Atypical facial pain is a name given to a group of painful facial problems that are difficult to classify.  The pain usually occurs only on one side of the face and is described as constant and aching.  It usually has a female preponderance.  Headache is common in this problem.  Stress and depression may be co-morbid disorders and add to the problem.  The disorder should be easily distinguishable from trigeminal neuralgia based on patient history.  X-Rays and MRIs of the brain and skull can be useful to exclude intracranial pathology or disorders of the eye, ears and sinuses.  Laboratory studies are useful to exclude inflammatory arthritis or temporal arteritis.  TMJ disorder must also be excluded as must RSD (CRPS).  A stellate ganglion block may be useful to distinguish RSD from other painful processes.  The treatment of atypical facial pain includes anti-depressants and physical therapy.