Managing Pain and Discomfort After Facial Trauma: Tips and Strategies

Managing Pain and Discomfort After Facial Trauma: Tips and Strategies

Jun 01, 2023

If any part of your body is aching, it feels like your whole body suffers the same pain. Some aches can be unsettling enough to disrupt your daily routines. Relying on over-the-counter pain relievers is not necessarily an option you would want to rely on for long-term pain management.

What Is Facial Trauma?

It is an injury or damage to the facial features, including the mouth, teeth, nose, jaw, and surrounding soft tissues. Facial trauma can cause mild or severe injuries, such as cuts, bruises, dislocations, fractures, and general tissue loss. Depending on the injury’s type, severity, and location, facial trauma can affect your appearance, speech, ability to eat and breathe, and overall quality of life.

Causes of Facial Trauma

How you manage discomfort after facial trauma depends on the cause of the injury, influencing the severity. Some common causes of facial trauma are:

  1. Motor vehicle accidents
  2. Falls
  3. Sports injuries
  4. Industrial accidents
  5. Physical abuse – may look like domestic violence or sexual assault.
  6. Work-related injuries
  7. Animal bites, such as from dogs, cats, and snakes
  8. Self-inflicted injuries, such as cuts, burns, and head-banging
  9. Medical procedures, such as dental work, facial surgery, and cosmetic procedures

Tips for Managing Facial Trauma Pain

If you are equipped with the basic strategies for facial trauma healing, you will not need to endure significant discomfort between treatments. Some tips to manage your facial pain after trauma are:

  1. Applying ice for cold compressing, to reduce swelling and pain. Wrap an ice bag with a clean towel, then place it on the affected side of your cheek for 15-20 minutes, severally during the day.
  2. Over-the-counter pain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. However, liaise with your doctor beforehand to know whether these medicines are safe to use before, during, or after treatment of facial trauma in Toronto, ON.
  3. Resting and avoiding strenuous activities to promote healing. Avoid activities that may cause further injury, such as contact sports or heavy lifting.
  4. Maintain good oral hygiene. Rinse your mouth with warm saltwater and brush your teeth gently, avoiding the affected area.
  5. Eat soft foods, such as soups, smoothies, and mashed potatoes – to make chewing bearable.
  6. Seek medical attention at Toronto East Maxillofacial Surgery. We will prescribe stronger pain medication and determine if additional treatment, such as surgery or physical therapy, is necessary.

Aftercare: What Happens After Facial Trauma Treatment?

Facial trauma aftercare is crucial to treatment because it eases you into a smooth healing period. Depending on your procedure, you may not be free from pain immediately. Usually, after numbing wears off, you may need several days to recover before you can wave all the pain goodbye fully. Some of the things to anticipate during Facial Trauma recovery are:

  1. Pain and soreness are common after any trauma treatment.
  2. Swelling and bruising that takes longer than a few days to subside.
  3. Scarring – especially if surgery was necessary. As such, you may need other treatments like laser therapy or scar revision surgery.
  4. Follow-up appointments – are essential to monitor your healing and mitigate potential complications.
  5. Rehabilitation – restores function and mobility to the affected area. Rehabilitation may look like physical therapy or speech therapy, based on the severity of the injury.
  6. Psychological and mental conditions like panic attacks, anxiety, depression, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) – may sometimes take time to realize, which may be an overwhelming outcome. Ensure you seek therapy and counseling to manage the symptoms.

Conclusion

Overall, the treatment for facial trauma pain and discomfort will depend on the type and extent of the injury. The treatments may also involve a combination of medication, surgery, and rehabilitation. Prompt medical attention is crucial to prevent complications and minimize long-term effects.

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