Facial Pain

Facial Pain services offered in Worthington and Newark, OH

Facial pain can range from a persistent ache or burning sensation to sudden, severe attacks that feel like electric shocks. At Interventional Pain Center in Worthington and Newark, Ohio, Sachida Manocha, MD, evaluates chronic facial pain to identify its likely source. He then uses his expertise to determine which pain management treatments may help. Call Interventional Pain Center or request a facial pain evaluation online today.

Facial Pain Q & A

What can cause facial pain?

Facial pain is a symptom rather than a single condition, and it can originate in nerves, muscles, joints, teeth, or other structures. Dental problems are common causes, which is why people with pain around the jaw, teeth, or gums may initially undergo a dental evaluation.

Persistent or recurring facial pain can also be associated with:

Nerve disorders
Headache conditions
Previous injury
Other medical problems

Determining the cause is important because treatments for nerve pain can differ considerably from treatments for musculoskeletal or dental pain.

What does nerve-related facial pain feel like?

Nerve or neuropathic facial pain may cause burning, stabbing, shooting, or electric-shock sensations. One well-known cause is trigeminal neuralgia, a chronic pain disorder affecting the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from the face to the brain.

Trigeminal neuralgia typically causes sudden attacks of severe pain, often affecting one side of the jaw, cheek, teeth, or gums. Episodes can last from a few seconds to around two minutes. Everyday activities like touching your face, brushing your teeth, eating, or talking may trigger an attack.

How is facial pain evaluated?

Dr. Manocha asks where your pain occurs, what it feels like, how long episodes last, and whether anything triggers them. He also reviews your previous dental treatment, any head injuries, medical conditions, medications, and other symptoms.

If he suspects trigeminal neuralgia or another neurological cause, imaging like an MRI may be appropriate to look for possible issues affecting the trigeminal nerve. Dr. Manocha can also determine when another specialist’s evaluation is necessary.

How is chronic facial pain treated?

Facial pain treatment depends on your diagnosis. Trigeminal neuralgia often fails to respond to standard painkillers, so Dr. Manocha may prescribe an alternative. Established treatments include antiseizure medications that reduce abnormal nerve signaling, such as carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine.

When medication doesn’t provide adequate facial pain relief or produces troublesome side effects, there are additional treatments you may consider. Dr. Manocha develops treatment based on the source and characteristics of your pain and can adjust the approach according to your response.

Depending on the cause of the pain, interventional approaches could include targeted nerve blocks or radiofrequency procedures. Surgical and other specialist procedures are also available for certain cases of trigeminal neuralgia.

For persistent, recurrent, or severe facial pain, contact Interventional Pain Center to schedule an appointment. Call the nearest office or book an appointment online today.