| Definition: |
Pain in one or both sides of the face or forehead.
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| Considerations: |
Face pain may be dull and throbbing or intense and stabbing.
Pain that originates in the face may be caused by a nerve disorder, injury, or infection. Face pain may also be referred from elsewhere in the body. Sometimes face pain occurs for no known reason. |
| Home Care: |
Follow prescribed therapy for treating the underlying cause.
Analgesics (painkillers) can provide temporary relief, but if the pain is severe or persistent, your primary health care provider or dentist should be consulted. |
| Call your health care provider if: |
- face pain is accompanied by chest, shoulder, neck, or arm pain. This could mean a heart attack!
- the pain is throbbing, worse on one side of the face, and is aggravated by eating. Call the dentist.
- the face pain is persistent, unexplained, or accompanied by other unexplained symptoms. Call your primary health care provider.
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| What to expect at your health care provider's office: |
In emergency situations (if a heart attack is suspected) the patient will be stabilized first. Then, a history will be obtained and a physical examination performed. For tooth problems, expect a referral to either a dentist or an orthodontist.
Medical history questions documenting face pain in detail may include:
- location
- What part of the face is in pain?
- Is it on both sides?
- If only one side, which one?
- Is the pain over a sinus (forehead, cheekbones, etc.)?
- time pattern
- Did the pain begin suddenly?
- Is face pain occurring repeatedly (recurrent)?
- How long have the episodes of face pain lasted (for how many months)?
- How long does each episode of pain last (how many seconds)?
- aggravating factors
- Is the pain worse when speaking, chewing, swallowing?
- Does the pain develop when touching a specific part of the face (trigger point)?
- associated complaints
- Did face pain occur prior to developing a brain or nervous system loss (weakness, speech loss, etc.)?
- other
- What other symptoms are also present?
Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:Neurological tests will be performed if nerve damage is suspected.
After seeing your health care provider:
If a diagnosis was made by your health care provider related to face pain, you may want to note that diagnosis in your personal medical record. |
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