Pain therapy
The purpose of specialised pain therapy sessions
Chronic facial pain is a widespread problem that can be traced back to many different causes. Those affected by this often consult doctors of various specialisations and are given different, sometimes even conflicting, advice and have to undergo treatment sessions that frequently prove to be futile. The disappointed patient then losses trust in the physician and changes to another one. It doesn’t have to be this way. Oral and maxillofacial surgery can provide efficient help in many cases with individually optimised treatment concepts.
However, the key to successful treatment is defining the exact cause of the pain. This is frequently traced back to more than one causes. O & M surgeons are in the special position, thanks to their dual medical and dental surgeon qualifications, of being able to diagnose and evaluate both local, i.e. those related to dental and jaw ailments, as well as general medicinal causes.
The pain is often caused by an abnormal bite. Abnormal teeth or jaw positioning can result in the rows of teeth not matching up to each other correctly. The sensitive jawbone joint reacts with creaking and pain. This leads to in the jaw muscles becoming tensed and this tension is transferred to the neck, shoulder and back muscles. This can develop into an extremely complex medical condition that includes stress headaches, migraines, grinding your teeth at night, ear noises and vertigo. Nerves are often irritated by tensed muscles and this results in sensation disorders and stabbing pains. Experts talk about temporomandibular joint dysfunctions (Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD or TMD).
In addition to this, rheumatic jaw joint ailments as well as signs of wear (arthrosis) in the jaw joint must also be considered as possible causes of the facial pain. Trigeminal neuralgia (stabbing facial pain attacks) and other nerve damage in the facial area as well as chronic mucous membrane burning sensations must also be taken into consideration. Other factors that can also trigger facial pain could be psychosocial stress factors, stress at home and at work and conflict situations, which also play an important role. The psychosomatic level of the origin of the pain must also be taken into consideration.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons can propose and provide suitable forms of treatment and treatment procedures for these types of pain ailments. All possible options will have to be taken into consideration ranging from physical therapy (physiotherapy, manual therapy, etc.) to wearing a brace and medication therapy and continuing with orthodontics and orthodontic surgical procedures. The O & M surgeon, who specialises in facial pain surgery, will arrange and agree upon specific, multi-level treatment with the other specialisation representatives and this treatment is guaranteed to meet the patient’s needs. A marked easing of the medical condition can be realised in the majority of cases.
Chronic facial pain therapy under Doz. Dr. Dr. med. habil. Volker Thieme has been the main focal point of our work at the Sternklinik. He is one of the leading specialists in this specific field in Germany.
Typical symptoms that should be treated by an O & M surgeon are:
- Pain through the facial area and in the jaw joints, which then radiates into the ears and the temples, the back of the head or the throat and into the shoulders (an ENT doctor was frequently consulted about the “ear aches”!)
- Pain in the cervical vertebrae, in the back and in the shoulders, which is often caused by chewing apparatus functional disorders
- Pain when chewing, speaking, washing your face or cleaning your teeth
- Painful difficulties when opening or closing your mouth or your chin moves to one side when you open your mouth
- Painful jaw joint creaking
- Reddening and swelling around the jaw joints
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