Neuritis is ... Neuritis: symptoms, treatment, diagnosis, causes, consequences

Many, probably, have heard of such an insidious disease as neuritis. What it is? What are the symptoms of the disease? How to treat neuritis? This will be discussed in the article.

Characteristic

Neuritis is a disease that involves complex changes in the structure of nerve tissues and has an inflammatory character. The disease affects all parts of the affected part of the nerve endings, including a change in the normal functioning of the nerve roots, ligaments and plexuses.

Neuritis is an ailment that is characterized by a decrease in the sensitivity of nerve endings, the presence of pain sensations. There may also be a loss of motor function by the organs. In acute form, it can go into paralysis of the affected parts of the body.

Types of neuritis

In the area of the damaging effect, neuritis is divided into:

• Mononeurrites affect one nerve or site, consist in depriving the ability of the affected area to perform the functions of signaling and pulses in the central nervous system.
• Polyneuritis immobilizes several nerve endings or chains and, as a rule, is characterized by a longer course of the disease.

Causes of neuritis

Why does neuritis occur? The causes of the disease are external or internal.

External neuritis is caused by:

• Influence of various toxic and poisonous substances (carbon monoxide, phosphorus compounds, substances with arsenic and mercury content). Among them: food, medications or a disease, provoked by the influence of bad habits.
• Pinching or squeezing the nerve with the mobile joints of the body or during surgical treatment. In a separate group of nerve diseases due to hernia discs between the vertebrae or small sizes of bone or muscle areas interacting with the damaged nerves.
• Violations of a different nature or traumatic effects.

Reasons that are internal:

• As a cause of the disease, diets, based on the restriction of the intake of the necessary compounds or groups of nutrient components, can act.
• Inflammatory processes in the occipital, facial, trigeminal nerve nodes associated with general or local hypothermia.
• Processes of inflammatory nature, due to genetic predisposition.
• Complications of infectious diseases, such as measles, influenza, herpes, malaria.
• Excess body weight, metabolic disorders.
• Rheumatism.
• Dysfunction of the endocrine and thyroid glands.
• Effects of allergens.
• Pregnancy.

Neuritis is an ailment that can be caused by exposure:

• Viruses that penetrate into the body when infected with virus infections such as influenza and herpes;
• Bacteria, which are in the body with diseases of otitis, angina, cystitis, bronchitis.

Neuritis: symptoms of the disease

As external symptoms, the manifestations of neuritis are a decrease in the sensitivity of the nerve areas and the violation of musculoskeletal activity in the areas affected by the disease, as well as a feeling of tingling or numbness in them. In the period of trophic changes, it is possible to increase the fragility of the nails, hair loss, a decrease in the dermis layer and the appearance of dry skin effect, the appearance of swelling and characteristic places of bluish shade.

However, it is impossible to unequivocally determine the disease for these symptoms, since they can be caused by other causes. Therefore, often in the diagnosis of this pathology requires a separate study of the affected organ.

Is it visible to the naked eye neuritis? The photos in the article show us that external manifestations are mostly absent. All symptoms annoy the person from within. But there are some exceptions, which we'll talk about later.

Features of symptoms for different organs

With auditory nerve neuritis, hearing loss and noise effects in the affected ear are observed. Since the disease can be caused by the use of antibiotics, the action of carcinogenic and toxic substances, and also the result of some infectious disease, careful examination of the patient's medical record is necessary. With this type of disease, a vestibular apparatus may be disrupted due to a lesion of the nerve that transmits a signal from it to the brain.

Neuritis of the optic nerve is expressed in disorders of visual function of varying degrees of deviation, resulting from inflammatory processes of the nervous system. The disease can be expressed by narrowing the field of vision or partial loss of visual acuity.

Neuritis of the sciatic region is expressed in a decrease in the mobile function of the foot and toes, the difficulty of performing the knee bend. The skin with the disease is dry and cool, but with a prolonged course of the disease can have a bluish tint and peel off.

With ulnar nerve disease, impaired motor function is manifested in the practical absence of motion of the little finger when trying to collect fingers in the fist.

Lesion of the radial nerve often occurs as a result of pinching, a prolonged period of using crutches, due to pregnancy or the development of complications of an infectious disease. It manifests itself in a violation of the ability to fold / unbend the arm, hand, forearm, or deflection of the thumb.

When the nerve of the shoulder region is affected, characteristic symptoms are the limitation of the amplitude of movements, a reduction in muscle strength, pain sensations that are pronounced, a change in the sensitivity of the skin.

Disease of the facial nerve is expressed in a violation of the ability to control mimic reactions, folds on the forehead from the inflamed area, distortion of facial features, impaired ability to control the muscles of the mouth and eyes. When the disease is characterized by a violation of taste, increased tear or dryness of the eyes. Often, the disease is caused by a combination of the action of viral infections and local or general hypothermia of the body.

The ailment of the solar plexus area is characterized by pains that spread throughout the abdominal surface, stool discomfort, nausea, vomiting, swelling of the intestines with a feeling of chills or vascular spasms.

The defeat of the femoral nerve is manifested in the complication of extension of the legs in the knee joint and a general decrease in the sensitivity of the lower half of the thigh and the entire surface located in front and inside the shin.

Neuritis: diagnosis

The essence of the diagnosis is the precise establishment of the specific type of disease by the available symptoms and with the use of technical means of organ damage. In the process of examining the patient, the neurologist can be identified violations in the functioning of the motor function, for which the practice of functional tests is practiced. The essence of their implementation consists in trying to perform the patient's exercises to exclude or confirm the inherent damaging effects of this type of neuritis.

If a neuritis is suspected, the initial diagnosis is to analyze the symptoms of the affected area with a further focus on electroneurography. Study by this method makes it possible to determine the region and depth of lesion of nerve cells, to identify possible options for the further course of the disease and the ways of its treatment. To determine the diagnosis more accurately, methods of modern medicine are used, based on the electrical conductivity of the neural chains.

Treatment

How to treat neuritis? Before the start of therapy, it is necessary to undergo a complete examination to identify a set of causes that have influenced the development of the disease. At this stage, all factors and risks that can cause complications in the process of performing therapeutic operations are evaluated and eliminated. The effectiveness of treatment depends on the patient's age. The younger the patient, the faster and more efficiently the neuritis is treated. If it is timely, conducted using complex methods, this will prevent destructive processes in the damaged nerve.

Nature of the disease and its treatment

Neuritis is an ailment that can have a different nature. The therapy will also be different. To begin with, accurate diagnosis is necessary, and after that, treatment for neuritis is prescribed. Drugs should be taken strictly according to the doctor's instructions. Self-medication can only exacerbate the situation.

Treatment of neuritis:

• Having a bacterial nature, is the use of sulfonamides and antibiotics;
• Having a viral nature, is characterized by the use of "Interferon" and "Gamma globulin" ;
• Traumatic nature in the acute phase is the immobilization of the affected organ, the use of analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs, B vitamins and the further use after a few weeks of biogenic stimulants;
• Having a vascular nature, consists in the use of drugs that dilate blood vessels, such as "Euphyllinum", "Papaverin", "Complamine";
• Having a tunnel syndrome is carried out with the help of local administration of "Novocain" and "Hydrocortisone" into the affected part of the canal.

The use of surgical intervention and its necessity are studied on the basis of the performed analyzes and examination of the neurosurgeon. In determining the compressed state of the nerve, a decision may be made to carry out an operation to release it. Neck stitching or plastic surgery is performed in the absence of positive dynamics of return to the damaged area of functional abilities or diagnosed nerve degeneration.

Treatment with medicines includes taking anti-inflammatory drugs, performing physiotherapeutic sessions after the first week of treatment, correcting the water-salt balance of the body, administering therapy with vitamins. For the affected areas in the zone of the trigeminal and glossopharyngeal nerves, treatment with anticonvulsants and antidepressants is prescribed.

When implementing complex therapy for neuritis, physiotherapy is applied, which includes the use of impulse current, exposure to high frequency currents, ultrasound and electrophoresis to restore the functionality of the damaged nerve. In the absence of contraindications for therapy, massage in combination with exercise therapy is used.

In the case of a long period of recovery of the nervous function of the affected area, the use of chamber hydro-galvanic sessions, induction procedures and mud baths is practiced. In the period of possible changes in the positive dynamics in the treatment, radon baths, mud and therapy using high-frequency plants are prescribed.

Complications caused by the disease

What are the consequences of neuritis? Provided untimely diagnosis of the disease and seeking medical help, possible complications can have the following character:

• In the future, there may be sustained violations of movement and coordination of damaged organs.
• Full or partial reduction of strength in muscles with a diseased nerve, replacement of muscle type tissues with connective.

Folk methods

Is it possible to treat neuritis at home? Folk methods are used to eliminate acute pain symptoms when it is impossible to seek qualified help from a specialized institution. The means used to treat known types of disease are characterized by a large selection. It is recommended to apply to the diseased areas of horseradish leaves, pillows of elderberry and chamomile flowers, clay cakes with the addition of vinegar.

To reduce pain, it is possible to use various infusions of herbs: cranberries, raspberries, pines, and willow-tea. Traditional healers recommend rubbing damaged areas of the body with bear fat.

Prevention of disease

As a preventive measure, which prevents the appearance of various forms of neuritis, it is recommended

• The use of vitamins;
• Care when taking medications;
• Prevention of intoxication of the body with alcohol or poor-quality food;
• Use of a balanced diet containing substances necessary for the body;
• Consideration of the risk of possible injury;
• Carrying out the necessary vaccination;
• Use of pouring and hardening;
• Maintaining the oral cavity in a well-maintained condition.

Such a disease, as neuritis, the symptoms, the treatment of which we examined in the article, requires timely diagnosis and prevention. Take care of yourself and be well!