What Is Facial Pain?
Facial pain involves various types of pain occurring in one or more parts of the face. Several health conditions are known to cause facial pain, such as trigeminal neuralgia, Bell's palsy, Hemifacial spasms (HFS), temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), cluster headaches, or sinusitis.
Facial pain can be extremely frustrating. If your leg hurts, you can sit down, or walk with a cane for support. If your arm hurts, you can wear a sling or brace and immobilize the area that is in pain. If your back hurts, you can use ice or a heating pad and sit down. When your face hurts, there is little you can do when you need to go on with your day but grit your teeth and bear it.
Symptoms of Facial Pain
Facial pain can vary, depending on the individual and the condition. The pain may be tingling, burning, throbbing, radiating, aching, sharp, or shocking. Some patients may feel it all over the face, while for others it is generally localized in certain parts.
Depending on the condition, different things may trigger facial pain. Some people may get bouts of pain when they chew, brush their teeth, drink cold or hot liquids, or eat spicy foods. For some people, pain may depend on the weather or other environmental conditions.
How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Facial Pain
The upper cervical spine is located at the base of the skull and runs down through the neck. This part of the spine protects the spinal cord near the vital juncture where it connects to the brain stem. It is also responsible for the carriage and movement of the head.
Any traumatic events to the head and neck causing a jolt or whiplash may result in a misalignment of the vertebrae of the upper cervical spine. When vertebrae are misaligned, it causes inflammation and swelling in the area that can pinch or compress vital nerves going from the brain to the face. When nerves are compressed, the flow of signals between the brain and body is impaired. This can cause nerve damage and misfires that result in conditions causing facial pain.
How We Treat Facial Pain
At the Blair Chiropractic Clinic in Lubbock, Texas, we treat patients with facial pain by trying to get to the root of the problem. Our upper cervical spine specialist, Dr. Gordon Elder, examines patients for misalignments that may be compressing nerves or causing inflammation near the brain stem.
Dr. Elder is a trained practitioner of the Blair Chiropractic Technique, a technique utilizing advanced technology applied to modern chiropractic methods. Unlike traditional chiropractic care, practitioners of the Blair technique do not use sudden jolts and jerks to snap vertebrae back into place. Instead, low-force pressure is applied in precise locations to make more exact corrections.
Dr. Elder's treatments begin with 3D imaging diagnostic tools to analyze and calculate a patient's unique anatomy. The doctor then applies gentle methods to coax the spine back into the correct alignment.
Once the spine is properly aligned, reduced inflammation alleviates pressure on nerves and can bring relief. The body's natural healing mechanisms are then activated to help repair damage and restore proper nerve function.
After initial treatment, Dr. Elder generally continues to see patients periodically as part of their overall health and wellness routine. Preventative upper cervical care can help nip problems in the bud and prevent future complications.
Upper cervical care is a safe, non-invasive, drug-free way for many people with facial pain to find relief and healing. Contact Dr. Elder today for a consultation. The doctor's areas of coverage include Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, and El Paso in Texas, as well as Hobbs in New Mexico.
Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.