Pain in the Face and Head: Is It Sinusitis?

Facial pain doesn’t always mean sinusitis. After three decades in medicine, I’ve seen many patients misdiagnose themselves, delaying proper treatment. Here’s how to tell if your facial or head pain might be sinusitis or something else. 

Sinusitis typically causes: 

• Pain or pressure concentrated around the affected sinuses (forehead, between/behind eyes, cheeks, or upper teeth) 

• Pain that worsens when bending forward or lying down 

• Accompanying symptoms like nasal congestion, thick discharge, and reduced sense of smell 

• Pain that’s usually bilateral (on both sides) unless only one sinus is affected 

• Discomfort that changes in intensity throughout the day 

By contrast, other conditions causing facial pain often present differently: 

Migraines typically cause: 

• Throbbing pain, often one-sided 

• Sensitivity to light and sound 

• Nausea or vomiting 

• Visual changes or auras before pain begins 

Tension headaches usually feature: 

• Band-like pressure around the head 

• Tight neck and shoulder muscles 

• Pain that builds gradually 

Trigeminal neuralgia causes: 

• Electric shock-like pain in the lower face 

• Brief but intense pain episodes 

• Pain triggered by touching specific areas or everyday activities 

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders present with: 

• Pain near the ears that may radiate to the face 

• Clicking or popping jaw sounds 

• Pain worsened by chewing or opening the mouth wide 

The timing matters too. Sinusitis pain typically develops after cold symptoms or allergies and improves as sinusitis resolves. Other conditions follow different patterns. 

If you’re experiencing facial or head pain, ChatRx can help determine if sinusitis is the likely cause and recommend appropriate treatment or further evaluation.