Face pain
Key points
- Face pain may be dull and throbbing or intense and stabbing discomfort in one or both sides of the face or forehead.
- Pain that originates in the face may be caused by a nerve disorder, an injury, or an infection in a structure of the face.
- Follow prescribed therapy for treating the underlying cause.
- In emergency situations (such as a possible heart attack), the patient will be stabilized first.
Definition
Face pain may be dull and throbbing or intense and stabbing discomfort in one or both sides of the face or forehead.
Considerations
Pain that originates in the face may be caused by a nerve disorder, an injury, or an infection in a structure of the face. Face pain may also begin elsewhere in the body.
Sometimes face pain occurs for no known reason.
Common Causes
- Injury to the face
- Abscessed tooth (continuous throbbing pain on one side of the lower face aggravated by eating or touching)
- Sinusitis or sinus infection (dull pain and tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones that worsens when bending forward)
- Tic douloureux
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Herpes zoster (shingles) or simplex (cold sores) infection
- Cluster headache
- Migraine
Home Care
Follow prescribed therapy for treating the underlying cause.
Painkillers may provide temporary relief, but if the pain is severe and/or persistent, consult your primary health care provider or dentist.
Call your health care provider if
- Face pain is accompanied by chest, shoulder, neck, or arm pain. This could mean a heart attack. Call your local emergency number (such as 911).
- Pain is throbbing, worse on one side of the face, and aggravated by eating. Call a dentist.
- Pain is persistent, unexplained, or accompanied by other unexplained symptoms. Call your primary health care provider.
What to expect at your health care provider's office
In emergency situations (such as a possible heart attack), the patient will be stabilized first. Then, a medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed. For tooth problems, expect a referral to a dentist or an orthodontist.
Medical history questions documenting face pain in detail may include the following:
- Location
o What part of the face is in pain?
o Is it on both sides?
o If only one side, which one?
o Is the pain over a sinus (forehead, cheekbones, etc.)? - Time patterno Did the pain begin suddenly?o Is face pain occurring repeatedly (recurrent)?o How long have the episodes of face pain lasted (for how many months)?o How long does each episode of pain last (how many seconds)?
Written and revised by
David Cohen, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.