Does your face hurt all the time? Let's talk about facial pain!

Have you ever felt like one side of your face is numb or just aching? Maybe it's a toothache. But sometimes it can be a constant, annoying pain that you can't find a reason for. This is really annoying. So today, let's talk about this facial pain, or as it is medically called, facial pain.

Simply put, facial pain is pain that can occur anywhere on your face, even around your eyes and mouth. It can be caused by a variety of things, such as an injury, an infection, or a nerve problem. This pain can come and go for a short time (acute) or last for a long time (chronic). For some, this pain feels like a tingling sensation, while for others, it feels like a stabbing, electric shock, dull ache, or tingling.

Most of the time, this is not an emergency. However, it can be a sign that something else is wrong with your body. Therefore, if you have facial pain that comes and goes without a reason, is persistent, and does not go away, it is very important to tell your doctor about it.

What are the main ways facial pain can occur?

Since facial pain can be caused by a variety of factors, it can be divided into several types depending on where the pain begins. Let's take a look at what they are.

A little more about Atypical Facial Pain (AFP)

A person with AFP may have constant facial pain for more than three months. This pain may be aggravated by heat, cold, or even touching the face. Some people say that the pain gets worse when they are tired or stressed.

This pain can occur on the right or left side of the face, often in the jaw or ear area. It is also not like pain traveling along a nerve. Some people describe this pain as:

• It feels like it's burning.
• A deep pain coming from within.
• Even though it hurts dully, it suddenly feels sharp, like a knife stabbing.
• Like a slap or a slow slap.
• It feels like numbness, like pins and needles.

What are the common causes of facial pain?

In addition to the types we discussed earlier, there are many other causes of facial pain.

• Headaches: Especially conditions like migraines.
• Herpes infections: Cold sores (Herpes simplex) or chickenpox/herpes zoster (Herpes zoster/Shingles) infections.
• Sinus infections: Infections of the air sacs in the forehead and cheeks.
• Sialadenitis: Swelling and pain caused by an infection of the salivary glands.
• Tooth abscesses: A collection of pus around a tooth.
• Trigeminal neuralgia: A problem with the nerve that brings sensation to the face.
• Myofascial pain syndrome: Problems with the facial muscles.
• TMJ disorders: Problems with the joint that functions when you open and close your mouth.

How is this treated?

Treatment for facial pain depends on the underlying cause.Your doctor will try non-surgical treatments first. If they don't work, surgery will be considered.

Non-surgical treatment

• Botox® injections: These injections temporarily deactivate the muscles that cause pain. This reduces muscle contractions and relieves pain.
• Complementary therapies: Some people find relief from things like facial massage and acupuncture. If your pain is caused by a sinus problem, you can try sinus massage.
• Nerve blocks: These are injections into a nerve. They can temporarily relieve pain.
• Medications: Studies have shown that some seizure medications, antidepressants, and muscle relaxers can help relieve facial pain. Although these are not medications specifically designed to treat pain, they can help control pain by affecting the nervous system.

Surgery

• Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS): This involves sending a very fine electrical current through a small needle to calm overactive nerves that are causing pain.
• Microvascular decompression (MVD): Sometimes pain is caused by a blood vessel pressing on a nerve. In this surgery, a small hole (craniotomy) is made in the skull and a small surgical pad is placed between the nerve and the blood vessel. This stops the pain signals from traveling.
• Stereotactic radiosurgery: A device called the Gamma Knife® is used to direct a beam of radiation at the nerve causing the pain. It is as delicate as a surgical knife, so damage to surrounding tissue is minimal.

Are there things you can do at home?

You can try to find relief at home for common, non-severe facial pain.

• Ice application: Wrap an ice pack in a towel and place it on the painful area for 20 minutes. Then rest for 20 minutes and reapply if needed.
• Sleeping with your head elevated: Keep your head slightly elevated with pillows while sleeping.
• Slow massage: Massage the painful area slowly, using gentle pressure.
• Painkillers: You can take over-the-counter painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen. However, if you are going to use these continuously, you should definitely consult your doctor.
• Hot compress: Applying a hot water bottle is good for relaxing sore muscles.
• Mouth guard:If you have TMJ problems or have a habit of grinding your teeth at night, using a mouth guard recommended by a doctor can help reduce the pain.

When should you definitely see a doctor?

If you have facial pain like this, see a doctor immediately.

• If it continues without decreasing.
• It comes, it disappears, and it comes again.
• If there is no clear reason for it to occur.
• If the pain is accompanied by other symptoms such as difficulty breathing, dizziness, or changes in vision.

Is it an emergency? When do I need to go to the ETU?

If you have any of the following symptoms along with facial pain, call an emergency number immediately or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU).

• Symptoms of a heart attack: pain in the arm, chest, shoulder, or neck.
• Symptoms of a stroke: facial numbness, weakness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking.