Facial Pain

Facial pain—also called trigeminal neuralgia (TN)—is any acute or chronic pain that affects your face. It can be sudden and intense, like with a cut or broken bone. Or it can develop over months or years.

Facial pain can affect anyone. It is most common in women and in people over 50. We don’t always know why facial pain happens. But most cases are caused by damage to the trigeminal nerve at the base of your brain or a blood vessel pressing on it. The trigeminal nerve carries pain sensations across your face and scalp.

There are two types of facial pain:

• Classic TN, type 1 (TN1)—this nerve pain (also called tic douloureux) causes sudden, intense bursts of pain that feel like an electric shock. Episodes can last from two minutes to two hours.
• TN, type 2 (TN2)—this irregular form of TN causes less intense aching, burning and stabbing pain.

Facial Pain Symptoms

Depending on your type of facial pain, your symptoms can include:

• Burning sensations on your face
• Gaps between flashes of pain
• Pain that feels like an electric shock or a knife
• Sudden, severe and stabbing pain, usually on one side of your face

It’s not possible to predict when facial pain will happen. These triggers can prompt pain:

• Eating
• Face washing
• Facing the wind
• Teeth brushing

Diagnosing Facial Pain

Symptoms of facial pain can mimic other conditions. So, diagnosis can be difficult. Our neurosurgery team relies on several advanced diagnostic technologies and techniques to deliver the most accurate diagnosis. In addition to a physical exam, review of your medical history and evaluation of your symptoms, our experts may conduct one or more of these tests:

• Blood test
• CT scan
• Evaluation of your response to anti-seizure medication
• High-resolution MRI
• Neurological exam

Facial Pain Treatment

We offer comprehensive facial pain treatment to reduce your discomfort. Based on your symptoms and type of TN, we will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that includes medical, surgical, and complementary therapies.