May be caused by injury, infection (for example sinusitis), teeth and/or jaw problems, or a nerve disorder (trigeminal neuralgia is the most common type, producing a sharp, knife-like pain). Sometimes facial pain may have no apparent cause.

Treatment

There are many factors which may lead to facial pain. It is advisable to consult a professional to rule out serious disorders. The following self help techniques provide some immediate relief.

Massage

Thorough, slow neck, scalp and face massage while lying down is very beneficial:

Place your fingertips together in a line on the middle of your forehead, resting your thumbs on your temples. Draw your fingertips outwards across the forehead. Repeat several times, then gradually move your fingers higher up your forehead and into the scalp. Continue this procedure across the scalp, always starting from the middle and working outwards. Massage the whole of the scalp as if washing your hair, for about 1 minute. Work across the scalp gently tugging at your hair from the roots. Placing your middle and fourth finger on your temples, and your thumb under your jaw, gently massage in the temples in circular motions. Move your fingers to just above your ears and repeat the procedure. Continue massaging down in front of the ears and top of the jawbone. Using the same two fingers, massage the area just below your cheekbones. Work your way along the edge of the cheekbones to the ears using very small circular movements, then massage down the upper edge of the jawbone into the chin. Massage around the chin and the mouth. Finally, hook the fingers of both hands over the corresponding shoulder, and sink the fingers into the large muscle running along the shoulder blades. Press down deeply for about 1 minute. Stroke the muscles of the neck from the top and side of the neck down and out to the shoulder joint.

Relaxation

Facial pain is often a result of tension - gritting the teeth, or smiling through difficult situations - and muscle spasm. Yoga, meditation and biofeedback are methods which help to reduce tension.

Professional Help

Facial pain resulting from stress, tension or a history of head or spinal injury can be greatly helped by osteopathy, particularly craniosacral techniques, or chiropractic. Acupuncture can also be very effective.