facial ?

[reg]

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?

[jerseygirl]

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

[Rivergirl]

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.

[reg]

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)