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Atypical Facial Pain

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Author

Burhan Haleem, DO

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The face is a sensitive area with multiple nerves, blood vessels and joints that can all contribute to severe pain. It can be frustrating for someone who has facial pain to not have the correct diagnosis or to feel like they are simply being passed from doctor to doctor. ReclaimAbility can help not only diagnose your pain but also manage it.

CAUSES

The nerves in the face often start in one place and go to another area. This means that any trauma, such as dental work or any injury, or compression on a nerve can cause facial pain.
The most common type of facial pain comes from the temporomandibular joints or TMJ. This is where the jaw attaches to your skull and allows you to open and close your mouth. The pain is typically sharp and may be associated with a “clicking” sensation when the jaw is opened wide. At times you may feel like your jaw is getting stuck.
Dental work can cause severe pain if a nerve is damaged. This pain can start immediately or after a few days and may become chronic. Some nerves in the mouth also help with skin sensation of the face and damage to these nerves can cause debilitating pain.

Symptoms

Joint Pain
  • Bursts of increased severity of pain.
  • Pain that worsens with joint usage.
  • Restricted joint movement and difficulty closing the jaw.
  • Sharp and achy pain.
Nerve Pain
  • Achy and throbbing pain.
  • Pain that is aggravated by small triggers, like harsh wind or shaving.
  • Sharp, burning pain with occasional numbness.
Some nerve blocks may be needed to pinpoint the area that is causing pain. Once an appropriate diagnosis is made for joint or nerve pain, the doctors at ReclaimAbility will develop a treatment plan that is tailored to you.