Among the most common causes of facial pain is that of a dental nature - severe pain in the tooth, jaw and also the cheekbone area (usually indicative of periodontitis). The ailment starts with a transient pain, but as the condition progresses, the symptoms worsen - the pain becomes dull, aching and spreads to the jawbone area (cheek swelling is an accompanying symptom).

What is facial pain

Responsible for transporting pain impulses are the fibres of the trigeminal nerve. There are different types of pain symptoms located in the face:

pain whose origin is deep-seated structures (poorly localised and dull),
pain whose origin is in the cutaneous tissues of the face (characterised by more acute symptoms).

Important! The most common causes of facial pain are diseased sinuses and headaches. However, the common view that the vast majority of facial pain is the result of sinusitis is incorrect.

Facial pain can take on a multitude of sensations and presentations:

throbbing,
dull,
stabbing,

Important! Most often the pain is described by patients as sharp and piercing.

The duration of pain symptoms is also not always the same. The pain can be:

transient,
permanent.

The aetiology of the pain is not always evidenced by the location of its occurrence - it is important to remember such a phenomenon as the so-called 'referred pain (of the eye, among others), its sensation is in an area far from the actual source.

Important! In making a correct diagnosis, the medical history is extremely important to guide further diagnosis - it may require ENT, neurological as well as ophthalmological consultation. Investigations (e.g. funduscopic examination, CT scan, MRI) are very important.

photo: panthermedia

Causes of pain - characteristics

Not only do the causes of pain vary, but they also take a variety of forms.

Sinus conditions

One of the most common "culprits" for facial pain is sinusitis. Depending on the form of the sinuses - the pain involves other areas of the head and also the face (e.g. increases with tilting, affects the jaw, cheeks). Accompanying symptoms can be (e.g. blocked nose, olfactory problems, swollen eyelids).

Symptoms will be helped (e.g. painkillers, inhalations, pharmacological agents).

Idiopathic facial pain

The condition is often referred to as the so-called "facial form of migraine". The source of the condition is not fully known - the disorder is largely psychological in nature. People most often affected by this condition include:

low activity
with a tendency to depressive states,
medication abusers.

Patients describe the pain as a burning or burning sensation (usually involving only one side of the face). The pain is constant, chronic with small periods of relief (usually due to rest).

Important! Treatment is difficult and lengthy. However, the earlier the disease is diagnosed, the better the chances of pain relief.

Tooth diseases

In the case of facial pain with a dental origin, as mentioned above - an emerging complaint may be indicative of periodontitis. In addition, pain travelling to the zygomatic bone area may suggest pulpitis, and pain of a piercing nature may suggest improper root canal treatment of the tooth.

It is essential to see a dentist to rule out non-dental sources of pain. Remedies are still available (e.g. analgesic tablets, rinses of an analgesic and anti-inflammatory nature).

Salivary gland diseases

Conditions of this type can also cause discomfort in the form of facial pain, located in the lateral part of the face:

masseter muscle area (larger salivary glands),
the area around the entire mouth (smaller salivary glands).

The treatment methodology is based on the administration of preparations that increase salivary secretion, as well as in the case of acute inflammation (antibiotics).

Of a vascular nature

This type of complaint results in the appearance of migraine pain - usually involving half of the face (frontal area). Patients describe the pain as throbbing. Symptoms that may accompany this condition include (among others) photophobia, nausea. This type of pain is recurrent.

Originating in the eye area

In this case, two typical conditions are distinguished:

orbital inflammation (the disease is manifested by sudden soreness and redness of the eyeball, swelling of the eyelid as well as exophthalmos of the eye).

Important! Immediately see an ophthalmologist who, after examination, will prescribe the appropriate treatment - anti-inflammatory eye drops (corticosteroids).

glaucoma (an extremely dangerous eye disease. It manifests itself by a sudden and very strong pain in the eye that also spreads to the facial bones, accompanied by a loss of visual acuity).

Treatment consists of lowering the intraocular pressure to a level where there is no further risk of damage to the optic nerve. Treatment includes pharmacology (drops), laser therapy and anti-glaucoma surgery.

Trigeminal neuralgia

The disease entity is characterised by sudden, severe and burning pain. The pain may also be felt as a stabbing sensation - it is located on one side of the face. It is aggravated by (among other things) touching the face or speaking.

Important! The pain occurs only during the day - it starts suddenly and subsides in the same way.

As the condition continues, the number of pain attacks and their duration - increases. Accompanying symptoms may include (but are not limited to) nasal discharge, redness of the facial skin.

Important! The disease is chronic (it runs with periods of exacerbation as well as remission). If left untreated or treated in the wrong way, the pain gets worse and drug resistance increases.

Carbamazepine is used to treat the condition, as well as anti-inflammatory drugs and B vitamins, among others. In case of increased symptoms, blockades of the nerve branches are carried out by injecting them with an anaesthetic.

Important! Facial pain that persists or recurs should not be underestimated. Early diagnosis will not only shorten the treatment time, but will also protect against more serious health consequences.

way4cure.com

Facial pain - what can it mean?

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