Sudden, severe, electric-shock facial pain — one of the most intense pains in medicine, and highly treatable.
What it is
The trigeminal nerve supplies sensation to the face. Compression or irritation of it produces brief, lancinating attacks.
It is distinguished from dental pain by its character and triggers — but many patients have dental work done first.
How it usually presents
- Sudden stabbing pain in the cheek, jaw or around the eye, lasting seconds.
- Triggered by chewing, talking, touching the face, cold air or brushing teeth.
- Almost always one-sided.
- Pain-free between attacks, at least early on.
How we treat it
- Diagnosis by history — the pattern is distinctive.
- Specific medication, which is the first-line treatment and often highly effective.
- Sphenopalatine ganglion block and other targeted blocks.
- Neurosurgical referral where medication fails.
To be assessed, call (314) 310-5577 or request an appointment.
Common questions
Is this a dental problem?
It commonly gets mistaken for one, and patients often have teeth extracted before the diagnosis is made. The electric, triggered, seconds-long character is the clue.
Hurt in an accident? Start here.
You do not need a lawyer, a police report or a referral to be seen. Bring your symptoms and we will work out the rest.
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Same-day appointments are often available for new accident and injury patients.