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What Causes Burning Sensation On The Face?
My neighbor is experiencing a burning sensation in her face which started 5 years ago following radiation for breast cancer. She did not have chemo treatments. She has been to a dermatologist and a neurologist. Is there a neurologist who specializes in pain of nerves of the face? She lives near Greensboro, NC.
Mon, 30 Apr 2018
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
As per your question, it seems that she is suffering from nerve related problem causing nerve irritation and burning sensation. It can occur due to disturbances associated with the fifth cranial nerve that is the Trigeminal nerve.
You need to consult a Neurophysician and get evaluated for the exact cause of the nerve induced pain as there can be some causes like damage of the Myelin Sheath [ a protective cover over the nerve] leading to severe electric shock-like pain.
Other causes are disorders like Multiple sclerosis, tumor or artery compressing the nerve, physical trauma etcetera.
The common drugs given to relieve neurotic pain are Carbamazepine that is the first line drug while others like Gabapentin, baclofen, oxcarbazepine etcetera, but in case, if the pain does not subside, then a detailed evaluation and tests like MRI scan can be done to rule out the underlying cause and treatment of the same can relieve.
If there is any artery impinging the nerve, microvascular decompression (in which the compression over the artery is surgically removed) is done. Other procedures like Balloon decompression, Gama knife radiosurgery, glycerol injection etcetera can be done to relieve pain.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Honey Arora
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
As per your question, it seems that she is suffering from nerve related problem causing nerve irritation and burning sensation. It can occur due to disturbances associated with the fifth cranial nerve that is the Trigeminal nerve.
You need to consult a Neurophysician and get evaluated for the exact cause of the nerve induced pain as there can be some causes like damage of the Myelin Sheath [ a protective cover over the nerve] leading to severe electric shock-like pain.
Other causes are disorders like Multiple sclerosis, tumor or artery compressing the nerve, physical trauma etcetera.
The common drugs given to relieve neurotic pain are Carbamazepine that is the first line drug while others like Gabapentin, baclofen, oxcarbazepine etcetera, but in case, if the pain does not subside, then a detailed evaluation and tests like MRI scan can be done to rule out the underlying cause and treatment of the same can relieve.
If there is any artery impinging the nerve, microvascular decompression (in which the compression over the artery is surgically removed) is done. Other procedures like Balloon decompression, Gama knife radiosurgery, glycerol injection etcetera can be done to relieve pain.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Honey Arora
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