Chronic facial pain and pain symptoms in other areas

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the chronicity of facial pain and the association of chronic facial pain with other pain conditions outside the face in a population-based follow-up study. Methods: The study was part of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, including subjects born in the year 1966 in Northern Finland. In 1997, 5,696 subjects answered a computer-aided questionnaire where, among other aspects concerning the health and well-being of the subjects, data on facial pain were reported. In 2000, at the age of 34 years old, a subsample of the cohort (n=362) was formed based on the question concerning facial pain. A second inquiry including questions about facial pain and other pain areas in the body was sent to the subjects. In total, 272 subjects responded. Results: Of the subjects that had reported no pain in the first inquiry (n=119), 86 (72.3%) were pain-free and 33 (27.7 %) had facial pain three years later. Of the subjects that had reported facial pain in the first inquiry (n=116), 51 (44.0%) were pain-free and 65 (56.0%) reported pain in the three-year follow-up. Subjects with chronic facial pain (pain reported in both questionnaires) reported significantly more often pain outside the facial area, i.e. in the neck and occiput, shoulders, arms and elbows, upper back, hips, knees and ankles, as compared to others (p<0.05, Chi-square test ). Conclusions: More than half of the facial pain cases seem to have a chronic pain condition in a three-year follow-up period. Chronic facial pain is associated with pain outside the facial area. Pain symptoms in other areas of the body should be assessed especially in patients with chronic facial pain and should be taken into account in the treatment scheme.