How is trigeminal neuralgia caused? In addition to the causes mentioned above, the occurrence of trigeminal neuralgia is also related to the lack of trace elements such as iron. This situation mainly affects older people, as primary trigeminal neuralgia is more common in individuals over 50 years old, and it is often associated with atherosclerosis and cerebral ischemia. Therefore, it has been proposed that primary trigeminal neuralgia is caused by the repeated ischemia of the nerve cells in the trigeminal ganglion.
There are effective treatments for trigeminal neuralgia. How is trigeminal neuralgia caused? The trigeminal nerve is the fifth cranial nerve among the cranial nerves and is one of the mixed cranial nerves. Many people often experience trigeminal neuralgia in their daily lives. What is the reason behind this? What are the causes of trigeminal neuralgia? Let's understand it together.
In fact, there are four main causes of trigeminal neuralgia. Firstly, vascular compression; secondly, tumor compression; thirdly, infection and degenerative changes; and finally, idiopathic causes. As we all know, the structure of the brain is very complex, so the causes of many diseases are also complex. If you have a tumor in your skull, it will cause pain, known as secondary trigeminal neuralgia. As you age, arteriosclerosis may occur, which means that the elasticity of blood vessels decreases, and the blood vessels exert pressure on the trigeminal nerve, resulting in trigeminal neuralgia.
Trigeminal neuralgia is actually a common neurological disorder. It is necessary to take medications such as carbamazepine under the guidance of a doctor. If the effect is not satisfactory after taking the medication, it is necessary to go to the hospital for surgical treatment. In addition, in daily life, it is important to pay attention to a light diet, maintain a happy mood, and also take active measures to keep the head and face warm and cooperate with treatment. It is important to pay attention to daily habits, use warm water when brushing teeth and washing the face, avoid excessive emotional fluctuations, and engage in physical exercise and relaxation activities in leisure time, such as listening to music.
How is trigeminal neuralgia caused? Trigeminal neuralgia can be divided into primary and secondary types. Secondary trigeminal neuralgia includes brain lesions and vascular compression. The etiology and pathogenesis of primary trigeminal neuralgia have not been clearly determined by Western medicine, but Traditional Chinese Medicine believes it is related to liver and kidney problems.
Gender and Age: Trigeminal neuralgia is more common in middle-aged and elderly individuals, with a higher prevalence in females compared to males, at a ratio of approximately 3:2. Pain Location: The pain is more commonly on the right side than the left. It starts from a specific area in the face, mouth, or jaw and spreads to one or multiple branches of the trigeminal nerve. The second and third branches are most commonly affected, while the first branch is less commonly affected. The pain is limited to the facial midline and does not exceed the distribution area of the trigeminal nerve. Occasionally, bilateral trigeminal neuralgia may occur, accounting for 3% of cases.
Nature of Pain: The pain is described as severe, with sensations such as cutting, stabbing, tearing, burning, or electric shocks. It is often intolerable and can greatly affect the quality of life. Pattern of Pain: Trigeminal neuralgia attacks often occur without warning, but the pattern of pain attacks is usually regular. Each episode of pain lasts only a few seconds to a few minutes and suddenly stops. In the early stages, there are fewer attacks and longer intermission periods, ranging from a few minutes to a few hours. As the condition progresses, the attacks become more frequent, the intermission periods shorten, and the pain intensifies. Pain attacks are usually reduced at night, and there are no discomforts during intermissions.
Trigger Factors: Talking, eating, washing the face, shaving, brushing teeth, and exposure to wind can trigger pain attacks. This often leads to a decline in mental and physical well-being, with patients being cautious in their actions, and even avoiding activities such as washing the face, brushing teeth, and eating, speaking with caution, fearing to trigger an attack.
Trigger Points: Trigger points, also known as "trigger zones," are often located on the upper lip, nasal wings, gums, corners of the mouth, tongue, eyebrows, etc. Light touch or stimulation of trigger points can provoke pain attacks. Facial Expressions and Facial Changes: During an attack, patients often abruptly stop speaking or eating, and the affected side of the face may exhibit spasms, known as "painful spasms." Patients may furrow their brows, clench their teeth, open their mouths, cover their eyes, or vigorously rub their facial skin, leading to roughness, thickening of the local skin, eyebrow loss, conjunctival congestion, tearing, and drooling. Facial expression is characterized by mental tension and anxiety.
[Beijing Luming Trigeminal Nerve Hospital] is a designated hospital under the national medical insurance system that specializes in treating trigeminal neuralgia. The treatment expenses can be reimbursed. Director Wang Yueling is highly regarded. What are the causes of trigeminal neuralgia? The duration of each episode of trigeminal neuralgia pain varies, it could be a few seconds or it could last one to two minutes and then suddenly stop. In daily life, there are many small things that could potentially be the cause of trigeminal neuralgia.
For some patients, their episodes are related to the weather, with more frequent occurrences during winter and spring. Therefore, trigeminal neuralgia patients should pay attention to their diet in daily life and keep their facial area warm when going out in windy or cold weather. The most important thing is to actively seek treatment.
How is trigeminal neuralgia caused? With the improvement of technological level and the rapid development of industry and urban business, environmental and noise pollution has become increasingly serious, even affecting normal human life. Trigeminal neuralgia behind the ear is mostly caused by this reason. So how can trigeminal neuralgia be relieved and treated?
1. Causes and Treatment (1) Currently, there are many causes for trigeminal neuralgia behind the ear, and we need to treat it according to the symptoms. If it is caused by bad emotions or lack of sleep leading to occipital neuralgia, we should first adjust our emotions and avoid excessive stress. If the pain is unbearable, seek medical attention promptly. In terms of medication, under the guidance of a doctor, we can take Carbamazepine tablets for treatment. This medication can effectively alleviate the pain, so it is recommended for everyone to use it.
(2) In addition, if patients choose traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia behind the ear, they can undergo acupuncture and massage under the guidance of a doctor. This method can stimulate the acupoints behind the ear and temporarily relieve the condition. For patients with mild symptoms, it can be very effective. Of course, during the treatment, patients should rest in bed more and try not to overthink or strain their brain. In the treatment and recovery period, they can also alleviate symptoms through diet therapy.
2. Diet therapy 1. Sunflower pan-fried: [Ingredients] Sunflower. [Method] Remove the seeds from the sunflower and tear it into several pieces to boil in water. [Efficacy] Calming the liver. Used for trigeminal neuralgia. [Dosage] 3 times/day. 2. Pig brain and gastrodia soup: [Ingredients] 1 pig brain, 2g gastrodia.
[Method] Grind the gastrodia into powder, and stew it together with the pig brain in an appropriate amount of water over low heat for 1 hour. Remove the residue. [Efficacy] Tonifying the kidney and filling the marrow, nourishing the brain and relieving pain. Used for trigeminal neuralgia. [Dosage] Drink the soup and eat the pig brain. 1 dose/day, take it in multiple servings, and consume regularly.
3. Angelica wine: [Ingredients] 30g angelica, 1000mL wine. [Method] Boil the angelica with the wine until it reduces to 600mL. [Efficacy] Nourishing the blood, promoting blood circulation, and relieving pain. Used for trigeminal neuralgia. [Dosage] Drink an appropriate amount regularly. 4. Walnut and yellow wine drink:
[Ingredients] 5 walnut kernels, 50g sugar, 50mL yellow wine. [Method] Crush the walnut kernels and sugar into a paste, add 50mL of yellow wine, and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. [Efficacy] Promoting meridian circulation, invigorating kidney qi. Used for trigeminal neuralgia with kidney qi deficiency.
[Dosage] 1 dose/day, take it in 2 servings, and consume regularly. 5. Longan and stewed chicken eggs: [Ingredients] 100g dried longan, 2 eggs, sugar to taste. [Method] Crush an appropriate amount of dried longan, stew it with the eggs and an appropriate amount of water until the eggs are cooked. Remove the eggshells, then stew for another hour and add sugar.
[Efficacy] Nourishing the heart, calming the mind, nourishing the blood, and invigorating the spleen. Used for trigeminal neuralgia with heart and spleen deficiency. [Dosage] Eat the eggs and drink the soup. 1 dose/day, take it in 2 servings, and consume regularly. 3. Daily care 1. Have regular meals and choose soft and easy-to-chew foods. For patients whose pain is triggered by chewing, they should consume liquid foods and avoid eating fried foods, as well as avoid consuming stimulating, overly acidic or sweet foods, and cold foods. The diet should be nutritious, with more intake of foods rich in vitamins and with detoxifying effects. Eat more fresh fruits, vegetables, and soy products, and less fatty meat. The diet should be light.
2. Rinse your mouth after eating, speak gently, brush your teeth, and wash your face with gentle movements to avoid triggering trigeminal neuralgia. Avoid eating stimulating foods such as onions. 3. Pay attention to keeping the head and face warm, avoid local freezing or dampness, and avoid washing the face with excessively cold or hot water. Maintain emotional stability, avoid excitement, and avoid fatigue, staying up late, and listening to gentle music frequently. Maintain a calm mood and ensure sufficient sleep.
4. Maintain a cheerful spirit, avoid mental stimulation, and try to avoid touching "trigger points." Maintain a regular daily routine, keep the indoor environment quiet, tidy, and fresh. The bedroom should be free from drafts. Engage in appropriate physical exercise, exercise the body, and enhance physical fitness.
Seven causes of trigeminal neuralgia In daily life, people may experience sudden facial pain. If this symptom occurs, it is likely trigeminal neuralgia. Therefore, everyone must pay special attention. What are the specific causes of trigeminal neuralgia? 1. Pathological damage: Abnormal discharge of the trigeminal spinal nucleus and sensory nucleus in the brainstem, thalamic damage, and pathological bone cavities in the upper and lower jaws.
2. Nerve conduction disorders: Anatomical abnormalities, vascular malformations, inflammatory bone membrane in the bone pore area, arteriosclerosis, etc., causing compression or damage to the trigeminal sensory root or ganglion and the surrounding branches, resulting in demyelination and impaired nerve impulses.
3. Invasion of Wind-Cold: Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that trigeminal neuralgia is caused by external wind-cold invasion and internal deficiency of fire. Wind, fire, coldness, and phlegm invade the meridians of the three yang channels, causing phlegm and blood stasis, and Qi and blood stagnation, resulting in pain.
4. Nutritional deficiency: Some patients do not pay attention to their diet, often eat vegetarian or skip staple foods, and blindly go on a diet, leading to a lack of necessary nutritional components in their bodies, which can trigger pain. Excessive vegetarianism or skipping staple foods may also worsen trigeminal neuralgia.
5. Eating stimulating foods: Drinking strong tea can enhance nerve excitement, leading to small arterial spasm. Foods such as dry cheese, pickled fish, and pickles contain a lot of tyramine, and ham contains nitrites. These foods can all cause cerebral vasodilation, leading to pain. 6. Psychological stimulation:
A small number of patients cannot relax emotionally and mentally, constantly furrowing their brows and constantly worrying about the impending headache. As a result, liver stagnation and qi stagnation occurs, which turns into fire over time and disturbs the brain, leading to painful attacks of trigeminal neuralgia.
7. Not protecting the pain trigger points: About half of the patients have one or more facial trigger points, which can easily be touched and trigger a pain attack if not careful. The location and size of the patient's trigger points vary, ranging from as small as a point or a whisker to larger areas such as the lips, nostrils, cheeks, corners of the mouth, tongue, and eyes.
How trigeminal neuralgia is caused, let's end the introduction here. Thank you for taking the time to read our content on how trigeminal neuralgia is caused. Don't forget to search for more information about how trigeminal neuralgia is caused on this site.
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