will the numbness ever go away?

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

I've been gone from this site for a while, but have a persistent

question that maybe some of y'all can answer....

I had lower jaw surgery a year and a half ago (I was 44 at the

time). All seemed to go OK with surgery and recovery, according to

the OS.

However, I am still completely numb in the chin area, lower lip,

bottom teeth, and part of upper lip. That numbness is more on the

right side, where the OS mentioned I'd had a nerve " stuck to the

jawbone " (he wouldn't be any clearer or more helpful than that).

When I asked him if I'd ever get feeling back, he " joked " -- " Who

knows: you're no spring chicken, you know! " and " I have no idea. "

Well, maybe I was old for the surgery. But the longer I'm numb, the

less I like to think about myself drooling, not feeling kisses, etc.

the rest of my life.

Has anyone here had numbness that went away AFTER a year or so?

Has anyone here had any success with neurologists for a numbness

problem?

thanks

Ann

[Guest guest]

Ann, sorry to hear about your situation. I am just past 9 months

post op from an upper and lower surgery and I am still numb in the

chin, lower gum and a spot on my lower cheek. It is kind of a weird

numbness because I have had some dental cleaning since then and I

can feel when they work on the gums. Pain anyway.

My surgeon said at worst, most people get numbness in spots in the

chin area. Numbness usually goes away mostly in the first 6 months.

During the next 6 months, more healing happen but at a much slower

rate. After 1.5 years is usually where you will be for the rest of

your life.

I did not expect as much numbness nor tightness as I have. I still

can't open as wide as I used too and I feel something streching in

my cheek on my right side when I try to open fully. I am not

supposed to go back to my surgeon till April but I may make an

appointment to go back to him this month to discuss the tightness.

If the numbness lasts forever, it is not the worst thing. Before

surgery I used to get headaches at least once a month that were very

frustrating and somewhat painfull. Also now my teeth are also

perfectly lined up and I no longer have an edge to edge bite.

I hope the numbness wears off. I don't know what I can do if it

don't. I don't think my surgeon screwed up. After I woke up from

surgery he told me he was able to identify the nerves and avoid

doing any damage to them. I wasn't looking at what he was doing so I

can't tell if he was telling the truth. I would not know what a

nerve looked like anyway.

Has anyone ever actually filed a lawsuit against there surgeon for

lasting numbness?

-

> Hello all,

> I've been gone from this site for a while, but have a persistent

> question that maybe some of y'all can answer....

>

> I had lower jaw surgery a year and a half ago (I was 44 at the

> time). All seemed to go OK with surgery and recovery, according

to

> the OS.

>

> However, I am still completely numb in the chin area, lower lip,

> bottom teeth, and part of upper lip. That numbness is more on the

> right side, where the OS mentioned I'd had a nerve " stuck to the

> jawbone " (he wouldn't be any clearer or more helpful than that).

>

> When I asked him if I'd ever get feeling back, he " joked " -- " Who

> knows: you're no spring chicken, you know! " and " I have no idea. "

>

> Well, maybe I was old for the surgery. But the longer I'm numb,

the

> less I like to think about myself drooling, not feeling kisses,

etc.

> the rest of my life.

>

> Has anyone here had numbness that went away AFTER a year or so?

> Has anyone here had any success with neurologists for a numbness

> problem?

>

> thanks

> Ann

[Guest guest]

<>

You know what my OS told me on my first visit? " It's not as though

you're going into modeling or anything. "

Excuse me? If it's that obvious, do you think I want it rubbed in?

[Guest guest]

Hi Ann,

I had upper and lower about 16 months ago and I'm also still have

problems with numbness. I have a little spot on my upper lip that

isn't quite right, but it's not a big issue at this point. My lower

lip and chin are a bigger problem. I have regained a good amount of

the feeling there (maybe 80% or so), but I still have a ways to go to

regain normal sensation. Also, my lip and chin are constantly tingling

and throbbing. I'm told that this is a good sign of nerve recovery,

but after 16 months it's starting to get really old.

It's hard to say if my nerve is still recovering at this point or if

I'm stuck like this for the rest of my life. My progress has been so

gradual it's almost impossible to tell. There are some days where the

tingling gets pretty bad and it can be very hard to concentrate on

work, television, conversations... almost anything.

My doctor also said that improvement can occur up to 1.5 years

post-op, but after that regaining any more sensation is unlikely.

However, I'm not sure any of these surgeons really know for sure. They

just seem to write it off as a " minor " side effect from the surgery.

I'm still convinced that my surgeon never really gave me an accurate

picture of how many people are left with permanent nerve damage from

this procedure. If I had known ahead of time, I probably wouldn't have

done it.

I'm sorry I don't have any encouraging news for you, but hopefully

you'll feel better knowing that you're not alone in this. I hope

things get better for you.

-

> Hello all,

> I've been gone from this site for a while, but have a persistent

> question that maybe some of y'all can answer....

>

> I had lower jaw surgery a year and a half ago (I was 44 at the

> time). All seemed to go OK with surgery and recovery, according to

> the OS.

>

> However, I am still completely numb in the chin area, lower lip,

> bottom teeth, and part of upper lip. That numbness is more on the

> right side, where the OS mentioned I'd had a nerve " stuck to the

> jawbone " (he wouldn't be any clearer or more helpful than that).

>

> When I asked him if I'd ever get feeling back, he " joked " -- " Who

> knows: you're no spring chicken, you know! " and " I have no idea. "

>

> Well, maybe I was old for the surgery. But the longer I'm numb, the

> less I like to think about myself drooling, not feeling kisses, etc.

> the rest of my life.

>

> Has anyone here had numbness that went away AFTER a year or so?

> Has anyone here had any success with neurologists for a numbness

> problem?

>

> thanks

> Ann

[Guest guest]

Ouch!

> < >

>

> You know what my OS told me on my first visit? " It's not as

though

> you're going into modeling or anything. "

>

> Excuse me? If it's that obvious, do you think I want it rubbed in?

[Guest guest]

I had a SARPE surgery in mid-July 2003, which is a walk in the park

compared to what most on this site have been through. It's almost

six months post-op for me, and I still have numbness on the left side

of my upper lip and upper gums. My surgeon and ortho have been

completely unhelpful in terms of the mumbness, but my primary care

physician referred me to a neurologist. The neurologist says there

is nothing he or anyone else can do about the numbness. He

recommended that I get plenty of vitamin B6, which apparently helps

the nerves.

> Hello all,

> I've been gone from this site for a while, but have a persistent

> question that maybe some of y'all can answer....

>

> I had lower jaw surgery a year and a half ago (I was 44 at the

> time). All seemed to go OK with surgery and recovery, according

to

> the OS.

>

> However, I am still completely numb in the chin area, lower lip,

> bottom teeth, and part of upper lip. That numbness is more on the

> right side, where the OS mentioned I'd had a nerve " stuck to the

> jawbone " (he wouldn't be any clearer or more helpful than that).

>

> When I asked him if I'd ever get feeling back, he " joked " -- " Who

> knows: you're no spring chicken, you know! " and " I have no idea. "

>

> Well, maybe I was old for the surgery. But the longer I'm numb,

the

> less I like to think about myself drooling, not feeling kisses,

etc.

> the rest of my life.

>

> Has anyone here had numbness that went away AFTER a year or so?

> Has anyone here had any success with neurologists for a numbness

> problem?

>

> thanks

> Ann

[Guest guest]

And of course, on this one, I left out the most cogent factor to put

before him... That your friend without the numbness was 56 when they

did the surgery.... But I suspect you remember that.

C.

> Inexpert answers from moi... (and Hi! I'm glad you're back, but

sorry

> for the reason.)

>

> Did he tell you beforehand that you were " not a spring chicken " and

> might have numbness? (In fairness, my guy did, and put it so

kindly --

> " We're not spring chickens any more. " -- although he's at least a

> decade younger than am I, which puts him in your league, more or

> less.)

>

> Go see him again -- make a special appointment and pay for it, or

ask

> your insurance to do so -- and tell him of your numbness. Tell him

> also that you have a friend who had the surgery (lower advancement,

5

> mm, plus 3 mm to the right) who never had any numbness. Expect this

> to scare the bejeezuz out of him, because he'll think you're gonna

> sue. Tell him (if it's in your head) that you're not looking for

> litigation, but want to know how to help recover your sensation, or

> whether it's possible to do so.

>

> I have a wonderful neurologist, who gives me things to help with

the

> pain where I have numbness (from nerve damage) in my hands and

feet --

> nope. You don't wanna know about that one. -- But I do not have

> feeling back, despite her best efforts. She can, however, help the

> stabs and tingles.

>

> Cammie

>

> Sorry you got troubles. I think it goes with the toss of the dice,

> honestly, and not with age, nor anything else.

[Guest guest]

If your lower jaw bone breaks the way the nerve is not exposed at all

(i.e. the surgeon does not see it) you do not get any numbness,

temporary or permanent. It happens, but extremely seldom and

surgeons have no control over it, as the nerve canal seems to be

a natural weakness in the bone to break along. Those people

are just blind lucky.

> > Inexpert answers from moi... (and Hi! I'm glad you're back, but

> sorry

> > for the reason.)

> >

> > Did he tell you beforehand that you were " not a spring chicken "

and

> > might have numbness? (In fairness, my guy did, and put it so

> kindly --

> > " We're not spring chickens any more. " -- although he's at least

a

> > decade younger than am I, which puts him in your league, more or

> > less.)

> >

> > Go see him again -- make a special appointment and pay for it, or

> ask

> > your insurance to do so -- and tell him of your numbness. Tell

him

> > also that you have a friend who had the surgery (lower

advancement,

> 5

> > mm, plus 3 mm to the right) who never had any numbness. Expect

this

> > to scare the bejeezuz out of him, because he'll think you're

gonna

> > sue. Tell him (if it's in your head) that you're not looking for

> > litigation, but want to know how to help recover your sensation,

or

> > whether it's possible to do so.

> >

> > I have a wonderful neurologist, who gives me things to help with

> the

> > pain where I have numbness (from nerve damage) in my hands and

> feet --

> > nope. You don't wanna know about that one. -- But I do not have

> > feeling back, despite her best efforts. She can, however, help

the

> > stabs and tingles.

> >

> > Cammie

> >

> > Sorry you got troubles. I think it goes with the toss of the

dice,

> > honestly, and not with age, nor anything else.

[Guest guest]

If your lower jaw bone breaks the way the nerve is not exposed at all

(i.e. the surgeon does not see it) you do not get any numbness,

temporary or permanent. It happens, but extremely seldom and

surgeons have no control over it, as the nerve canal seems to be

a natural weakness in the bone to break along. Those people

are just blind lucky.

> > Inexpert answers from moi... (and Hi! I'm glad you're back, but

> sorry

> > for the reason.)

> >

> > Did he tell you beforehand that you were " not a spring chicken "

and

> > might have numbness? (In fairness, my guy did, and put it so

> kindly --

> > " We're not spring chickens any more. " -- although he's at least

a

> > decade younger than am I, which puts him in your league, more or

> > less.)

> >

> > Go see him again -- make a special appointment and pay for it, or

> ask

> > your insurance to do so -- and tell him of your numbness. Tell

him

> > also that you have a friend who had the surgery (lower

advancement,

> 5

> > mm, plus 3 mm to the right) who never had any numbness. Expect

this

> > to scare the bejeezuz out of him, because he'll think you're

gonna

> > sue. Tell him (if it's in your head) that you're not looking for

> > litigation, but want to know how to help recover your sensation,

or

> > whether it's possible to do so.

> >

> > I have a wonderful neurologist, who gives me things to help with

> the

> > pain where I have numbness (from nerve damage) in my hands and

> feet --

> > nope. You don't wanna know about that one. -- But I do not have

> > feeling back, despite her best efforts. She can, however, help

the

> > stabs and tingles.

> >

> > Cammie

> >

> > Sorry you got troubles. I think it goes with the toss of the

dice,

> > honestly, and not with age, nor anything else.

[Guest guest]

If your lower jaw bone breaks the way the nerve is not exposed at all

(i.e. the surgeon does not see it) you do not get any numbness,

temporary or permanent. It happens, but extremely seldom and

surgeons have no control over it, as the nerve canal seems to be

a natural weakness in the bone to break along. Those people

are just blind lucky.

> > Inexpert answers from moi... (and Hi! I'm glad you're back, but

> sorry

> > for the reason.)

> >

> > Did he tell you beforehand that you were " not a spring chicken "

and

> > might have numbness? (In fairness, my guy did, and put it so

> kindly --

> > " We're not spring chickens any more. " -- although he's at least

a

> > decade younger than am I, which puts him in your league, more or

> > less.)

> >

> > Go see him again -- make a special appointment and pay for it, or

> ask

> > your insurance to do so -- and tell him of your numbness. Tell

him

> > also that you have a friend who had the surgery (lower

advancement,

> 5

> > mm, plus 3 mm to the right) who never had any numbness. Expect

this

> > to scare the bejeezuz out of him, because he'll think you're

gonna

> > sue. Tell him (if it's in your head) that you're not looking for

> > litigation, but want to know how to help recover your sensation,

or

> > whether it's possible to do so.

> >

> > I have a wonderful neurologist, who gives me things to help with

> the

> > pain where I have numbness (from nerve damage) in my hands and

> feet --

> > nope. You don't wanna know about that one. -- But I do not have

> > feeling back, despite her best efforts. She can, however, help

the

> > stabs and tingles.

> >

> > Cammie

> >

> > Sorry you got troubles. I think it goes with the toss of the

dice,

> > honestly, and not with age, nor anything else.

[Guest guest]

Seven years ago, our son had all four wisdom teeth removed during the same

appointment. The doc couldn't get his jaw to close after the procedure so he

took an xray and found that he had broken our son's jaw clear thru on both

sides. He only had a horseshoe shaped jaw bone floating around unattached.

Needless to say, he was rushed to emergency surgery. Now, seven years later, he

still is completely numb on half of his lower lip clear down to the end of his

chin on that side! He has been told that he will never have feeling there since

it hasn't come back thus far! We constantly need to tell him when he has food

on that part of his lip or chin because he cannot feel it. Poor guy! He even

wonders what a full kiss would feel like - lol!

Re: will the numbness ever go away?

If your lower jaw bone breaks the way the nerve is not exposed at all

(i.e. the surgeon does not see it) you do not get any numbness,

temporary or permanent. It happens, but extremely seldom and

surgeons have no control over it, as the nerve canal seems to be

a natural weakness in the bone to break along. Those people

are just blind lucky.

> > Inexpert answers from moi... (and Hi! I'm glad you're back, but

> sorry

> > for the reason.)

> >

> > Did he tell you beforehand that you were " not a spring chicken "

and

> > might have numbness? (In fairness, my guy did, and put it so

> kindly --

> > " We're not spring chickens any more. " -- although he's at least

a

> > decade younger than am I, which puts him in your league, more or

> > less.)

> >

> > Go see him again -- make a special appointment and pay for it, or

> ask

> > your insurance to do so -- and tell him of your numbness. Tell

him

> > also that you have a friend who had the surgery (lower

advancement,

> 5

> > mm, plus 3 mm to the right) who never had any numbness. Expect

this

> > to scare the bejeezuz out of him, because he'll think you're

gonna

> > sue. Tell him (if it's in your head) that you're not looking for

> > litigation, but want to know how to help recover your sensation,

or

> > whether it's possible to do so.

> >

> > I have a wonderful neurologist, who gives me things to help with

> the

> > pain where I have numbness (from nerve damage) in my hands and

> feet --

> > nope. You don't wanna know about that one. -- But I do not have

> > feeling back, despite her best efforts. She can, however, help

the

> > stabs and tingles.

> >

> > Cammie

> >

> > Sorry you got troubles. I think it goes with the toss of the

dice,

> > honestly, and not with age, nor anything else.

[Guest guest]

wow, you seem to really know this surgery!! I always have wished to

see it happen...cannot for the life of me imagine how i slept

through it all!!!

> > > Inexpert answers from moi... (and Hi! I'm glad you're back,

but

> > sorry

> > > for the reason.)

> > >

> > > Did he tell you beforehand that you were " not a spring

chicken "

> and

> > > might have numbness? (In fairness, my guy did, and put it so

> > kindly --

> > > " We're not spring chickens any more. " -- although he's at

least

> a

> > > decade younger than am I, which puts him in your league, more

or

> > > less.)

> > >

> > > Go see him again -- make a special appointment and pay for it,

or

> > ask

> > > your insurance to do so -- and tell him of your numbness. Tell

> him

> > > also that you have a friend who had the surgery (lower

> advancement,

> > 5

> > > mm, plus 3 mm to the right) who never had any numbness. Expect

> this

> > > to scare the bejeezuz out of him, because he'll think you're

> gonna

> > > sue. Tell him (if it's in your head) that you're not looking

for

> > > litigation, but want to know how to help recover your

sensation,

> or

> > > whether it's possible to do so.

> > >

> > > I have a wonderful neurologist, who gives me things to help

with

> > the

> > > pain where I have numbness (from nerve damage) in my hands and

> > feet --

> > > nope. You don't wanna know about that one. -- But I do not

have

> > > feeling back, despite her best efforts. She can, however, help

> the

> > > stabs and tingles.

> > >

> > > Cammie

> > >

> > > Sorry you got troubles. I think it goes with the toss of the

> dice,

> > > honestly, and not with age, nor anything else.

[Guest guest]

wow, you seem to really know this surgery!! I always have wished to

see it happen...cannot for the life of me imagine how i slept

through it all!!!

> > > Inexpert answers from moi... (and Hi! I'm glad you're back,

but

> > sorry

> > > for the reason.)

> > >

> > > Did he tell you beforehand that you were " not a spring

chicken "

> and

> > > might have numbness? (In fairness, my guy did, and put it so

> > kindly --

> > > " We're not spring chickens any more. " -- although he's at

least

> a

> > > decade younger than am I, which puts him in your league, more

or

> > > less.)

> > >

> > > Go see him again -- make a special appointment and pay for it,

or

> > ask

> > > your insurance to do so -- and tell him of your numbness. Tell

> him

> > > also that you have a friend who had the surgery (lower

> advancement,

> > 5

> > > mm, plus 3 mm to the right) who never had any numbness. Expect

> this

> > > to scare the bejeezuz out of him, because he'll think you're

> gonna

> > > sue. Tell him (if it's in your head) that you're not looking

for

> > > litigation, but want to know how to help recover your

sensation,

> or

> > > whether it's possible to do so.

> > >

> > > I have a wonderful neurologist, who gives me things to help

with

> > the

> > > pain where I have numbness (from nerve damage) in my hands and

> > feet --

> > > nope. You don't wanna know about that one. -- But I do not

have

> > > feeling back, despite her best efforts. She can, however, help

> the

> > > stabs and tingles.

> > >

> > > Cammie

> > >

> > > Sorry you got troubles. I think it goes with the toss of the

> dice,

> > > honestly, and not with age, nor anything else.

[Guest guest]

wow, you seem to really know this surgery!! I always have wished to

see it happen...cannot for the life of me imagine how i slept

through it all!!!

> > > Inexpert answers from moi... (and Hi! I'm glad you're back,

but

> > sorry

> > > for the reason.)

> > >

> > > Did he tell you beforehand that you were " not a spring

chicken "

> and

> > > might have numbness? (In fairness, my guy did, and put it so

> > kindly --

> > > " We're not spring chickens any more. " -- although he's at

least

> a

> > > decade younger than am I, which puts him in your league, more

or

> > > less.)

> > >

> > > Go see him again -- make a special appointment and pay for it,

or

> > ask

> > > your insurance to do so -- and tell him of your numbness. Tell

> him

> > > also that you have a friend who had the surgery (lower

> advancement,

> > 5

> > > mm, plus 3 mm to the right) who never had any numbness. Expect

> this

> > > to scare the bejeezuz out of him, because he'll think you're

> gonna

> > > sue. Tell him (if it's in your head) that you're not looking

for

> > > litigation, but want to know how to help recover your

sensation,

> or

> > > whether it's possible to do so.

> > >

> > > I have a wonderful neurologist, who gives me things to help

with

> > the

> > > pain where I have numbness (from nerve damage) in my hands and

> > feet --

> > > nope. You don't wanna know about that one. -- But I do not

have

> > > feeling back, despite her best efforts. She can, however, help

> the

> > > stabs and tingles.

> > >

> > > Cammie

> > >

> > > Sorry you got troubles. I think it goes with the toss of the

> dice,

> > > honestly, and not with age, nor anything else.

[Guest guest]

Wow, another horror story on wisdom teeth removal...

> > > Inexpert answers from moi... (and Hi! I'm glad you're back,

but

> > sorry

> > > for the reason.)

> > >

> > > Did he tell you beforehand that you were " not a spring

chicken "

> and

> > > might have numbness? (In fairness, my guy did, and put it so

> > kindly --

> > > " We're not spring chickens any more. " -- although he's at

least

> a

> > > decade younger than am I, which puts him in your league, more

or

> > > less.)

> > >

> > > Go see him again -- make a special appointment and pay for

it, or

> > ask

> > > your insurance to do so -- and tell him of your numbness.

Tell

> him

> > > also that you have a friend who had the surgery (lower

> advancement,

> > 5

> > > mm, plus 3 mm to the right) who never had any numbness.

Expect

> this

> > > to scare the bejeezuz out of him, because he'll think you're

> gonna

> > > sue. Tell him (if it's in your head) that you're not looking

for

> > > litigation, but want to know how to help recover your

sensation,

> or

> > > whether it's possible to do so.

> > >

> > > I have a wonderful neurologist, who gives me things to help

with

> > the

> > > pain where I have numbness (from nerve damage) in my hands

and

> > feet --

> > > nope. You don't wanna know about that one. -- But I do not

have

> > > feeling back, despite her best efforts. She can, however,

help

> the

> > > stabs and tingles.

> > >

> > > Cammie

> > >

> > > Sorry you got troubles. I think it goes with the toss of the

> dice,

> > > honestly, and not with age, nor anything else.

>

>

>