Sharp, electric bursts
Brief shock-like pain triggered by light touch, cold air, chewing, shaving or brushing teeth.
Facial & nerve pain physiotherapy in Dublin
Facial pain is often under-diagnosed, because very different conditions sound alike. Nerve pain, muscular pain, jaw dysfunction and upper cervical referral all show up as pain in the face — telling them apart is the difference between frustration and a plan that works.
- Trigeminal-type and neuropathic facial pain
- Persistent idiopathic facial pain
- Facial nerve weakness and Bell's palsy rehabilitation
- Post-surgical and post-dental facial pain
- Occipital and cervical referral into the face
- Facial muscle tension and asymmetry
Symptoms
Common symptoms
Constant burning or aching
A deep, unrelenting ache across the cheek, jaw or around the eye without a clear trigger.
Numbness or altered sensation
Patches of reduced or heightened sensitivity, often following dental or surgical procedures.
Facial weakness or asymmetry
Difficulty closing an eye, smiling evenly or controlling the mouth after facial nerve injury.
Treatment
How physiotherapy may help
Desensitisation and graded exposure
Structured sensory retraining to reduce the nervous system's response to normal touch and temperature.
Gentle manual therapy
Soft-tissue and joint work for the facial, masticatory and cervical structures contributing to your pain.
Neuromuscular retraining
Mirror-based facial exercise and selective motor control work after facial nerve injury or Bell's palsy.
Medical co-management
Close collaboration with neurology, maxillofacial and dental colleagues, because facial pain often needs more than one discipline.
Your assessment
What the 60-90 minutes covers
- 01Structured pain history to separate neuropathic, muscular and referred patterns
- 02Cranial nerve screening, including facial sensation and motor function
- 03Facial and masticatory muscle palpation and functional testing
- 04Upper cervical examination to test for referral into the face
- 05Red-flag screening with prompt onward referral where medical review is needed
What contributes to it
- Sensitisation or injury of trigeminal nerve branches
- Referral from upper cervical segments into trigeminal territory
- Masticatory and facial muscle overactivity
- Post-surgical or post-dental nerve irritation and scarring
- Incomplete recovery of facial nerve motor control after palsy
- Central sensitisation maintaining pain after tissues have healed
Questions
Facial & nerve pain, answered
Related conditions
Get a clear diagnosis for your facial & nerve pain.
60-90 minute assessment in 232 Harold's Cross Rd, Harold's Cross, Dublin, D6WN923.