What Causes Facial Pain and Sensitivity?

Whether it causes a dull ache, a tingling sensation, or an electric shock-type of pain through one cheek, facial pain and sensitivity can stem from a myriad of underlying issues, ranging from damaged nerves and dental problems to trauma, inflammation, and other conditions. 

If you have facial pain and sensitivity, you’re probably wondering why it’s happening — and how you can alleviate it for good. We can help: At Spine & Pain Center of San Antonio in San Antonio and Live Oak, Texas, Sergio Alvarado, MD, and our seasoned team can get to the bottom of your facial pain problem and help you get the relief you’re after. 

Common causes of facial pain and sensitivity 

Our team evaluates your medical history and symptoms to determine the source of your facial pain. Some of the most common sources of facial pain and sensitivity are: 

Headaches or sinusitis 

Migraines and chronic sinus problems can cause facial pain and sensitivity. A change in blood flow or inflammation can cause them. 

Sometimes, people think they have a sinus headache when they actually have a migraine. The difference is important because migraines are a debilitating neurological disease, and they require a different treatment approach than a sinus headache. 

Nerve disorders 

Trigeminal neuralgia can feel like an electric shock through your face. Even routine activities like eating or brushing your teeth can trigger sharp facial pain. The trigeminal nerve runs through your jaw, cheeks, eyes, and brain. Because it’s so widespread, you can feel pain or sensitivity in any part of your face. 

One cause of trigeminal neuralgia is a compressed nerve. It can be linked to a stroke, tumor, or multiple sclerosis (MS), though at other times, we don’t know the root cause. 

There are many ways to treat this pain, including nerve blocks and physical therapy. We take a multi-disciplinary approach to find the right set of treatments for your pain. 

Dental problems 

Persistent facial pain can also be a product of a dental abscess, cracked tooth, or even bruxism (teeth-grinding). A temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder can also lead to ongoing facial pain and sensitivity as well as jaw stiffness. 

Other causes of facial pain and sensitivity

Sometimes, we evaluate your symptoms through imaging exams and neurological tests, and there’s no apparent cause for your facial pain. This is known as atypical face pain. Such pain can feel like burning, throbbing, a dull ache, or a tingling sensation. 

If this is the case, sometimes psychological factors like stress or depression make your symptoms worse. We can help you find healthy ways to manage psychological stress, too. 

The bottom line? No matter what’s causing your face pain and sensitivity, we can provide effective treatment solutions. Call or click online to schedule an appointment at your nearest Spine & Pain Center of San Antonio office in Live Oak or San Antonio, Texas, today.