ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Inquiries => Topic started by: reg on May 17, 2011, 02:29:15 pm
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i know this sounds like a broken record but my face is numb (likeness of novicaine shot) but i have no problem using my facial muscles ie., smiling, closing eyes, eating. do have slurred speech though. does anyone else experience this? ???
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Hi Reg,
I know what you are talking about: the face that can move but feels numb to touch. I had this after my second surgery. The damage in this instance is done to a trigeminal nerve, particularly, the fibers that control sensation. There are also fibers that control pain receptors, so I could experience the pain of a needle prick but could not tell that a drop of water was running down my face.
I woke up after my second surgery with the right side of my face completely numb; in 10 days only the portion of the face below my eye was numb. The teeth, palate and tongue (right side) were numb as well and I was slurring the speech, too. This happens because the brain gets no input as to were the numb areas are , especially relative to each other.
At three months post-op, I got my first major improvement and all this slurring started going away. In June it is going to be 4 years post op and I am happy to report that I currently have a small patch of numbness around my mouth. It is very superficial and does not involve my teeth or my tongue. I dot no slur, either.
How bad is your numbness ? Did it improve over the years?
Eve
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You didn't say you called the Dr., I think you should, there are a lot of reasons for a numb face and slurred speech, be careful not to let it go unchecked....best of luck with it.
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thanks 4 reply, the doc think it trigiminal related and its been since surgery n 06 nice 2 know urs improved so there is hope (its just stuborn)