Facial nerve pain symptoms can be frustrating and even confusing at times. It causes a sharp,electric shock-like sensation that can come out of nowhere and disrupt what would normally be a productive day.
If you suffer from facial nerve pain, just know youre not alone. Approximately 5 out of every 100,000 people deal with facial pain.
Facial Nerve Pain Causes
To better understand facial nerve pain remedies, its important to learn why you have this pain in the first place. There are many conditions that cause it and are not limited to the following.
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition affecting the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from your face to your brain.
Even mild stimulation of the face, like brushing your teeth or putting on makeup, may trigger a jolt of pain. This condition is more common in women and people over age 50.
TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder)
Your temporomandibular joint is what connects the jawbone to your skull. If you have TMJ, it can cause pain in the jaw joint anytime you have movement of your jaw. This can include eating, talking, drinking, or many other normal everyday activities.
Symptoms often include an aching facial pain, particularly around the ear, that may radiate down into the neck.
Sinus Infection
When the cavities around the nasal passages become inflamed and swollen, often due to an infection, it can cause facial pain and headaches. The pain is usually worse when bending forward and when pressing on the affected sinuses.
Migraine or Cluster Headache
Migraine attacks can be accompanied by searing facial pain, often around one eye or temple.Cluster headaches produce very severe, stabbing or burning facial pain, typically centered around one eye or one side of the head.
Facial Nerve Pain Treatments
To get facial nerve pain relief, you need the right treatment for your individual issues. The treatment you get depends on the cause of your facial nerve pain and can sometimes be the result of an underlying condition. Lets discuss it.
Medications
The first step is typically to recommend over-the-counter pain relievers for mild symptoms. If you experience soreness or stiffness, usually a simple painkiller like Tylenol can be enough to reduce the pain.
For severe pain, different prescription medications like anti-seizure drugs, tricyclic antidepressants, and muscle relaxers are used. These pills work to address facial pain syndromes like trigeminal neuralgia, TMJ, muscle spasms, and more.
Surgery
When medication alone isn’t enough, surgery may be recommended. Procedures like microvascular decompression, brain stereotactic radiosurgery, or a neurectomy can provide significant pain relief for trigeminal neuralgia. For TMJ disorders, jaw joint surgery may be an option when other treatments have failed.
Get Facial Nerve Pain Relief Today
If youre tired of dealing with pain, facial nerve pain treatment should not be out of the question. We can work with you to come up with a personalized treatment plan to get you the relief you deserve.