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Neurological Disorders That Cause Face Pain

Many peoplesuffer with facial pain. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat facial pain, and this condition can be painful and hard to live with. Some neurological disorders can cause facial pain, although many symptoms remain unexplained.

  1. Identification

    • Trigeminal neuralgiacan cause severe pain of the face. This chronic condition affects one of the largest nerves in the head, and can produce shocking facial pain or a burning sensation of the face. These episodes may occur quickly and suddenly, with a level of intensity that leaves many people incapacitated.

    Causes

    • The cause of trigeminal neuralgia is believed to be a blood vessel that presses on the trigeminal nerve. This can be a part of the aging process, due to multiple sclerosis, or can be caused by damage to the trigeminal nerve due to a tumor. In many cases, the cause may remain unknown.

    Symptoms Of Trigeminal Neuralgia

    • The symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia are severe pain of the face, sudden shocking pain of the face or a burning sensation of the face. Pain can occur on either side of the face, but not at the same time. These types of attacks last a few seconds, but occur many times during the day. Activities such as shaving, brushing teeth, eating or drinking may trigger an attack. Trigeminal neuralgia may disappear for weeks or years before returning.

    Treatment

    • Trigeminal neuralgia is often treated with anti-convulsant medications to block nerve firing. Anti-depressants may be prescribed for patients who experience a burning sensation. Narcotic medications and topical analgesics are not typically helpful in relieving pain caused by trigeminal neuralgia. Some patients choose to manage the pain of this condition with alternative medicine, includ9ing acupuncture, electrical stimulation of nerves and biofeedback.

    Risk Factors

    • Trigeminal neuralgia occurs most often in people older than 50 years of age, but can strike at any age. Women are more likely to be affected than men, and this condition does appear to run in families.

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