Facial pain is common and often the result of headaches and injuries. However, other causes of facial pain include nerve conditions, jaw and dental problems, and infections. Facial pain can originate from a specific area of the face, or it may radiate from another part of the head. In this article, we explore some common causes of facial pain.
Trigeminal neuralgia - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
Trigeminal neuralgia is extreme pain and muscle spasms in the face. Attacks of intense, electric shock-like facial pain can occur without warning or be triggered by touching specific areas of the face. Although the exact cause of trigeminal neuralgia is not fully understood, a blood vessel is often found compressing the nerve. Medication, injections, surgery, and radiation may be used to treat the pain. Each treatment offers benefits, but each has limitations. You and your doctor should determine which treatment is best for you. Neuralgia is severe pain caused by injury or damage to a nerve.
Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from your face to your brain. If you have trigeminal neuralgia, even mild stimulation of your face — such as from brushing your teeth or putting on makeup — may trigger a jolt of excruciating pain. You may initially experience short, mild attacks. But trigeminal neuralgia can progress and cause longer, more-frequent bouts of searing pain. Trigeminal neuralgia affects women more often than men, and it's more likely to occur in people who are older than
Because TN is uncommon, it is not always recognised by doctors and dentists. Also diagnosis is difficult as there is no definitive test and other types of facial pain can easily be confused with TN. Diagnosis relies on the history of the complaint and its characteristics. But it may require a specialist i.