Question: I’m a 72 year old male, in general good health. Beginning about 3 days ago I began experiencing pain on the left side of my face, seeming to begin from the cheekbone and radiating out to eventually include an area about the size of my hand from forehead to jaw. The pain cycles at about 20 minute intervals, growing steadily more intense until it peaks bordering on severe , then receding back to a completely normal feeling. No vision or balance issues, no nausea.

Activity seems to help reduce the pain—walking, chewing something on that side of my mouth (food, gum). I’ve been taking Advil (3 at a dosage), but that doesn’t seem to provide much relief.

Roughly 9 months ago I had a filling in an upper left molor replaced and that tooth has maintained temperature sensitivity since then, but no other pain symptoms. I visited my dentist about a month back and he examined the filling and x-rayed the area, but found nothing abnormal.

Yesterday I visited an urgent care facility (2 day of this pain incident) and the only abnormal element detected was a solid buildup of ear wax in the left ear (some in right as well). Both were irrigated, but this hasn’t stopped the pain cycle.