Facial Pain

[Insomniacette]

Hi All,

Just wondering if anyone else gets this. Whenever I have bad/stressful news that involves a bit of crying I find my face gets massively inflamed and my jaw, eye sockets and cheekbones actually throb with pain. I have a bit of a headache too, but it's the facial pain - the cheekbone/jaw/eyesocket pain that is the real killer. I wonder if it's my sinuses or something - just my face seems to swell up and ache. Very difficult to focus or do anything when this happens.

Anyone else experience this? How do you cope with it? Is it lupus or sjogren's related?

UPDATE: Hey folks, so I got it confirmed today, my GP is confident that I have trigeminal neuralgia. So... I have had two incidents happen to me, once late last year and the second time this week. Both times I received stressful and scary news (about the same issue oddly) that made me cry before it developed. So I'm really hoping that once my stressful and scary situation is over I won't have any more episodes of it. So in my case v much stress and anxiety related. Sigh. But at least I know.

Jmiller623 you were spot on! Thank you! xx

[Jmiller623]

Sounds like trigeminal neuralgia. There’s a nerve that innervates sensory to your face called the trigeminal nerve. When it’s inflamed, it can cause a whole bunch of face pain and weird sensations. Some find it incredibly painful and it can cause unilateral swelling when it acts up. Not saying this is 100% what it is but it sounds like so. Could also be brought on by a migraine which can cause some wild stuff in and of itself.

There are medications to help with the pain so talk to your doctor. Something else people use but is not mentioned in formal guidelines is CBD cream on the face. I’ve seen great success with this particularly with trigeminal neuralgia.

I wish I knew why it happens but just like everything else we experience, I have no clue. Hope this helps. Sorry you’re in pain and swelling. That’s no good. Sending hugs. ❤️xx

[Insomniacette in reply to Jmiller623]

Thank you Jmiller623 very helpful to have a name for it. I'm hoping to speak to my GP tomorrow so I'll raise it and see what they suggest!! Thank you for your kind wishes and helpfulness as always xxx

[Klutzy in reply to Jmiller623]

Is there a specific test for TN?

[Insomniacette in reply to Klutzy]

I'll let you know what the GP tells me when I speak to him/her

[Jmiller623 in reply to Klutzy]

If you have a history of shingles, postherpetic condition, prior trauma to the area then TN is attributed to prior insult and no further studies are typically pursued. An MRI of the brain may help elucidate the cause if no prior insult to the nerve is known. Classic TN shows changes in root of the trigeminal nerve at the base of the skull along with vascular compression. But there are also people with normal MRI and TN so likely peripheral instead of at the nerve root for these people.

Trigeminal neuralgia can also be classified as type 1 and 2 based on pain characteristics. Type 1 is classic, sharp shooting intense short lasting pain. Type 2 is more deep ache and sometimes comes with localized facial swelling. I’m not sure what distinguishes the two when it comes to causes.

Here is a nice overview that I found with some decently linked illustrations.

aans.org/Patients/Neurosurg...

[Insomniacette in reply to Jmiller623]

You're awesome Jmiller623 I'm so glad you're on this forum. Thank you xx

[Klutzy in reply to Jmiller623]

Thanks, great article and for your knowledge! Interesting it mentions about how it could be related with dental work.

[Jmiller623 in reply to Klutzy]

It is interesting because that’s what did me in. I had dental work in 2017 and pneumonia right after. Then I was diagnosed with lupus. I am so scared to go back because I have a whole bunch of swallow issues.

I think dental work can really set off autoimmune disorders. I sometimes wonder if it’s because bacteria and blood are not a good combo esp with a crap immune system. I am so traumatized that I even remember what I wore to the dentist appt.

[Klutzy in reply to Jmiller623]

I understand how you feel about dentists. I'm sorry it traumatized you so much. That's really tough. I'm surprised the correlation hasn't been studied more. Like in your case, that's too coincidental. I wonder if it's them yanking the mouth, or the fluoride treatments or both?

I was diagnosed with bruxism, grinding of teeth at night, in my 20s. Everyone, including my dentist said it was stress. I didn't have stress in my 20s, those were the great years!

Now I'm reading how neurological issues may be connected to bruxism. So it's no shock that my teeth now chatter all the time and I have that tongue spasm. My tongue is also why I haven't seen a dentist recently because how can I with that thing happening. My mouth is full of cavities, had several root canals, a crown, etc. So it does seem plausible they're related to autoimmune and/or neuro stuff.

[Klutzy]

I get that, but not in my eye sockets. Do you get any zaps in your face, feels like a quick jolt of electricity? I also sometimes get pain in the lower back of my head but it doesn't last long). And my jaw will go numb (one side of face). Fortunately doesn't happen too much. Sorry no clue what it is since I am undiagnosed in limbo except for neuropathy.

[Hidden in reply to Klutzy]

I get that too but thought it migraine related….. it does not respond to migraine treatment however and GP dismissed it as MY AGE!

[Insomniacette in reply to Hidden]

outrageous that they said that!!!

[Klutzy in reply to Hidden]

I’m so sorry your GP did that! I completely understand what it must be like for you.

I first started having migraines in upper 30s. But then in my upper 40s, these horrendous one-sided headaches started, so different from any migraine. They go from my temple, down my check and into my neck and sometimes to my ear also.

Yet nothing helps. No OTC migraine med, no Alieve or Ibuprofen, etc. They happen when my neck on one side gets super stiff. And sometimes pain goes in back of head. Sleep, massage, or caffeine also doesn’t help, as they’d help my migraines. I’ve tried essential oils, but doesn’t do anything.

They typically last 2-4 days and all I can do is cry and switch between hot/cold). But then they suddenly stop. The pain feels like someone is stabbing a screw driver or a hammer in my head. Worse than any migraine. After seeing chiro to help w neck, they still happen although my neck feels less tight.

[Insomniacette]

No it's not short sharp pain, it's an intense and relentless ache all across the front of my face which swells up too. It only happens when I'm upset - so extremely stressed or crying. But it's incredibly painful and lasts for at least four to six hours in terms of intense pain and then quite a few hours later my face feels a bit tender. Basically I don't feel right until the next day. It only started happening this last year.

[Klutzy in reply to Insomniacette]

Thanks. i understand what you meant. But I was asking if you also had sharp pains or numbing at different times.

[Insomniacette in reply to Klutzy]

Nope no sharp pain or numbing I'm afraid.

[Klutzy in reply to Insomniacette]

Ok thx

[CecilyParsley]

Hi, yes I can identify with this pain. I also get sharp shooting pains in my ears and intense itching in my ears which strangely can be stopped by jutting out my bottom jaw. The pain along my cheekbones can be really sharp and make me groan, thankfully it does not last long. My GP said I have Trigeminal neuralgia and Tempromandible joint disorder as my jaw clunks and when the pain is bad I cannot fully open my mouth. I have had no tests for it and I was not given any treatment. I was told to massage my jaw gently which does help. I hope your GP can help you. Good luck xxx

[Insomniacette]

Thanks so much Cecily! So sorry you have this too! xxx

[Ianflashdavies]

Yes I get this too. It feels like I have been hit in the face with a shovel. Not had swelling so much but definitely pain. Trigeminal neuralgia sounds about right.

[Jmiller623]

So happy you have an answer Insomnia. Happy to have been of help. It is common for strong emotions to bring on TN. I think it has something to do with the autonomic nervous system. Most importantly, I do hope you find relief and it doesn’t happen again. Stress seems to set off autoimmune disorders which always sucks because it’s stressful having them. Sending hugs. ❤️xx