Characterization of head and neck pain symptoms of patients presenting to a tertiary care pain clinic

ABSTRACT

Objective

To characterize the presentation and symptomatology of individuals presenting with pain in head and neck regions.

Methods

A retrospective chart-review was performed on patients with pain in the HFN presenting to a tertiary pain center in Turkey between January 2016 and January 2017. Information regarding the characteristics of pain and medical and treatment history were extracted and reviewed.

Results

Among 197 subjects, 135 (68.5%) were females. The average duration of pain was 60.13 ± 92.32 months. The pain was continuous in presentation and severe in intensity in 43.1% and 51.8% of the subjects, respectively. The pain was associated with at least one somatosensory symptom in 12.1% of subjects. Common diagnoses were trigeminal neuralgia, persistent idiopathic facial pain, and migraine headaches.

Conclusion

Painful disorders of the HFN are associated with varying and perplexing signs and symptoms. Such patients should undergo a comprehensive clinical assessment with a multidisciplinary team.

KEYWORDS:

• Acute pain
• chronic pain
• facial pain
• temporomandibular disorders (TMD)
• trigeminal nerve
• trigeminal neuralgia

Additional information

Funding

This study did not receive any funding.