Differential Diagnosis for Left Facial Pain
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Trigeminal Neuralgia: This condition is characterized by sudden, severe, and stabbing pain in one side of the face, which can be triggered by light touch or other stimuli. It is a common cause of facial pain and often affects one side of the face.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder: This condition affects the joint that connects the jawbone to the skull and can cause pain in the face, jaw, and surrounding areas.
- Dental Problems (e.g., tooth abscess, pulpitis): Dental issues can cause referred pain to the face, especially if the problem is located in the upper teeth.
- Sinusitis: Inflammation of the sinuses can cause pain in the face, particularly in the areas surrounding the eyes and nose.
- Migraine or Cluster Headaches: These types of headaches can cause severe pain on one side of the face and may be accompanied by other symptoms like sensitivity to light or nausea.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): Although less common, facial pain can be a symptom of a stroke or TIA, especially if accompanied by other neurological deficits.
- Multiple Sclerosis: This autoimmune disease can cause a wide range of neurological symptoms, including facial pain, due to demyelination in the central nervous system.
- Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis: A rare but potentially life-threatening condition that involves a blood clot in the cavernous sinus, which can cause facial pain, among other symptoms.
- Rare diagnoses
- Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia: A rare condition that causes pain in the tongue, throat, and ear, which can sometimes be referred to the face.
- Occipital Neuralgia: Inflammation of the occipital nerves can cause pain in the back and top of the head, which may radiate to the face.
- Raeder's Syndrome: A rare condition characterized by a combination of facial pain, ptosis (drooping eyelid), and miosis (constricted pupil), often due to a lesion in the middle cranial fossa.