Modern Treatments for Face & Neck Pain
If you or someone you love is living with chronic face and/or neck pain, it can be challenging to know how to manage it. Often, more than one condition is present which can require a more dynamic treatment method. The good news is that your Comprehensive Pain Consultants of the Carolinas has your back (and neck and face). Today we’re going to explore some basics about face and neck pain as well as common modern treatments. Read on to learn more!
Common Types of Face and Neck Pain
It’s quite common to experience chronic face, head and/or neck pain. This is referred to as craniofacial pain. There are several types of craniofacial pain disorders that our Rutherfordton NC pain management team treats on a regular basis (locations also in 14 additional Asheville area locations).
Often, we see patients who have facial pain as well as neck pain. While the two areas are obviously close, that doesn’t necessarily mean that there is one cause for both pain locations. There are several common types of face and neck pain, some of which being the following:
Migraines or chronic headache disorder
Temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ Dysfunction)
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Symptoms of Craniofacial Disorders
Most times people will only think of the symptoms associated with headaches when first learning of craniofacial disorders. The truth is that even headaches have different ways they present themselves, depending on the type. And then there are all the additional conditions outside of a headache diagnosis to be aware of as well. Some of the more common symptoms of craniofacial disorders include:
Temporomandibular joint clicking or popping out of place
Sore facial muscles
Ear achiness or sharp pains
Vertigo
Forehead and temple pain
Neck stiffness
Difficulty chewing
If you or someone you love is struggling with any of these symptoms along with chronic pain, we recommend scheduling an appointment with a member of your care team. We also encourage you to keep a pain journal to document which symptoms you are experiencing. Make note of type, intensity, frequency and any other relevant information.
Treatments
There are several modern, safe procedures available that may be able to help with the neuropathic pain affecting your face and neck. Procedures that can help with facial pain include sphenopalatine nerve blocks, occipital nerve blocks and stellate ganglion nerve blocks.
For chronic neck pain, your treatment may include a combination of:
Lifestyle modifications
Physical therapy
Non-surgical procedures
Surgical procedures when necessary
Comprehensive Pain Consultants of the Carolinas are extremely familiar with craniofacial disorders and offer all the treatments listed above. We offer Rutherfordton NC pain management services at 15 Asheville area clinic locations.
Additional Tips for Pain Relief
There are also several things you can do from home to be proactive about your face and/or neck pain. Many times, practicing these healthy habits will result in a reduction in pain as well as more energy and improved mood. We recommend beginning with one or two of the following suggestions:
Keep good posture
Use a headset or Bluetooth for your phone
If you have a desk job, take breaks and get up to walk around
Don’t smoke tobacco
Avoid carrying heavy bags with shoulder straps
Pay attention to your sleep position (sleep on your back)
To learn more about methods you can do from home to help prevent and reduce your craniofacial pain symptoms, visit our pages dedicated to facial pain, migraine page and neck pain.
Pain Doctor Rutherfordton NC
Not all pain is alike. Our physicians are experts at evaluating the severity and causes of your pain and creating the right treatment plan for you. Your customized treatment plan will depend on a variety of factors and your discussions with our physicians will help them determine the best course of action to improve your situation. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule an appointment at one of our 15 convenient Asheville area locations.