Facial Pain

Contents 1 Primary Causes of Pain 2 Neuralgias 3 Pain of Vascular Origin 4 Atypical Orofacial Pain 5 Links 5.1 Related Articles 5.2 Bibliography

edit Primary Causes of Pain

• Dentine sensitivity
• pulpitis
• periapical periodontitis
• abscess
• neuralgias

edit Neuralgias

• Trigeminal neuralgia

Sharp stabbing episodic electric shock like pain; lasts a few sec

Trigger zone - stimulated by washing face/shaving etc.

Treated with carbamazepine 100mg 2x per day. Local anesthetic, injected to trigger zone can relief pain temporarily

• Glossopharyngeal neuralgia

Posterolateral tongue and ear of affected side

stimuli : eating, drinking, speaking

• Preherpetic neuralgia

Aching, burning pain, limited to distribution of trigeminal nerve

Treated with high dose acyclovir

• Postherpetic neuralgia

Unpleasant burning pain.

Blockade of stellate ganglion with bupivicaine (local anesthetic) (short term relief)

edit Pain of Vascular Origin

• migraine

Intense persisting aching pain, unilateral

Stimuli : food, alcohol, stress, hormones.

We give painkillers.

• Cluster headache

Intense aching pain that disturbs sleep, nasal congestion.

Stimuli : alcohol, vasodilators, high altitude.

Treat with ergotamine or sumatriptan.

• Giant cell Arteritis

Throbbing headache, unilateral, fever, malaise, weight loss

Treated with high dose prednisolone.

edit Atypical Orofacial Pain

Gripping, vice like aching pain, feeling of pressure

edit Links

edit Related Articles

edit Bibliography