There are several types of facial pain. However, the most common is Trigeminal Neuralgia. Trigeminal neuralgia (TN), also called tic douloureux, is a chronic facial nerve pain condition that causes extreme, sporadic, sudden burning, or shock-like face pain. The pain seldom lasts more than a few seconds or a minute or two per episode. The intensity of pain can be physically and mentally incapacitating. TN pain is typically felt on one side of the jaw or cheek and has different symptoms from tension and cluster headaches. Episodes can last for days, weeks, or months at a time and then disappear for months or years. In the days before an episode begins, some patients may experience a tingling or numbing sensation or a somewhat constant and aching pain. The attacks often worsen over time, with fewer and shorter pain-free periods before they recur. The intense flashes of pain can be triggered by vibration or contact with the cheek (such as when shaving, washing the face, or applying makeup), brushing teeth, eating, drinking, talking, or being exposed to the wind. TN occurs most often in people over age 50, but it can occur at any age, and is more common in women than in men. There is some evidence that the disorder runs in families, perhaps because of an inherited pattern of blood vessel formation. Although sometimes debilitating, the disorder is not life-threatening. The presumed cause of TN is a blood vessel pressing on the trigeminal nerve in the head as it exits the brainstem. TN may be part of the normal aging process but in some cases, it is associated with another disorder or painful condition, such as multiple sclerosis or other disorders characterized by damage to the myelin sheath that covers certain nerves. A medical history review and physical examination can help differentiate TN from other causes of facial pain. Give yourself enough time to find the strategies that work best for you. If you have chronic pain, find and attend a multidisciplinary pain clinic, where orofacial health professionals can prepare you a personalized pain management plan. Your primary care doctor or dentist can refer you to a pain clinic. Facial nerve pain commonly lasts anywhere from a few seconds to as long as two minutes per episode. These attacks can occur in quick succession, sometimes in volleys lasting as long as two hours. Don’t delay professional diagnosis and pain management for yourself or someone who knows who is facing this medical condition. Get help. Our clinic provides treatment for multiple types of pain disorders. Living with trigeminal neuralgia can be very challenging. It may have a huge impact on a person’s quality of life, resulting in problems such as weight loss, isolation and depression that can trigger chronic pain.
The specialty of Orofacial Pain is concerned with the prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. There are four types of headache: vascular, muscle contraction (tension), traction, and inflammatory. Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that causes extreme, sporadic, sudden burning or shock-like face pain. TMJ is a group of conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and the muscles that control jaw movement. Sleep apnea is the most common sleep disorder, affecting nearly 1 out of every 8 individuals. Neck muscles can be strained from poor posture — whether it’s leaning over your computer or hunching over your workbench. FACIAL NERVE PAIN
Facial Nerve Pain: Diagnosis and TreatmentWhat is Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Other causes of facial pain include:
Persistant Facial Nerve Pain
Is there any treatment?
Conservative Treatments that Can be Helpful for Facial Nerve Pain
What is the prognosis?
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DISORDERS WE TREAT
OROFACIAL PAIN
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