Many people will experience some form of facial pain throughout their lifetime, and will often see it go within a short period of time. Unfortunately for some people facial pain can become part of everyday life and in many cases hard to diagnose and treat.

Facial pain can be caused by a number of different factors such as an injury, dental problems or nerve problems. Here are some of the most common facial pain conditions we see here at London Neurosurgery Partnership:

• Headaches – did you know that there are many different types of headaches? Here are some of the most common types of headaches that cause severe facial pain:
  • Thunderclap headaches – extremely painful headache that comes on suddenly.
  • Cluster headaches – sudden headaches that are usually felt around the eyes and temples
  • Migraine – extreme headaches that often comes with visual and sensory disturbance
• Injuries – facial pain can occur after an injury to the face such as a fall, broken bone or violence. Once this sort of pain will improve once you have recovered from the injury, however may need surgical intervention if there is damage to the nerve
• TMJ conditions – The TMJ is where the jawbone and the skull connect. These conditions will typically cause pain and problems with movement in the jaw. This condition is common however differs in severity. In severe cases surgery may be required.
• Trigeminal Neuralgia – this is a very painful condition, usually affecting one side of the face. The pain will often come on suddenly and be described as a burning/ stabbing sensation. This can be caused for a number of different reason and will often need surgical intervention.

Other conditions include dental abscesses or sinusitis.

If you have been experiencing facial pain for a prolonged period of time or have noticed that it is worsening, it is a good idea to go and see your GP or doctor so that they can refer you to a specialist.

At the London Neurosurgery Partnership we work with a number of differ specialists to ensure that every aspect of the condition is considered before the right treatment option is decided. These can include neurologists, orofacial pain specialists, pain specialists, physiotherapists and more.

If you have been experiencing facial pain and need a diagnosis, or have a diagnosis and want to go over the different treatment options please call us on 0207 034 8709.

This article is intended to inform and give insight but not treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a doctor. Always seek medical advice with any questions regarding a medical condition.