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If your face hurts without a clear cause, it could be atypical facial pain (AFP). AFP is unexplained, chronic (ongoing) pain in your face. It might affect your teeth, jaw, cheek or ear. AFP can be hard to diagnose. Depression, stress or anxiety can make AFP worse. It’s usually treatable with medication or psychological therapy.
Symptoms
Symptoms
People with AFP have pain in their face every day for at least three months. Heat, cold or touch may trigger the pain. Some people also report that the pain gets worse if they’re tired or stressed.
The pain may be on the left or right side of your face, often near the jaw or ear. It might feel contained to one small area of your face, or it might spread over your whole face. It doesn’t follow the path of a nerve.
Someone with AFP may describe the pain as:
Burning.
Deep.
Dull or aching, but with periods of a sharp, stabbing sensation.
Pounding or throbbing.
Tingling, or having a pins-and-needles feeling.
Causes
Causes
AFP doesn’t have a known cause. It may have a link to psychological issues. Chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters regulate your mood and how you perceive pain. Depression, anxiety or other mental health disorders disrupt the way neurotransmitters work. They may change the way we feel pain or make us more sensitive to it.
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