As there are few physicians who are experienced in treating facial pain, you are more likely to find assistance within two specialties: neurology and neurosurgery.
Even in these specialties, you will need to do some research. You will benefit from calling local neurologists and neurosurgeons in your area to find out how many facial pain patients they have treated in the past, and are presently treating. Here are some questions to ask:
- Does Dr. X treat trigeminal neuralgia and related facial pain disorders?
- How many patients with facial pain are in Dr. X’s practice?
- If Dr. X does not treat many patients, can Dr. X recommend someone else to you?
I suggest that you see both a neurologist and a neurosurgeon for a consult as soon as you believe you may have a neuropathic facial pain disorder, or if you want to reconsider your current treatment. By the nature of their training and experience they may have different perspectives from which they evaluate and treat patients.
In a nutshell, neurologists are more experienced with treating nervous system disorders by means of medication; whereas neurosurgeons are more experienced with treating nervous system disorders with surgery. Both should be able to conduct a thorough neurological examination and order any appropriate testing you might need.
There are other doctors who treat facial pain as well, including specialists in several related practice areas : ENT (ear, nose and throat); pain management, physical therapists, dentists, complementary and alternative medicine practitioners. Among the last of these categories, you might get the most competent treatment from a mainstream medical doctor who also applies techniques of alternative medicine as one element of his or her practice -- or from a practitioner who is actively recommended by such a professional.
You may eventually employ a diverse team of physicians and specialists in your journey with facial pain. However, I believe you are wise to begin with specialists [] likely to be familiar with diagnosing facial pain—neurologists and neurosurgeons.
The Facial Pain Association (formerly called the Trigeminal Neuralgia Association) can provide you with a list of neurologists and neurosurgeons in your general area who may be able to help you. Go to www.endthepain.org.
Calling and talking with a physician’s office staff member is a wise place to begin. Ask if they deal with facial pain disorders, and which on-staff physician would he or she recommend you see. Find out if they have any information about facial pain that they can send you ahead of time, or any physician credentials. In the US, board certification is one of the indicators that a physician has bothered to undertake more than the minimum accepted level of training. Make an appointment on the phone, if you are even only partly thinking of seeing this physician, since you may have to wait several weeks for an appointment. (Just be sure to call back and cancel with any doctor you decide NOT to see ASAP!)
