Re: 10th Cranial Nerve Damage?

May 3, 2003

Robin: could you remind me which is the 10th cranial nerve...I thought it was

the vagus nerve...but that can't be.

Donna

May 3, 2003

In a message dated 5/3/2003 11:59:52 AM Eastern Standard Time,

alopeztcr@... writes:

> Robin: could you remind me which is the 10th cranial nerve...I thought it

> was

> the vagus nerve...but that can't be.

>

Yes Donna thats it... Starts at the back of the throat and goes down..

May 3, 2003

Robin: that makes a good deal of sense...vagal nerve damage...I get pain

from back of my tongue down my throat...have runs of

tachycardia...stimulation of the vagal nerve slows this so I would presume

that if vagus nerve isn't intact or is damaged, the runs of fast heart rate

would be very apparent and, indeed, worsen.

I also have been on a multitude of antibx, both oral and IV and nothing

really works anymore. The side effects are more intolerable than the disease

it appears in my case.

I vote for alternative med. therapies but haven't had the funds to invest in

homeopathy, etc...although this is my hope...we are all individual

" Universes " so said my old acupuncturist from China when I lived in Ca...so

this would make sense why there is no magic bullet to get us into remission.

It is plausible to me that if we increase our immune defense, we approach a

normal terrain whereby we can live in balance with all the microscopic

creatures that live within and on us. The problem here is to figure out how

to increase the individual terrain for each of us.

I am going to save my dollars and try to see a local homeopath/MD...wonder if

anyone here on this list has had any successes with this avenue?

Donna

May 3, 2003

Dear Robyn,

Unfortunately Suprax has been taken off the market by the manufacturer. It

was one of the best antibiotics I have taken. Like you, I have had greater

success with orals than with IV.

Martha A.

May 3, 2003

Cranial nerves: Nerves that emerge from or enter the skull (the cranium), as

opposed to

the spinal nerves which emerge from the vertebral column. Cranial nerves

come directly from the brain through the skull. There are 12 cranial nerves

each of which is accorded a Roman numeral and a name:

Cranial nerve I: The olfactory nerve, Cranial nerve II: the optic nerve,

Cranial nerve III: the occulomotor nerve, Cranial nerve IV: the trochlear

nerve, Cranial nerve V: the trigeminal nerve, Cranial nerve VI: the abducent

nerve, Cranial nerve VII: the facial nerve,

Cranial nerve VIII: the vestibulocochlear nerve,

Cranial nerve IX: the glossopharyngeal nerve,

Cranial nerve X:the vagus nerve,

Cranial nerve XI: the accessory

nerve, and

Cranial nerve XII: the hypoglossal nerve.

The cranial nerves are nerves of the brain.

Cranial nerve I: The cranial nerves emerge from or enter the skull (the

cranium), as

opposed to the spinal nerves which emerge from the vertebral column. There

are twelve

cranial nerves.

The first cranial nerve is the olfactory nerve which carries impulses for

the sense of smell from the nose to the brain.

The word " olfactory " comes from the Latin " olfactare " , to sniff at and

" olfacere " , to smell.

Cranial nerve II: The second cranial is the optic nerve, the nerve that

connects the eye

to the brain and carries the impulses formed by the retina -- the nerve

layer that lines the back of the eye, senses light and creates the impulses

-- to the brain which interprets them as images.

In terms of its embryonic development, the optic nerve is a part of the

central nervous

system (CNS) rather than a peripheral nerve.

The word " optic " comes from the Greek " optikos " , pertaining to sight.

Aside from the optic nerve, the eye has a number of other components. These

include the

cornea, iris, pupil, lens, retina, macula, and vitreous.

Cranial nerve III: The third cranial nerve is the oculomotor nerve.

The oculomotor nerve is responsible for the nerve supply to muscles about

the eye:

The upper eyelid muscle which raises the eyelid; The extraocular muscle

which moves the eye inward; and The pupillary muscle which constricts the

pupil.

Paralysis of the oculomotor nerve results in drooping eyelid (ptosis),

deviation of the

eyeball outward (and therefore double vision) and a dilated (wide-open)

pupil.

Cranial nerve IV: The fourth cranial nerve, the trochlear nerve, is the

nerve supply to

the superior oblique muscle of the eye, one of the muscles that moves the

eye. Paralysis

of the trochlear nerve results in rotation of the eyeball upward and outward

(and,

therefore, double vision).

The trochlear nerve is the only cranial nerve that arises from the back of

the brain stem and it follows the longest course within the skull of any of

the cranial nerves.

Cranial nerve V: The fifth cranial nerve is the trigeminal nerve.

The trigeminal nerve is quite complex. It functions both as the chief nerve

of sensation for the face and the motor nerve controlling the muscles of

mastication (chewing). Problems with the sensory part of the trigeminal

nerve result in pain or loss of sensation in the face. Problems with the

motor root of the trigeminal nerve result in deviation of the jaw toward the

affected side and trouble chewing.

The term " trigeminal " comes from the Latin " trigeminus " meaning " threefold, "

referring to the three divisions (ophthalmic, maxillary and mandibular) of

this nerve.

Cranial nerve VI: The sixth cranial nerve is the abducent nerve. It is a

small motor

nerve that has one task: to supply a muscle called the lateral rectus muscle

that moves the eye outward. Paralysis of the abducent nerve causes inward

turning of the eye (internal strabismus) leading to double vision.

The word " abducent " comes from the Latin " ab- " , away from + " ducere " , to

draw = to

draw away. The abducent (or abducens) operates the lateral rectus muscle

that draws the eye toward the side of the head. The abducent nerve is also

called the abducens nerve.

Cranial nerve VII: The facial nerve is the seventh cranial nerve.

The facial nerve supplies the muscles of facial expression. Paralysis of the

facial nerve causes a characteristic picture with drooping of one side of

the face, inability to wrinkle the forehead, inability to whistle, inability

to close the eye

and deviation of the mouth toward the other side of the face. Paralysis of

the facial nerve is called Bell's palsy.

Cranial nerve VIII: The eighth cranial nerve is the vestibulocochlear nerve.

The vestibulocochlear nerve is responsible for the sense of hearing and it

is also pertinent to balance, to the body position sense. Problems with the

vestibulocochlear nerve may result in , (ringing or noise in the ears),

vertigo and vomiting.

Cranial nerve IX: The ninth cranial nerve is the glossopharyngeal nerve. The

12 cranial

nerves, the glossopharyngeal nerve included, emerge from or enter the skull

(the

cranium), as opposed to the spinal nerves which emerge from the vertebral

column.

The glossopharyngeal nerve supplies the tongue, throat, and one of the

salivary glands (the parotid gland). Problems with the glossopharyngeal

nerve result in trouble with taste and swallowing.

" Glosso- " comes from the Greek " glossa " , the tongue and " pharynx " is the

Greek for

throat. So the glossopharyngeal nerve is the nerve that serves the tongue

and throat.

Cranial nerve X: The tenth cranial nerve, and one of the most important, is

the vagus

nerve. All twelve of the cranial nerves, the vagus nerve included, emerge

from or enter

the skull (the cranium), as opposed to the spinal nerves which emerge from

the vertebral

column. The vagus nerve originates in the medulla oblongata, a part of the

brain stem.

The vagus nerve is a remarkable nerve that relates to the function of

numerous structures in the body. The vagus nerve supplies nerve fibers to

the pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), lungs, heart,

esophagus and most of the intestinal tract (as far

as the transverse portion of the colon). And the vagus nerve brings sensory

information

back from the ear, tongue, pharynx and larynx. The term " vagus " (Latin for

" wandering " ) is apt because the vagus nerve wanders all the

way down from the brainstem to the colon, a long wandering trek. Complete

interruption of the vagus nerve causes a characteristic syndrome. The back

part of the palate (the soft palate) droops on that side. The capacity to

gag (the gag reflex) is

also lost on that side. The voice is hoarse and nasal. The vocal cord on the

affected side is immobile. The result is dysphagia and dysphonia (trouble

swallowing and trouble

speaking).

One of the best known branches of the vagus nerve is the recurrent laryngeal

nerve. After

leaving the vagus nerve, the recurrent laryngeal nerve goes down into the

chest and then loops back up to supply the larynx (the voice box). Damage to

the recurrent laryngeal

nerve can result from diseases inside the chest (intrathoracic diseases)

such as a tumor or an aneurysm (ballooning) of the arch of the aorta or of

the left atrium of the heart. The consequence is laryngeal palsy, paralysis

of the larynx (the voice box), on the affected side. Laryngeal palsy can

also be caused by damage to the vagus nerve before it gives off the

recurrent laryngeal nerve.

Cranial nerve XI: The eleventh cranial nerve is the accessory nerve. The

accessory is

so-called because, although it arises in the brain, it receives an

additional (accessory) root from the upper part of the spinal cord.

The accessory nerve supplies the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles.

The sternocleidomastoid muscle is in the front of the neck and turns the

head. The trapezius muscle moves the scapula (the wingbone), turns the face

to the opposite side, and helps pull the head back.

Damage to the accessory nerve can be isolated (confined to the accesssory

nerve) or it may also involve the ninth and tenth cranial nerves which exit

through the same opening (foramen) from the skull . Accessory neuropathy

(nerve disease) can sometimes occur and recur for unknown reasons. Most

patients recover. Paralysis of the accessory nerve prevents rotation of the

head away from that side and

causes drooping of the shoulder.

Cranial nerve XII: The twelfth cranial nerve is the hypoglossal nerve.

The hypoglossal nerve supplies the muscles of the tongue. (The Greek

" hypo- " , under and

" -glossal " from " glossa " , the tongue = under the tongue).

Paralysis of the hypoglossal nerve affects the tongue. It impairs speech (it

sounds thick) and causes the tongue to deviate toward the paralyzed side. In

time, the tongue diminishes in size (atrophies).

May 3, 2003

> From: RMAgricola@...

> Dear Robyn,

>

> Unfortunately Suprax has been taken off the market by the manufacturer. It

> was one of the best antibiotics I have taken. Like you, I have had greater

> success with orals than with IV.

I've heard that Omicef was replacing it------ but I may have my facts wrong.

cave76

May 4, 2003

> From: andrew mercer <mercerman07701@...>

>

> How does this help answer the question of if she has

> 10th cranial nerve damage?Andy

>

Andy---- it doesn't. <g> I sent that message about the cranial nerves just

for general knowledge.

Maybe an llmd or neurologist could answer that? (Sorry, I haven't followed

the whole thread.)

IF (and only IF) the damage is from Lyme, then there might be a chance that

continued treatment would help resolve/reverse any damage. Depends on how

severe and what caused the damage-----you can see my lack of knowledge in

this. <g>

cave76

May 4, 2003

I'm curious; what does damage to the 10th cranial nerve do?

Though it seems unlikely, I wonder if it has anything to do with " vagus nerve "

stimulation or " vagal " maneuvers momentarily correcting an imbalance between the