ABSTRACT
Craniofacial pain may be caused by a wide variety of disease processes affecting the complex anatomy of the region. Diagnosis often requires a combination of specialist skills, which can include the neurologist, ENT surgeon, ophthalmologist, dental surgeon, oral medicine physician, and sometimes the psychiatrist. Painful ophthalmoplegia refers to all causes of ophthalmoplegia associated with pain. Pain is felt mainly in the orbital region, but may radiate widely onto the face and the head. The psychogenic theory proposes that psychological factors, including adverse life events, sleep disturbance, anxiety and stress, lead to masticatory muscle overactivity and pain, and it has been suggested that facial arthromyalgia is more common in individuals with vulnerable personality types. Sinusitis is by far the most common cause of sinus pain. Bacterial maxillary sinusitis, unilateral or bilateral, usually follows viral upper respiratory infections, associated with nasal obstruction and discharge.
