Seniors And Abnormal Pain…Pains Of The Mouth,Face,Head And Neck

Neuropahtic Orofacial pain disorders…now that’s a mouth full.  Unfortunately,arthritic aches and pains come with aging.  However,there are also many associated neurological types of pain.  Too often people just put up with many of these until they become severe before they get help.  There are neuritic pains due to injury that can also be called peripheral pain.  There are also different types of pain that come from dysfunction (things not working right) in our central nervous system (tumors,multiple sclerosis,etc.).  Many of the pains from dysfunction manifest themselves with pain or problems that you should be aware of.  Here is a list of unusual types of pain that you should be on the lookout for. 1) Short duration,fleeting electric-like shooting pains,or pains that are sharp or burning in nature,  2) Pains associated with numbness,itchy,uncomfortable or exaggerated feelings when you lightly touch an area of your skin or in your mouth. 3) Pains associated with headaches that are different than you have ever felt or pains that persist.  Muscle pains are usually dull and aching and of longer duration.

If you are just putting up with these types of uncomfortable pains you should seriously consider getting a proper medical diagnosis.  You may need to see a neurologist,or other medical specialty.  Many pains are associated with the tissues of the mouth &teeth or the muscles and structures (TMJ) we use for chewing.  A dentist who is familiar with the many manifestations of pain from these areas should be seen.  There are more and more physicians and dentists who focus on these pain issues.  Sorting out things like trigeminal neuralgia from glossopharyngela/superior laryngeal neuralgia (tongue/throat pains),occipital neuralgia (neck back of head pain with or without association with the TMJ),Eagle’s syndrome or styloid-stylohyoid syndrome,burning mouth syndrome,myofascial pains of the head and neck (persistent muscle type pains that refer pain all over the head and neck.),neurofascular toothache,maxillary sinusitis,odontogenic (tooth) toothache,non-odontogenic toothache,neuralgia-inducing cavitational osteonecrosis.   I could go on and on,but suffice it to say that there are many,many,sources of pain associated with the head and neck and some are more treatable than others.

The purpose of my article today is to educate seniors that the quality of your life,if compromised by these types of pains,can in many cases be greatly improved with careful consideration of all your symptoms,history and physical examination leading to treatment.  There is always the chance that some of these issues are life threatening but with most everything,early detection and treatment increases the possibility of an acceptable outcome.  Don’t just put up with the pain;get something done about it.

Phillip Hall is a practicing general dentist in St. George.  He is also head of the St. George Craniofacial Treatment Center,and operates St. George Dental Careers,a successful dental assisting school.  Appointments for general dentistry or dentures call 656-1111.  For sleep apnea appliances or TMJ problems call 634-8338.