Facial pain: causes, diagnosis, treatment

Causes of pain in the face and head

Headaches that radiate to the face can have different origins. In some cases it is primary (migraine, cluster pain, tension headache), in others it is one of the symptoms of diseases of the nervous system, musculoskeletal system, heart and blood vessels. It is important to take into account the exact localization of painful sensations, their nature and intensity, and the conditions of occurrence.

Trigeminal neuralgia

The trigeminal nerve is a paired nerve and represents the fifth pair of cranial nerves. In the temporal region it is divided into 3 main branches: the ophthalmic, maxillary and mandibular nerves. They provide facial skin sensitivity, motor activity of the facial and masticatory muscles. When the trigeminal nerve becomes inflamed or damaged, an acute headache begins, which spreads along the nerve fibers. It is so intense that during the period of exacerbation of trigeminal neuralgia, patients cannot touch their face, eat food, turn or tilt their head.

The cause of neuralgia is inflammation of the nerve or its mechanical damage. There are also several factors that can contribute to the development of acute pain:

• viral respiratory diseases, as well as herpes virus infection;
• neoplasms in the cerebellopontine region of the brain;
• dental diseases, including stomatitis, periodontitis and others;
• acute purulent inflammation of the paranasal sinuses (sinusitis);
• atherosclerosis is a disease in which arterial blood flow deteriorates and the supply of oxygen to brain tissue decreases;
• bruises, injuries in the facial area, which are accompanied by damage to nerve fibers.

Headache with trigeminal neuralgia can spread to any part of the face. It is sharp, throbbing, and can be confused with pain caused by dental problems. In some patients, the disease is chronic and worsens at regular intervals. More often this happens in the winter and in the off-season - inflammatory reactions are caused by a sharp drop in temperature and the effect of a viral infection. During an attack, additional symptoms are also felt: increased lacrimation in response to bright lighting, cold weather and decreased sensitivity of the facial skin, involuntary contractions of the facial and masticatory muscles.

In most cases, treatment of trigeminal neuralgia is carried out with medication. The doctor prescribes antibiotics, antiviral and anti-inflammatory drugs. To make you feel better, you will need painkillers. Some patients require surgery to destroy the trigeminal nerve root or remove pathological formations that exert mechanical pressure on the nerve. Physiotherapy is also useful as treatment and rehabilitation.

Cluster pain

Main article: Cluster headaches

Cluster headaches are the least common type. They are characterized by a very high degree of intensity and do not have an exact cause. An attack consists of a series of pain sensations in the area of ​​​​the projection of the brain onto the human skull. It is so acute that the person cannot continue to carry out daily tasks during this time, and conventional over-the-counter analgesics are ineffective.

Cluster headaches have several features:

• first appears in adulthood, most often from 20 to 30 years;
• has no warning symptoms, begins abruptly, at any time of the day;
• extends only to one half of the head;
• accompanied by deterioration of vision, constriction of the pupil, increased heart rate, redness of the skin;
• the period lasts from several days to several months - during this time the patient experiences on average 1-3 headache attacks per day, often at the same time.

Cluster pain is more common in women . There is no hereditary predisposition, since the disease in most cases is found in only one family member. After the end of the exacerbation period, a long-term remission is observed. It can last up to 3 years, during which the pain does not bother the patient. A seasonal course of the disease is also possible if it appears only at certain times of the year.

Migraine

Main article: Chronic migraine

Migraine is one of the types of primary headaches. It is often one-sided and affects only one half of the head. Painful sensations can be of varying degrees of intensity, but most often acute. The exact cause of migraine is unknown. It often develops in response to factors such as changes in weather and atmospheric pressure, stress and emotional tension, intense physical activity, disruption of the daily routine, as well as smoking and frequent alcohol consumption, poor diet, and hormonal changes.

Migraine is a one-sided headache. There are several theories of its origin - doctors explain its appearance by vascular, nervous, and hormonal disorders. Migraine can occur in different ways, but the classic form includes several stages:

1. The initial stage is prodromal. It begins a few days before a headache attack. During this period, a person’s mood often changes, irritability and fatigue appear, concentration and performance deteriorate. This symptom complex does not occur in all patients, but its appearance accurately indicates the onset of migraine.
2. Aura (Main article: Migraine with aura) is the period several hours before an acute headache. It is typical for migraine, but also does not necessarily occur. Its cause is considered to be spasmodic contraction of brain vessels and deterioration of its blood supply. The aura is manifested by increased sensitivity to sunlight, the appearance of bright circles and dark spots before the eyes, as well as hearing impairment and severe fatigue.
3. The immediate attack of headache lasts several hours, but in some patients it may not stop for up to several days. It is acute, one-sided, and intensifies in the presence of external stimuli (bright light, loud sounds). Painful sensations are concentrated in one half of the head and can spread to the face and neck. Symptoms such as lacrimation, nausea and vomiting, and dizziness are also typical.
4. Resolution stage – lasts 1–2 days. Some patients feel better immediately after the headache ends, but resolution may be slow. Symptoms include weakness, decreased alertness, and increased sensitivity to bright lights and loud noises.

According to statistics, migraines are more common in middle-aged women. To treat it, a set of medications is prescribed that help reduce pain and shorten its duration. If attacks occur frequently and do not stop for 3–5 days or more, hospital treatment may be necessary. The procedures are aimed at preventing complications: dehydration, cerebral edema, seizures, heart attack and stroke.

Somatogenic facial pain

Pain in the face and head can be somatogenic (secondary), that is, associated with diseases of other organs and systems. They are less intense than cluster pain, migraine and facial neuralgia, but also affect performance and can cause complications. Common causes of pain in the face are dental diseases, inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, and ophthalmological problems.

1. Toothache – often spreads to the scalp, skin, muscles and nerves of the face. It is often associated with inflammatory processes and dental caries. Symptoms such as pain in the jaw joints, pain when chewing, or eating cold or hot food and drinks also occur. To make you feel better, consultation with a dentist, medication, and, if necessary, surgery are recommended.
2. Joint pain is another type of somatogenic pain. They are often triggered by arthritis or arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint, its deformation or injury. In addition, soreness may be a sign of a malocclusion, tooth loss, or discomfort when wearing dentures.
3. Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses is a group of dangerous diseases. The sinuses (sinuses) are cavities formed by the bones of the skull. Normally, they are empty, filled with air and necessary for proper breathing. Their inflammation is accompanied by the appearance of aseptic or purulent contents, an increase in body temperature, a sharp deterioration in health and nasal congestion. The most common type of sinusitis is sinusitis. It develops as a result of hypothermia, the proliferation of a viral, bacterial or fungal infection, head injuries and bruises.
4. Eye diseases also cause headaches. When diagnosing pain, glaucoma may be detected - increased intraocular pressure. This is a dangerous condition that requires immediate treatment. Increased pressure causes compression of blood vessels and nerves, and over time can lead to poor vision and even complete blindness.

If a patient complains of pain in the face and head, a comprehensive examination is prescribed. The scheme will include general diagnostics, as well as consultations with specialized specialists: ophthalmologist, otolaryngologist, dentist and others.

Other reasons

Soreness is a symptom of a number of disorders that do not necessarily indicate dangerous diseases. Headaches can occur periodically in a healthy person, and then go away on their own or after taking painkillers. Doctors identify a number of reasons that can cause deterioration in health:

• stress, nervous tension;
• sleep disturbances caused by insomnia, moving to regions with a different time zone, irregular schedules, or working at night;
• poor nutrition, an abundance of fatty foods, flour products, spices and sweets in the diet;
• intense physical activity;
• sudden changes in weather, temperature or atmospheric pressure;
• hormonal changes.

Doctors recommend calling for a full examination if headaches continue for several days or more. Also dangerous are acute pains that affect performance and are accompanied by additional symptoms: nausea, vomiting, impaired coordination of movement, and memory impairment.

Cause of pain No. 2: perforation of the bottom of the maxillary sinus

You will be interested to know that the cause of severe pain in the cheekbone area, wings of the nose, temples and eyes can be due to poor-quality or unprofessional tooth extraction, installation of implants in the upper jaw or due to poorly performed sinus lift (an operation to increase the missing volume bone tissue).

The fact is that such serious procedures can only be trusted to be performed by experienced doctors, whose experience in this field is confirmed by numerous official documentation and patient reviews. Otherwise, you risk encountering difficulties. Moreover, the longer you wait and do not get rid of the consequences of improper treatment, the more severe the complications will be:

• sinus injury: after the loss of teeth in the upper jaw, the bottom of the maxillary sinuses gradually descends, because The jaw bone here is quite thin and, due to lack of load, begins to quickly atrophy; accordingly, there is always a risk of injuring the sinuses. For example, they can be damaged if the implant model is incorrectly selected, if the location of its installation in the bone is incorrectly determined, if preparation for treatment is not carried out thoroughly,
• chronic sinusitis: inflammation in the sinus area is not in vain for the patient, and violation of work technique during osteoplastic surgery or dental implantation can lead to such consequences,
• meningitis and infectious diseases of the brain, inflammation of the jaw bone, the occurrence of abscesses,
• peri-implantitis, implant displacement and rejection.

Perforation of the floor of the maxillary sinus can cause this symptom

“Today, zygomatic dental implantation methods are gaining popularity. They allow patients without teeth, but with extreme atrophy of bone tissue in the upper jaw, to leave the clinic with a new smile in an extremely short time. The protocols involve the use of special models of implants that are installed directly into the zygomatic bone of the upper jaw. Work with them must be carried out with extreme caution and precision; the doctor must first plan all treatment in advance and work out possible risks. Otherwise, the patient has every chance of getting severe complications - damage not only to the zygomatic bone, but also to the maxillary sinus,” says Put V.A., 27 years of work experience, an implant surgeon who was one of the first in Russia to start using it in practice. zygomatic implantation.

Diagnostic methods

For effective treatment, it is important to determine the exact cause of the headache and facial area. It is impossible to carry out diagnosis on your own, since it requires the use of precise equipment and laboratory tests. The complex may include the following activities:

• blood tests - prescribed to determine inflammatory processes, bacterial infections and various diseases of the heart and blood vessels;
• X-ray is one of the examination methods for suspected diseases of the teeth and temporomandibular joint;
• MRI, CT scan of the brain;
• ophthalmological examinations aimed at diagnosing vision and measuring intraocular pressure;
• assessment of the condition and conductivity of the vessels of the neck and head - carried out by radiography using a contrast agent.

The Clinical Brain Institute offers headache diagnostic programs. The set of measures is selected individually, based on the results of the inspection. To obtain accurate data, it is important to notify the doctor about all conditions for the occurrence of pain, their nature and intensity, and also undergo the prescribed examinations.

Causes

The TMJ connects the lower jaw and the temporal bone of the skull. This is a very mobile joint, actively moving during speech, chewing, swallowing, and if its normal functioning is difficult, then the person’s quality of life suffers significantly. The tissues surrounding the joint have many nerve endings, and even minor disturbances in the functioning of the TMJ lead to discomfort, pain and deterioration in the general condition of a person. A complete clinical and instrumental examination will allow us to find out the exact cause of the pain and differentiate the pathology from other problems in the maxillofacial area.

Treatment of headaches and facial pain

The treatment regimen for headaches and pain in the face is selected individually. It will include measures to eliminate the underlying disease, as well as to relieve symptoms. Based on the diagnostic results, the doctor may prescribe the following methods:

• drug treatment - may include anti-inflammatory and painkillers, antibiotics, drugs to improve cerebral circulation;
• physiotherapy – carried out to stimulate blood circulation and innervation in the face and head;
• diet for blood vessels - includes simple foods, with a minimum amount of fried foods, animal fats, fast food and spices;
• surgical intervention - most often prescribed for mechanical compression of nerves and blood vessels, in the presence of neoplasms and dental diseases, as well as for clearing the contents of the paranasal sinuses.

Doctors at the Clinical Institute of the Brain will select appropriate treatment tactics based on the results of a general examination. For most patients, it is enough to take medications, follow a diet and adjust their daily routine to improve their health. However, for some diseases surgical intervention is indicated.

Cause of pain No. 6: injuries and jaw fractures

As a result of falls, accidents, fights, or playing hazardous sports, you can damage your jaw. Moreover, regardless of the location of the damage, you may be accompanied by a pain symptom that will radiate to the zygomatic region. You will also suffer from limited mobility of the maxillofacial apparatus, speech and facial expression disorders, and facial deformation. But usually, if similar circumstances happen in life, then you will definitely be aware of everything that is happening and will not look for the reasons why your cheekbones hurt.

Jaw injury may cause problems

We hope that regardless of the situation, if you experience any painful sensations that do not go away on their own, but only intensify, you will definitely consult a doctor!

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prevention

Prevention methods

Timely prevention is the key to good health at any age. It is important to form the right habits that will have a positive effect on the health of the heart and blood vessels, teeth and other organs. Doctors recommend:

• eat right, get enough vitamins and microelements;
• give up bad habits - smoking and drinking alcohol affect the condition of blood vessels;
• normalize your daily routine and devote enough time to rest;
• carry out moderate physical activity to train the heart muscle.

At the Clinical Brain Institute you can undergo an accurate and high-quality diagnosis of headaches and pain in the face. There is modern equipment here that can be used to determine the causes of pain. Doctors will also select an effective treatment regimen for use at home or in the hospital of our center.

Comments

Could it be that my cheekbones hurt due to cancer? Part of my mother’s face, just in the cheekbone area, is a little swollen, I’m worried.

Marinochka (02/13/2019 at 07:47 pm) Reply to comment

Dear Marinochka! Zygomatic pain or pain that radiates to the cheekbone area can also occur as a result of the formation of tumors. Neoplasms can be either benign or malignant. For example, sarcoma, osteoblastoclastoma, osteoma. But pain in such cases is a very alarming symptom, indicating the duration of the pathological process, because These diseases can occur for a long time without any discomfort. We hope that your mother will definitely see a doctor in the near future and undergo an examination.

Editorial staff of the portal UltraSmile.ru (02/16/2019 at 08:07) Reply to comment

In your article I saw a comment from a doctor on zygomatic implantation. The method interested me very much, because... For a long time I was denied dental implantation in Saratov due to acute bone atrophy in the upper jaw. Many questions arise, one of them: at the moment I have a chronic runny nose, will sinusitis develop after zygomatic implantation?

Petrova T.S. (02/27/2019 at 14:50) Reply to comment

Thanks for the question! A professional doctor, and to carry out zygomatic implantation you need to look only for such a specialist, will never start placing implants for you if there is an inflammatory process in the nasal sinuses, i.e. with a runny nose this is impossible (but, of course, temporary). During the installation of zygomatic implants, the maxillary sinuses must be sanitized and sterile, because they are in close proximity to the zygomatic bone. First of all, you need to achieve relief of the inflammatory process, and only then proceed with implantation.

Editorial staff of the portal UltraSmile.ru (03/02/2019 at 08:28) Reply to comment

Cheekbone hurts. What can you do on your own to alleviate the condition?

Air (03/06/2019 at 20:08) Reply to comment

First of all, if the pain is sharp and acute, take any painkiller. To relieve pain, also ensure maximum rest of the jaw, avoid eating solid foods, and do not open your mouth wide. If the cause of discomfort is sore teeth, rinse your mouth with an antiseptic or chamomile decoction, soda-saline solution. And don’t delay self-medication at home; be sure to visit a doctor soon.

Editorial staff of the portal UltraSmile.ru (03/11/2019 at 08:37) Reply to comment

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