Differential Diagnosis for Facial Pain
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Trigeminal Neuralgia: This condition is characterized by sudden, severe, and stabbing pain in parts of the face, typically triggered by light touch or other innocuous stimuli. It's a common cause of facial pain and has a distinct presentation that often leads to its consideration as a primary diagnosis.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Tension Headache: While often presenting with a band-like pressure around the head, tension headaches can also cause facial pain, especially in the cheeks and forehead areas.
- Dental Problems (e.g., Tooth Abscess, Impacted Wisdom Teeth): Dental issues are a frequent cause of facial pain, particularly if the pain is localized to one area of the face or jaw.
- Sinusitis: Inflammation of the sinuses can cause pain in the face, especially in the areas surrounding the eyes, nose, and cheeks.
- Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder: This condition affects the joint that connects the jawbone to the skull and can cause pain in the jaw, face, and surrounding areas.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma: Although rare, this condition can cause severe eye and facial pain and is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention to prevent vision loss.
- Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis: A potentially life-threatening condition that can cause facial pain, especially if accompanied by other symptoms like fever, eye swelling, and neurological deficits.
- Giant Cell Arteritis: This condition can cause facial pain, especially in the jaw when chewing, and is associated with a risk of blindness if not promptly treated.
- Rare diagnoses
- Cluster Headaches: These are extremely painful headaches that occur in cycles or clusters, often causing pain on one side of the face.
- Occipital Neuralgia: Involves inflammation of the occipital nerves, which can cause pain in the back and top of the head, sometimes radiating to the face.
- Raeder’s Syndrome: A rare condition characterized by a combination of facial pain, ptosis (drooping eyelid), and miosis (constricted pupil) on the same side of the face, often associated with an ipsilateral Horner syndrome.