Definition
Mentalis neuralgia is a painful disorder of the mental nerve, due to a lesion or dysfunction of this nerve.
Aetiology
There may be many reasons for mentalis neuralgia, the most frequent being a complication after dental treatment. If this is not the case, mentalis neuralgia may be the first sign of a malignancy.
Signs and symptoms
Patients complain of numbness in the cheek and lower lip, accompanied by neuropathic pain.
Diagnostics
Physical Examination
First of all, neurological examination of the cheek and lips must be performed. Thereafter, careful dental examination of the mouth and teeth by a dentist is indicated. When no dental cause can be found, oncological screening is necessary.
Additional Somatic Diagnostics
Examination of the blood provides no additional information.
Additional Psycho-cognitive Diagnostics
- RAND-36 (quality of life)
- VAS-Pain (maximal, minimal, actual, average/week)
- PCS (catastrophising)
- HADS (fear and depression)
Multidisciplinary Treatment
Whether or not somatic treatment is indicated is based on the pain diagnosis. Based on the findings of the pain questionnaires, additional diagnostics and/or multidisciplinary treatment comprising various non-somatic treatments may be necessary.
Non-somatic Treatment
- Psychological Treatment
- Depression Treatment
- Cognitive-Behavioural Treatment
- Rehabilitation Treatment
Somatic Treatment
Pharmacological treatment:
Interventional Pain Treatment