Top 7 Tips To Treat And Prevent Facial Pain

When your back went out of whack, you blamed it on spring cleaning, an entire weekend of hauling boxes from the attic to the basement. And when your knees knocked with pain, you could trace it to that afternoon you spent crawling around your garden planting petunias. But what could make your face hurt? In reality, just about anything. Facial pain has a variety of causes. Your face may hurt because of a sinus infection, a dental problem, a migraine, an allergy, or stress. Food additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) can trigger facial pain as well. Because such a wide array of underlying problems can produce facial pain, zeroing in on the exact cause usually require the help of a doctor. However, here are some tips that you can consider to adopt to relieve your pain.

1. Stave Off Stress
   
   Stress does not cause facial pain, but it can make it worse. Consider learning relaxation technique that you can use during tense times such as meditation, visualization, or yoga.
   
   
2. Hit The Spot
   
   You can also relieve a muscle spasm by applying gentle pressure in the area of the facial nerve. The point is located at the jaw point, just in front of each ear and right below the cheekbone. You can feel it when you open and close your mouth. Steadily press the point on the affected side with your finger for 1 to 2 minutes, keeping your mouth closed. Repeat as often as necessary.
   
   
3. Make Nice With Ice
   
   Massage the affected area with a cold pack or a plastic bag filled with ice cubes until the area is numb. For pain in your forehead, apply ice to the back of your neck, just below your skull. For pain across your face, apply the ice just above your jawbone. Lay a thin towel over the affected area so that the ice does not make direct contact with your skin. Limit your treatment sessions to no more than 10 minutes of every hour. Leaving the ice on longer than that could make the pain worse.
   
   
4. Pick A Painkiller
   
   A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) can provide relief, especially if you have trigeminal neuralgia. Try an over-the-counter medication such as aspirin or ibuprofen.
   
   
5. Give Peas A Chance
   
   If you do not have a cold pack handy or you are out of ice cubes, use a bag of frozen peas instead. The bag will adapt to the contours of your face.
   
   
6. Treat Yourself To A Mini-massage
   
   Pain in your forehead may originate in the back of your neck. Massaging the back of your neck, just below your skull, may bring relief.
   
   
7. Heal With Heat
   
   If muscle tightness is causing your discomfort, apply moist heat such as a warm towel to the painful area for about 15 minutes at a time. You can do this five to six times a day.

Raymond Lee is one of the foremost experts in the health and fitness industry and is the Founder of Bodyfixes Group specializing in body health, muscle development and dieting. He is currently the author of the latest edition of "Neck Exercises and Workouts." Visit http://www.bodyfixes.com for more information.