Facial pain associated with stress
Stress, like many other factors, can be a cause of the so-called “atypical facial pain“. Initially, the pain is usually limited to a certain area of skin, which usually spreads over time. In about 30% of cases both halves of the face are affected.
In addition, in atypical pain it is rather rare for the pain to occur episodically, as is the case with trigeminal neuralgia. In most cases it is a permanent pain. Many sufferers report that the pain decreases at night, but is constantly strong throughout the day. In most cases, the diagnosis of “atypical facial pain” is a very long process, as all possible causes must be excluded.
Shingles in the face – Herpes zoster as cause
Another possible cause of facial pain is herpes zoster, also known as shingles. The clinical picture of herpes zoster is triggered by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus (varicella zoster virus) in the context of an immune deficiency. These viruses primarily cause chickenpox, which disappears immediately after successful treatment.
However, after the acute clinical picture of chickenpox has subsided, the viruses attach themselves to the cranial nerves or nerves of the spinal cord and nest there. However, the human immune system normally ensures that the virus cannot multiply and thus prevents the disease from reoccurring. If a person gets older or is weakened by another disease or stress, it can happen that the immune system is no longer strong enough and the virus spreads again.
In the process, it migrates along the affected nerves to the skin, where it causes the typical belt-shaped skin rashes. The rash is accompanied by very severe pain, which may persist for some time after the external symptoms have healed. It is also important to note that the varicella zoster virus is a highly infectious virus; direct contact (smear infection) or infection via the airway (aerogenic) are possible.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a degenerative autoimmune disease in which the protective insulation of the nerves, the so-called myelin sheath, is destroyed by the body. As a result, the speed of nerve conduction can be greatly reduced, which can result in a restriction of their normal function until complete failure. The symptoms of this disease are very diverse, as all nerves can be affected by this process.
These range from slight sensitivity disorders to a complete loss of nerve function. Due to these degradation processes at the nerves, they are strongly irritated and a strong nerve pain, a so-called neuralgia, can develop. If the sensitive nerves of the face are affected by this, strong facial pain occurs, which can be one-sided, but also bilateral.
