5 Treatments for Your Facial Pain
The Center for Sleep Apnea & TMJ
Idaho's ONLY
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If you suffer from facial pain, it’s not an uncommon problem. Whether you’re dealing with pain from a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder or you’ve suffered an injury, facial pain can make your life really unbearable at times, especially when it’s difficult to find the right treatment to keep your pain at bay.
At the Snoring & Sleep Apnea Center, our team helps you figure out what’s causing your facial pain. Dr. Katharine Christian is a skilled specialist who gets you a diagnosis so you can finally find the treatment you’ve been waiting for.
What Causes Facial Pain?
Pain in your face isn’t a pleasant feeling, especially because it can affect any part of your face, including your eyes or mouth. Whether it comes on suddenly or creeps up over time, this kind of pain can really ruin your day.
Many things could be behind why you’re experiencing facial pain. Although many of the causes of facial pain are benign, in some cases, it could be due to something more serious. A few of the common reasons that cause pain in your face include:
- Headaches
- Injuries
- Sinus infections
- Arthritis
- Teeth grinding
- Infections in your mouth
Obstructive sleep apnea is another reason that you might be having pain in your face. Temporomandibular joint problems due to clenching or grinding may also lead to pain. No matter what’s causing your discomfort, recognizing the symptoms and sharing them with your doctor helps you get the treatment you need.
Symptoms You May Experience
The main symptom of facial pain is obviously discomfort in or around your face, but there are other symptoms that you might come across. The issues you experience depend greatly on the cause of your facial pain.
For example, if your pain is due to TMJ disorder, you’re likely experiencing pain in your jaw, face, or neck. You may also feel stiffness around your jaw or notice a popping sensation when you open or close your jaw.
Injuries, on the other hand, may cause pain from nerve damage. This damage may have occurred from an injury a long time ago or something more recent. Other sensations you might feel include:
- Tingling in your face
- Swelling on your face
- Mouth tenderness
- Pressure around your eyes and nose
- Aching or burning sensation
Sometimes, you may end up with a serious infection in your face that can lead to pain. Symptoms include redness, swelling, and a fever. If you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek treatment from Dr. Christian as soon as possible.
What Are Your Treatment Options?
Once Dr. Christian diagnoses the problem that’s causing your facial pain, she helps you start a treatment plan to get you more comfortable. The type of treatment that works best for you is usually determined by the cause of your pain. Five common treatments associated with facial pain include:
1. Physical Therapy
Physical therapy has many different uses, including helping you get rid of facial pain. The goal of this therapy is to strengthen the muscles in your jaw and face to help ease discomfort. It also includes stretching, which done regularly can reduce your risk of problems later on.
2. Injections
If less invasive treatment options haven’t worked, injections may be able to help you beat your facial pain. Our office offers minimally invasive steroid injections to reduce inflammation or Botox® injections to ease your muscle pain.
3. Medications
If you’re suffering from sinus problems or TMJ, medications may help decrease the pain in your face. These medications may include over-the-counter anti-inflammatories or stronger prescription medications.
4. Oral Appliances
Often clenching your teeth overnight leads to jaw pain and headaches in the morning. Oral appliances help to decrease clenching at night, which helps you sleep better and wake up with less pain.
5. Laser Therapy
Cold laser therapy is a noninvasive treatment that stimulates natural healing of your face using a low intensity laser. It’s quick and painless, making getting your facial pain under control relatively easy.
Dr. Christian goes over your treatment options with you and discusses which one might work best for you. It may take more than one treatment type to get your pain under control, but she’s dedicated to giving you the best possible care.
If you’re tired of dealing with chronic facial pain, call our office today at (206) 770-0260, or you can request your appointment online using our convenient booking tool.
Send us a Message
Have a question? We’re here to help. Send us a message and one of our team members will contact you as soon as possible.
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