HEAD & FACE PAIN

  • The greater occipital nerves run from the top of your spine, through the back of your head and up toward the scalp. When these nerves become irritated or inflamed, it can cause a condition known as greater occipital neuralgia. It may develop from tight neck muscles, arthritis in the spine, prior injury or sometimes without a clear cause.

    Common symptoms:

    • sharp, stabbing or electric-like pain starting at the base of the skull and spreading over the scalp

    • tenderness in the back of the head or upper neck

    • pain that can be triggered by simple movements, pressure or even brushing your hair

    • sometimes sensitivityto light or headaches that feel like migraines

    Treatment options:

  • A cervicogenic headache is a type of headache that actually originates from problems in the neck (cervical spine)—most often the upper cervical facet joints, muscles or nerves. When these structures become irritated or inflamed, they can refer pain upward into the head.

    It may develop from arthritis in the upper neck, poor posture, muscle tension or prior injury such as whiplash.

    Common symptoms:

    • Dull, aching pain that starts in the neck and radiates to the back, side or front of the head

    • Headaches often worsened by neck movement or sustained posture

    • Neck stiffness or limited range of motion

    • Pain that may occur on one side of the head or face

    • Occasionally accompanied by shoulder or upper back discomfort

    Cervicogenic headaches can feel similar to migraines but are driven by neck dysfunction, and addressing the underlying cervical source often provides lasting relief.

    Treatment options:

  • A migraine is a type of headache caused by abnormal activity in the brain and surrounding nerves and blood vessels. These changes can lead to inflammation, sensitivity and altered pain signaling that trigger intense, often disabling headaches.

    Migraines can be brought on by stress, hormonal changes, certain foods, sleep disruption or sensory stimuli such as bright lights or strong smells.

    Common symptoms include:

    • Throbbing or pulsating pain, often on one side of the head

    • Sensitivity to light, sound or smells

    • Nausea or vomiting

    • Blurred vision or visual disturbances (known as “aura”)

    • Fatigue, neck discomfort or difficulty concentrating

    Migraines can vary in frequency and severity — from occasional episodes to chronic, daily pain. Treatments that calm nerve activity and reduce muscle tension, such as Botox injections or targeted nerve blocks, can help decrease both the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks and restore quality of life.

    Treatment options:

  • Trigeminal neuralgia is a nerve condition that causes bursts of severe facial pain, usually on one side. People often describe it as sharp, stabbing or like an electric shock. The pain may come and go in short attacks that last seconds to minutes. Everyday things like brushing your teeth, eating or even a gentle touch can bring on the pain.

    Treatment options:

  • Your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are the small hinges that connect your jaw to your skull, just in front of your ears. They allow you to talk, chew, and yawn. TMJ dysfunction happens when these joints or the surrounding muscles don’t work properly. This can cause:

    • jaw pain or stiffness

    • clicking, popping, or grinding noises when opening or closing your mouth

    • difficulty chewing or fullyopening your mouth

    • headaches, ear pain, or facial discomfort

    Treatment options:

  • Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is nerve pain that lasts after a shingles outbreak has healed. When shingles affects the face — especially around the eye or forehead — the pain may continue long after the rash disappears.

    Common symptoms:

    • burning, stabbing, or shooting facial pain

    • extreme sensitivity — even light touch, wind, or washing your face may hurt

    • tingling, numbness or itching in the affected area

    • pain lasting more than 3 months after shingles

    Shingles can damage the facial nerves, including the trigeminal nerve. These damaged nerves may keep sending pain signals, even when the skin has healed.

    Treatment options: