Facial Nerve Pain: Diagnosis and Treatment

There are several types of facial pain. However, the most common is Trigeminal Neuralgia.

What 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.

Other causes of facial pain include:

• Persistent clenching teeth.
• Head injury from an car or sports accident.
• Postherpetic trigeminal neuralgia: Caused by acute herpes zoster.
• Dental pain: Including abscessed teeth.
• Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ): This affects the jaw joint.
• Glossopharyngeal neuralgia: Involves the back of the throat.
• Arthritis in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can cause aching facial pain.
• Nervus intermedius: pain sensation steaming from within the ear.
• Burning mouth syndrome.
• Occipital neuralgia: Involves the nerves that run up the spine to the scalp.
• Mental and emotional issues

A medical history review and physical examination can help differentiate TN from other causes of facial pain.

Persistant Facial Nerve Pain

Is there any treatment?

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.

What is the prognosis?

We’ll let you know how our pain specialist can help. Call 763-577-2484 or click the “Request Appointment” button to Schedule an Appointment Today!