Differential Diagnosis for Right Sided Jaw Pain and Right Eye Twitching
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder: This condition is characterized by pain in the jaw, face, and surrounding muscles, and can also cause eye twitching due to referred pain. The pain upon turning the head is consistent with TMJ disorder, as movement of the jaw can exacerbate the condition.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Tension Headache: Tension headaches can cause pain on one side of the head, including the jaw and eye area, and are often associated with muscle tension. The act of turning the head could worsen the pain if the headache is related to neck and scalp muscle tension.
- Dental Issues: Problems such as a toothache, abscess, or gum disease can cause localized pain that might radiate to the eye and be exacerbated by movement.
- Trigeminal Neuralgia: This condition involves sudden, severe, shock-like pain around the eyes, lips, or nose mainly because of abnormal blood vessels pressing on the trigeminal nerve in the head. While less common, it could explain the eye twitching and pain upon movement.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): Although less likely given the absence of other neurological deficits, stroke or TIA must be considered, especially if there are sudden onset symptoms. Jaw pain and eye twitching could be atypical presentations.
- Multiple Sclerosis: This autoimmune disease can cause a wide range of neurological symptoms, including vision problems, pain, and muscle spasms. While the symptoms described are not classic for MS, it's a condition that could potentially cause such a presentation.
- Giant Cell Arteritis: This condition, which causes inflammation of the blood vessels, can lead to jaw claudication (pain when chewing) and visual disturbances, including eye pain. It's a diagnosis that should not be missed due to the risk of blindness.
Rare Diagnoses
- Hemifacial Spasm: A rare neurological disorder characterized by irregular, involuntary muscle contractions on one side of the face, which could include the eye twitching described.
- Eagle Syndrome: A condition where an elongated styloid process or calcified stylohyoid ligament causes pain in the jaw and face, which could potentially radiate to the eye and be exacerbated by head movement.
- Occipital Neuralgia: Involves inflammation of the occipital nerves, which can cause severe pain on one side of the head, including the back and top of the head, and could potentially cause referred pain to the jaw and eye area.