Facial pain can be attributed to a variety of causes and present in a number of different forms. According to the National Institutes of Health, face pain can feel like a continuous throbbing, a dull ache or as shooting stabs of pain. It can be intense or barely discernible and strike one or both sides of the face.
The treatment for facial pain depends on the cause, which can range from cluster headaches or shingles to an abscessed tooth or an injury to the face. When accompanied by chest or arm pain, seek immediate medical attention, because it could be a sign of a heart attack.
Eliminate Triggers
Cluster headaches typically occur after you fall asleep, but can hit while awake. They usually are recognized by sharp, burning sensations on one side of the face. They rapidly get worse within about 10 minutes and tend to go away after an hour or two.
Since there is no cure for cluster headaches, prevention is the best treatment, according to the National Institutes of Health. Patients are encouraged to keep a diary of the episodes in order to identify the triggers that set the headaches in motion so they can be avoided in the future. Cigarettes, alcohol and certain foods often are associated with cluster headaches. Stress is another factor that should be considered in order to treat the condition. The same protocol is recommended to treat migraines through identification of the triggers and avoidance of those stressors and foods that cause the pain.
Medication
Facial pain that causes cramping and aching on one side of the face and often extends down the neck is called atypical facial pain. Its origins often are unknown, but may result from long-term infections that have gone untreated. Inflammation of the facial nerves or teeth eventually damages facial nerves and causes the pain.
According to Facial Neuralgia Resources, the first line of defense is medication. Amitriptyline is an antidepressant used to treat neuropathic pain. Very low dosages, starting at about 10 milligrams per day, are used and gradually increased until the right dosage is found that relieves the pain. Capsaicin is a drug that's typically used to treat arthritis. Capsaicin is the substance found in chili peppers that makes them so hot. It comes in a cream or roll-on form and is applied directly to the skin to reduce the pain.
Acupuncture
Although there is no direct scientific proof that acupuncture works to alleviate facial pain, according to Facial Neuralgia Resources, patients may find relief from the practice of inserting tiny needles into certain points on the body to eliminate pain. Talk to your doctor before trying any alternative medicines, however. When other treatments fail, traditional doctors often turn to complementary methods, which can provide effective treatment.
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