Face pain

Alternative names:

pain in the face

Definition:

Pain in one or both sides of the face or forehead.

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.

Common causes:

• injury to the face
• abscessed tooth (continuous throbbing pain on one side of the lower face aggravated by eating or touching)
• sinusitis or sinus infection (dull pain and tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones that worsens when bending forward)
• tic douloureux
• trigeminal neuralgia

Note: There may be other causes of face pain. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as exact location, quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for face pain, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.