I had my MVD on November 17 and this week I've started having numbness in my gums, chin and cheek. It's not painful but reminds me of the beginnings of TN years ago. In my gums it feels like a shot of novacaine and the other places it's the tingling, crawling numbness.
I go back to my surgeon a week from Monday so I'll ask him what's happening with all this numbness. Seems like we're never free of this thing. Thanks, Mark
Hi Mark,
I’m sorry to hear about your numbness. My surgeon always asks about it. I was initially numb after surgery for months but it went away. I sure hope your pain doesn’t return or get worse. Please keep us posted.
Liz
Hi Mark -
Sure hope you have been TN free during this time period! As for numbness, yes, my mom (TN sufferer) had her MVD in Sep and developed numbess about a week after the surgery. Like your's, it started off small and not a big deal. Her's did eventually grow much larger (that whole half of her head and skull) and it did become painful for her. We learned the skull numbness was really more associated with the surgery wound, while the facial numbness is more associated with the nerves being "stressed" (can't think of a better word right now) from the surgery. Because it became painful, she was put on Gabapentin. That helped reduce the intensity of the pain, but the numbness was still there. After several weeks, she decided the pain level was tolerable (and she really didn't want to be on meds anymore) and she weaned herself off the Gabapentin slowly. The pain did not come back. Slowly, and I mean slowly, she has parts of her face waken up and a little more feeling comes in. Her skull sensation has pretty much returned to normal. She has okay parts on her face and worse parts. Near her eye is the most sensitive and painful and her taste has been altered because 1/2 of her tongue is numb. So it's weird..... but the doctor tells us, and we have seen, that this isn't necessarily the end state. That as a result of the surgery, things will likely be a little odd for about a year, when by that time, things should be completely healed. Until then, we are just experiencing post-surgery nuances and hope that through the course of the year, we find ourselves in a better place at the end of this journey. Sure hope you don't have too many setbacks - but just know it's going to be a while before you really know. Take care and stay positive..... attitude/energy/mind can all play a role in your road to recovery!
-Beth
Thank you Beth, that info eases my mind somewhat. I have been TN pain free, which is great.
Beth Lipovsky said:
Hi Mark -
Sure hope you have been TN free during this time period! As for numbness, yes, my mom (TN sufferer) had her MVD in Sep and developed numbess about a week after the surgery. Like your's, it started off small and not a big deal. Her's did eventually grow much larger (that whole half of her head and skull) and it did become painful for her. We learned the skull numbness was really more associated with the surgery wound, while the facial numbness is more associated with the nerves being "stressed" (can't think of a better word right now) from the surgery. Because it became painful, she was put on Gabapentin. That helped reduce the intensity of the pain, but the numbness was still there. After several weeks, she decided the pain level was tolerable (and she really didn't want to be on meds anymore) and she weaned herself off the Gabapentin slowly. The pain did not come back. Slowly, and I mean slowly, she has parts of her face waken up and a little more feeling comes in. Her skull sensation has pretty much returned to normal. She has okay parts on her face and worse parts. Near her eye is the most sensitive and painful and her taste has been altered because 1/2 of her tongue is numb. So it's weird..... but the doctor tells us, and we have seen, that this isn't necessarily the end state. That as a result of the surgery, things will likely be a little odd for about a year, when by that time, things should be completely healed. Until then, we are just experiencing post-surgery nuances and hope that through the course of the year, we find ourselves in a better place at the end of this journey. Sure hope you don't have too many setbacks - but just know it's going to be a while before you really know. Take care and stay positive..... attitude/energy/mind can all play a role in your road to recovery!
-Beth