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What is this burning sensation under the skin of my cheekbones? Help!!

Has anyone heard or experienced a burning sensation limited to the face, but under skin of both cheek bones.  It comes and goes; its is most prevalent upon waking up in the morning or later at night, but it also occurs during the day.  My PCP siid it was sinus infection because it affected both sides of my face.  Antibiotic treatment was unsuccessful.  Applying slight pressure to either cheek area can start up the burning.  Only Darvocet relieves the pain.  I really need help with this.  The discomfort is unbearable and very distracting.  Please help if you can.  Thank you.
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I've been dealing with this problem off and on for over 10 years. It comes and goes, and seems to be triggered by a number of things. First off, I have tmj, which they thought was the culprit. But after years of anti inflammatory drugs, steroid shots, and tons of dr visits, they referred me to an allergy specialist. I'm not a typical allergy person. But evidently I'm allergic to all trees, grass, weeds, mold, and dust mites! I didn't even realize this because I had no symptoms other than occasional congestion. What was bothersom to me is the extremes burning sensation on the left side of my face. It felt like it was behind my cheekbone, and occasionally in my lower jaw, behind my last molar (like where a wisdom tooth would be, but mine have been extracted.) and not only does it burn, it throbs and sometimes feels like I'm being stabbed in that area. I've tried everything from allergy shots, to nasal sprays, singular, Zyrtec, Benadryl... You name it! It's all there! And like someone else listed earlier, darvocet was the only thing that would help, but now that drug had been taken off the market. No other pain killer or antianxiety med had helped me. I'm desperate! This is literally ruining my life! I'm a hair stylist so I talk for a living... It's embarrassing to not even be able tools a conversation without tears rolling down your face. Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated
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Hi anyone got any resolution on the facial burning? I have had that problem off and on for years. I remember it first started while I was up late one night studying for an exam. The problem was when I put down the book down and moved about it stopped and when I went back to studying it continued. I had to study and by the time I got done studying my face was numb. Years lately when I felt it coming on I would move about and it would stop. Then some more years passed and I realized that if the room got too warm or too cold my face would start to burn. It stopped for a long time and now I am back to school again and this week I was sitting doing homework and it came back. This time 24 hrs has passed and it has not stopped. In the past it was just the left side but now the right side and forehead are joining in. If anyone got any valuable information pertaining to this issue please share it here. Some of us would really like to know what we might be able to do to stop the burning. Thanks.
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Avatar universal
man, that sounds awful... I know that the doctor told you it was autonomic dysregulation of glands.. but that sounds like a fancy way of saying, I'm not really sure, ask your body. So I imagine you have paid very close attention to what's going on in your environment or routine that your body does not like. I have been slowly learning how to manage my headaches, stomach problems and allergies for over a decade (at least 35 different allergies-cats being the worst -but I now have a cat and have developed some tolerance, migraines on occasion, used to wake up in the middle of the night with acid reflux from hell) but I have learned what triggers my headaches allergies and stomach issues. Like sometimes, I'll take a shirt out of the closet and start sneezing right away, it's because of the dust that has gathered on that shirt or other things in the closet. If I wear that shirt, I have a problem ALL day, but if I put it back on the hanger, the sneezing stops after a while and my nose eventually clears up too. If someone walks into a room I'm in and I start sneezing, they may be wearing heavy perfumes or dusty clothes-my allergies are that bad sometimes. If I put my forehead on my cats forehead, sometimes my eye area starts feeling weird but then I go in the bathroom and rinse my forehead, that sensation goes away... I've figured out which foods and beverages are acidic and I can tell why I have headaches based on where my head hurts, the intensity, how long it's been hurting and I will mentally review my day and the previous days to figure out if I've done something differently.. I've had spasms in my respiratory area after spraying cleaner with bleach.. things like that.. you may already do this, but if not, hopefully it may be of some use. I really hope you get better. oh, one more thing.. family history and geographical location is sometimes helpful in figuring out what or why.
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The same thing is now happening to me and only on the left side. Did you get any answers?
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Ive had 2 sinus surgeries to no help for this burning. I finally was referred to Dr for migraines and I am taking topamax and imitrex these did help with the burning in my cheeks. Hope that may help. I have started taking coconut oil recently too as I've read a fungal/yeast infection in your sinuses can cause that burning too. Over use of antibiotics and steroids cause yeast infections and I was on them forever thinking the burning was a sinus infection. I figured I'll try the coconut oil it sounds safe and see what happens.
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Suggest you ALL google Neuralgia in particular ATYPICAL :-)
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WHAT Was the actually cause or diagnosis?  And Why are you on B12?
This is really scary for me I'm a  Single MOM and this summer I had a huge bought of fatigue like I never felt before  my legs were weak to walk I also has a burning hot sensation under the skin on my face cheeks and forehead mostly  I was terrified I knew I was b12 deficient but never treated or told how serious this is. Did you have anything similar?
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Wow, I think you may be right Thank you
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Avatar universal
pinch your nostrils closed with your fingers and if the pain stops it is rhinitis. It's the air moving across your sinuses that triggers the neuropathy in your facial nerves such as the cheek. Most Dr.s don't bother to use this tool which is straight forward and accurate. My dr.s hypothosized everything from shingles to ms to anemia.....nope, just vr! Saline irrigation helps immensely. Just make sure your source is totally clean, if you were to use a nettie pot for example...make sure your water source is free of chlorine and any other irritants. Shea butter swiped into the nostrils with a q-tip or a prescribed steroid spray are also effective. Good luck....there is a way to control these symptoms, don't get discouraged. Although....easier said, I know.
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I have had  burning cheeks for about a year.  This is the first stage.  The second stage included swollen lips.  The third stage total face burning, swollen lips, cheeks, and eyes.  This was extremely painful and took about three days to go back to normal.  

I was thinking that the culprit were mold spores in the air.  Since this problem started at work and then subsided over weekends.  But if I am right, and mold spores infest the mucous membranes of the face (eyes, nose, mouth),  it is very hard to get rid of .

I have given up wheat, sugar, all cheese, and alcohol.  All condiments and vinegar are off my list.  These foods seem to feed mold (candida?) in my body.

Chinese medicine says that if the liver or the kidneys are over loaded with toxins, the face will swell.  I am thinking that my body is fighting the spores and trying to get rid of them through liver and kidneys, thus causing the swelling and extreme pain.

I am going to an ear, nose, and throat doctor to have the doctor perform a culture.

I wish you good luck.  It looks like our bodies are telling us to cleanse more and be aware of the food we put into our bodies. It is a very hard journey since our culture revolves around food.
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Avatar universal
Hi viiki,
I have the same thing as you...have had it now for about 5 months on and off...been diagnosed finally with viral sinus infection caused by the herpes zoster virus...shingles....and settling in the trigeminal and cranial nerves...it comes and goes...I am currently on a b12 vitamin after going through three rounds of antibiotics....one in sept one in December and just finished one now but have swollen cheeks.....diagnosed just before Xmas also from another net with maxillary sinus infection....
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1 Comments
Hi!! I have the same symptoms as you and have been dealing with this for years!!! I also have been diagnosed with the hpv virus. How did your doc come to the conclusion that this is the cause? Is there anything that's helped you? This burning sensation is debilitating and is ruining my life
Avatar universal
Hi laaz. I have all them syptoms you describe. What does the doctor have u on. Anything? Is there any cure? I have dry eyes, burning under whole face, around eyes,, My whole eye area gets swollen, Cheeks get swollen, Burning under cheeks.. what have you done for this?
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nerve problem, I was wondering if you also have a problem with dry eyes. It is like the burning is in my eyes also
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The burning sensations is nerve related. I am taking bulspar. Hopefully I will get better. Don't know if it will ever go away. If you find out any thing else let me know
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I have had this problem for seven yrs. Had gallbladder problem, HAd gallbladder taken out a few mths ago. I had thought it was the reson why i was having this burning, but no.. What it is is from the nerves,, I have yet to have it go away, I have been taken bulspar. an anxiety medicine, ANd I have also went to health food store for natural remedies. I dont know if it will ever go away, But it is caused by the nerves. Try anxiety medicine, bulspar is good.  Do you have problem with puffiness under eye are. around the whole eye ara. I do, I think it is food allergy
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Curious if anyone has found what could be causing this?  I've had this going on for several months.  I can tell that it's sinus and nerve related.  My CT shows no infection, however it can't show irritation
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I have the same feeling for over a year now..going from this doctor to another and never went away..from sinusis to ANYTHING ELSE I HAVE TRIED..COULD YOU PLZ LET ME KNOW WHAT HAPPEND TO U EVENTUALLY.
ANYBODY ELSE COULD HELP?
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Hi.  Did you ever find out what the burning was?  I have had it on and off (mostly on) for 2 months now.  I also have a throbbing in my nose.  Sometime it feels like my face is burning from the inside out and there is a constant headache.  It is every day.  I started allergy shots, have been on antibiotics (many kinds), do nasal rinses, use astepro, nasonex, xyzal, singulair and just stopped mucinex-d because it was making me very emotional (either numb, or angry or crying).  This has affect every aspect of my life.  I had cat scan, blood test, etc.  The cat scan shows fluid in the maxillary sinuses and some ethnoid sinusitus.  My ENT now suggested he "snip" my left turbinate.  I am so confused and defeated.  Can anyone help?
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Avatar universal
I have had burning on my forehead, cheeks for over a month now and it is so painful!  I have to see a neurologist b/c I alslo have burning on both arms and one leg.  Did anyone ever find out what caused their burning?
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889784 tn?1256362356
I have been having a burning sensations of the skin around my eyes and my cheek bones for some time now, and tonight the burning sensation started on the upper left side of my head. I am told this is some kind of nerve damage due to my spinal injury. I was in a car accident about a year ago and I did have spinal damage. I just started getting feeling back into parts of my face after the neck surgery, So I am hoping this is one more stage of the healing possess. I have also been told only time will tell how bad the damage will be.
So if you have hurt your back or neck in some way this could explain the burning.
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Avatar universal
I recommend this informative and helpful article: http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/62/84.cfm
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I have been suffering from the same burning sensation as you mentioned...on the cheek and by the eye.  It feels like my cheek should be fire-truck red.  My doctor is not sure what it is but is taking a preventative measure against shingles by treating me with Valtrex.  If you have heard of any other possibilities, please let me know.

THANKS!
LEEZ
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Avatar universal
Hi,

Any luck finding out your diagnosis? My cheeks starting burning just this week and won't let up. Its the worst experience ever!
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Avatar universal
I have the same issue with the burning under the skin on my cheek but so far only on the left hand side of my face. It is extremely irritable when touched and the burning sensation is so uncomfortable. I have taken antibiotics prescribed by my doctor which did no good. They then refered me to a specialist who has no idea what it is and he wants to refer me to a collegue of his for a second opinion before running a biopsy on the tissue. IIf any one else has any idea please let me know...I hate the burning :o(

Vikki
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