Prior to your first appointment, ask your primary care physician or referring doctor to fax pertinent medical records to the office.
Fax Number: 617-726-2424
Translation services are available. Please inform us if you need the assistance of a translator.
If you are a new patient to Mass General:
Call to obtain a registration number: 866-211-6588
What to bring to your appointment:
Your registration card, insurance card, and co-pay
Any medical records and MRI scans that have not been sent to the office
List of your current medications
About This Program
Overview
The multidisciplinary Facial Pain Clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital is a highly specialized, care team dedicated to treating patients with trigeminal neuralgia and other facial pain disorders. Our program is a collaborative effort between the Department of Neurology, the Department of Neurosurgery, the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeryand the Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine. Our specialists meet regularly as a team to develop a compassionate and individualized plan of care with pharmacological, interventional, neurosurgical and psychological recommendations tailored to the needs of each of our patients.
The most common facial pain diagnoses referred to our clinic may include:
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigeminal Neuropathy
Atypical Facial Pain
Post-herpetic Neuralgia
Atypical Odontogenic Pain
Jaw Pain
Temporomandibular Disorders
Burning Mouth Syndrome
What to Expect
If you would like to be seen in our clinic, you would request a referral with medical records from your primary care physician, neurologist, neurosurgeon or dentist. Once your referral is received, our patient care coordinator will contact you promptly for new patient orientation and may request additional medical records including imaging, such as MRI of the brain on a CD for our review.
Next, our team of experts will review all available medical records and imaging studies and make a team-based recommendation. You may be recommended to see our neurologist, neurosurgeon, orofacial pain specialist, pain physician, or pain psychologist as part of your treatment plan. Our patient care coordinator will help to coordinate your appointments. We offer both in-person and virtual appointments. Our team of experts will meet regularly to review your treatment progress.
As a patient in our multidisciplinary Facial Pain Clinic, you may expect to receive medical treatment with medication management from our neurologists or orofacial pain specialists, surgical procedures from our neurosurgeon or oral surgeon, interventional treatment from our pain physician.
Our pain psychologist will assess impact of pain on your quality of life and assist in developing behavioral strategies for pain-coping as well as anxiety and depression management
Our neurologists and orofacial pain clinicians are specialized in performing peripheral nerve blocks and Botox injections
Our pain physician performs trigeminal nerve blocks, among other facial pain procedures
Our neurosurgeon offers surgeries for trigeminal neuralgia including microvascular decompression, balloon compression rhizotomy and stereotactic radiosurgery
Our oral surgeon offers temporomandibular (TMJ) surgery
We believe that a team-based approach, with a comprehensive care plan, is the best way to manage your facial pain. We value your patient experience.
If you are interested in a second opinion, or do not currently have access to care for your facial pain, please contact us for a list of the information we need to assist you. Please note that our clinicians do not prescribe chronic opioid medications. Our goal is helping our patients to restore function and achieve pain control; therefore we do not make recommendations for short- or long-term disability.
For Health Care Providers
For health care provides who are interested in referring their patients, a faxed referral can be sent to 617-726-2424. If you are referring a patient for management for trigeminal neuralgia, a recent MRI of the brain with trigeminal protocol is recommended. If you have any questions regarding a referral, please call 617-726-6245. Our nurse practitioner will help to answer your questions.
Research
At the multidisciplinary Facial Pain Clinic, our faculty and staff are leaders in innovative and collaborative research to understand the causes of facial pain, targets for treatments and clinical trials. Our patients have opportunities to participate in clinical trials. We provide expert guidance to provide our patients the most appropriate clinical research options.
Clinical Program Lead, Multidisciplinary Facial Pain Clinic
Jennifer Cheng, CNP is a pain fellowship trained and certified nurse practitioner with an extensive background in both inpatient and outpatient headache and facial pain treatment. She has a clinical practice with the Department of Neurology Headache and Neuropathic Pain Unit.
#1 Research Hospital in America
Mass General is the #1 Research Hospital in America and recognized in 14 specialties assessed by U.S. News & World Report.
For years, Lauren felt like she had to be her own medical detective, researching answers to her questions and trying to solve the puzzle of why she felt such unusual symptoms, such as a tingling sensation in a section of her face when she applies makeup.
Willie Murphy was suffering from crippling sciatica. After a successful prior surgery, Willie decided to return to Massachusetts General Hospital for an evaluation and care. He was referred to Jean Coumans, MD, a neurosurgeon in the Department of Neurosurgery.
Simeon Moses came to Massachusetts General Hospital when he could not find a physician to properly treat his headaches. Brian Nahed, MD, MSc, of the Department of Neurosurgery, successfully removed Simeon 's meningioma and alleviated his painful headaches
Janis Clouthier came to Massachusetts General Hospital, after not finding the right fit with another neurosurgeon, she found Brian Nahed, MD, MSc, of the Department of Neurosurgery, to treat her meningioma.
Christine Zinke was misdiagnosed with migraines. She saw Brian Nahed, MD, MSc, where she was diagnosed with a meningioma. Here meningioma was removed and she sees Dr. Nahed for regular checkups.
Researchers report that elevated levels of two chemical mediators of inflammation, known as cytokines, are associated with slower cognitive decline in aging adults.
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Support Mass General Neuroscience
You can join other patients and families in making an impact and spreading awareness for the multidisciplinary Facial Pain Clinic. Philanthropic support is crucial in continuing our mission to improve the understanding and management of facial pain and enhance quality of life for our patients. There are many ways to get involved, from hosting an event, raising money through a race, or marking an occasion with gifts.
