Mild numbness in face ?? Anybody else??

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Tim6003
Tim6003 Member Posts: 1,514 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hey all ...I've been doing great. Good scan and 2 good scopes after scan...but just curious if anybody else gets or got numbness in and around the facial area. I konw this may sound silly...but it's like a "mild numbness" on my cheeks (both sides) and up my temple.??

Again...I figure it is prob sinus or just more radiation side affects. My last rad as January 20th.

This forum is for knowledge and empowerment ...so just asking. I see my ENT and Oncologist every 30 days right on so I will certainly ask them too. This just started this past week (after the headaches started) ...the headaches last 2 weeks and really got so bad I went to the ER one day with headache and PVC's ..the the ER doc ordered an MRI of he brain (due to my history) ...and the MRI came back clear ....hey, maybe the MRI causing the mild numbness temp. ??? lol.

Most of the numbness is around the cheek / jaw bone ..you remember when you would eat something sour how the glands would spit out saliva...that's mostly where the numbness is .

Thanks all.

Tim

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  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #2
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    Mine still persists
    almost 3 years post treatment and I attribute mine to my neck dissection. Did you have a dissection on either side? Mine is mainly exactly where you describe along the right jaw line. I have difficulty shaving there because I cannot feel the razor. As an added bonus if I rub the top of my head I can feel weird sensations down my right side as if the nerves were crossed or something? It's all tolerable and I kind of enjoy the weird sensations at times when life gets dull. No headaches of any significance to speak of.
  • Tim6003
    Tim6003 Member Posts: 1,514 Member
    #3
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    ratface said:

    Mine still persists
    almost 3 years post treatment and I attribute mine to my neck dissection. Did you have a dissection on either side? Mine is mainly exactly where you describe along the right jaw line. I have difficulty shaving there because I cannot feel the razor. As an added bonus if I rub the top of my head I can feel weird sensations down my right side as if the nerves were crossed or something? It's all tolerable and I kind of enjoy the weird sensations at times when life gets dull. No headaches of any significance to speak of.

    figures I forgot to mention that ...
    No...no surgery or old fashion chemo...just Erbitux and radiation....

    Ratface....thanks for the good laugh regarding "top of head, weird sensation, when life gets dull" ....that was funny!!

    Tim
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #4
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    Yes...I have light
    numbness along right jawline down about 1 1/2 inches into the right side of my neck. I only notice it when I lightly run my finger over it. I figured it was from the radiation...it doesn't affect me in anyway, just feels weird.

    p
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #5
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    Typical
    Sounds kinda typical as to what the rads have done to nerves, and you may notice more in the next few months. That's pretty much what we all experience to varying degrees. Some even feel the rads all the way to the feet! Worst of it can be the cranial, which really is a bear to deal with, and I think they purposely avoid the cranial with the rads in a major way. Most feel the rads here and there upper-body. I'm 3+-years out and still experience L'Hermites when I get in certain positions with my arms/shoulders/chin, and living with neck spasms is an every day thing.

    Headaches may be a different matter, Tim. This far post-tx that does seem a bit to the peculiar, to me, especially if they just started and are that severe. An MRI is a good choice for that ER Dr to have ordered, based on my Sister's experience: her brain lessions showed with an MRI, so that test is good for detecting such as that. And, great to hear nothing bad showed on the MRI. If they are recurring, or don't ever completely go away- certainly is material for the Drs to focus on.

    kcass
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #6
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    Kent Cass said:

    Typical
    Sounds kinda typical as to what the rads have done to nerves, and you may notice more in the next few months. That's pretty much what we all experience to varying degrees. Some even feel the rads all the way to the feet! Worst of it can be the cranial, which really is a bear to deal with, and I think they purposely avoid the cranial with the rads in a major way. Most feel the rads here and there upper-body. I'm 3+-years out and still experience L'Hermites when I get in certain positions with my arms/shoulders/chin, and living with neck spasms is an every day thing.

    Headaches may be a different matter, Tim. This far post-tx that does seem a bit to the peculiar, to me, especially if they just started and are that severe. An MRI is a good choice for that ER Dr to have ordered, based on my Sister's experience: her brain lessions showed with an MRI, so that test is good for detecting such as that. And, great to hear nothing bad showed on the MRI. If they are recurring, or don't ever completely go away- certainly is material for the Drs to focus on.

    kcass

    L'Hermites ~ DelNative
    Yep, that electric shock sensation you get when you touch your chin to your chest....shooting down your arms and legs to your toes....

    I'll always be reminded of Jim ~ DelNative as he was the first to post on it, may he rest in peace....

    John
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #7
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    Skiffin16 said:

    L'Hermites ~ DelNative
    Yep, that electric shock sensation you get when you touch your chin to your chest....shooting down your arms and legs to your toes....

    I'll always be reminded of Jim ~ DelNative as he was the first to post on it, may he rest in peace....

    John

    RIP
    Yes, indeed, John. I didn't remember that Delnative was the first to have the answer to what I and others were experiencing, but it does not surprise me. I always considered him the authority on the mouth- teeth and gums, as he always seemed to know what's what, post-rads. He's truly missed.

    kcass
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #8
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    Kent Cass said:

    RIP
    Yes, indeed, John. I didn't remember that Delnative was the first to have the answer to what I and others were experiencing, but it does not surprise me. I always considered him the authority on the mouth- teeth and gums, as he always seemed to know what's what, post-rads. He's truly missed.

    kcass

    Dr. Nuclear ~ LOL
    I found where on CancerCompass that he had mentioned it back in February 2010 also....

    April 25, 2010 - 7:30pm

    FWIW
    "I noticed it not long after treatment ended -- though I don't remember noticing it when I was still "cooking" and suffering through the mucus and all the rest of that misery.
    I mentioned it to Dr. Nuclear, and I don't think he told me what it was called but he said that it was not unusual. I never did ask how long it was supposed to continue. I still have it at 17, almost 18 months out, but the buzz isn't as strong as it used to be."

    --Jim in Delaware
  • KTeacher
    KTeacher Member Posts: 1,103
    #9
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    More than mild
    But, I did have 2 surgeries. I have areas that are numb and areas that feel like I'm being poked by hot pins. The hot pins sensation is new. I also had a dizzy day yesterday, more than usual. Have an appointment Wednesday, but will probably be referred to ENT (have an appointment in July for that one).
    Skiffin, thank you for adding info on L'Hermitte's--had that for a while after the first go around, remember the conversation on the site at the time, helped me feel a little less crazy.
  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #10
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    Yep, Jim gets it in his
    Yep, Jim gets it in his shoulder and arms. We figured it must be the RADS that caused it. Not to bad right now.

    Debbie
  • Tim6003
    Tim6003 Member Posts: 1,514 Member
    #11
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    jim and i said:

    Yep, Jim gets it in his
    Yep, Jim gets it in his shoulder and arms. We figured it must be the RADS that caused it. Not to bad right now.

    Debbie

    Thanks guys
    ...I do too get the tingly feeling when I touch my chin to my chest ...not bad at all...just funny feeling ...just recently started getting the sensation in my face ...lol.

    Glad I asked, now as usual I know more than I did ...ever evovling. :)

    Best,

    Tim
  • meaganb
    meaganb Member Posts: 244 Member
    #12
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    Tim6003 said:

    Thanks guys
    ...I do too get the tingly feeling when I touch my chin to my chest ...not bad at all...just funny feeling ...just recently started getting the sensation in my face ...lol.

    Glad I asked, now as usual I know more than I did ...ever evovling. :)

    Best,

    Tim

    I have numbness down my jaw
    I have numbness down my jaw line on my chin. It started after my surgery and feeling hasn't returned yet. I don't ever get weird or funny sensations though, just numbness. I have to be very careful especially if I'm holding my daughter to make sure I'm aware of what's going on in that area( you know 1 year olds motor skills aren't the best) she's also in the stage where she thinks kissing means giving a little love bite so I have to make sure she doesn't do it there!
  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #13
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    numbness...
    Tim,
    I have had numbness is jaw line and cheek area too. But was resected...so a little different. But after few rads, got severe pain, like knife stab....was told nerve ending pain. Was put on gabapentin, has helped some, definately with sharp pain but not so much with numbness. Do you have any issues with lyphedema ? Mine comes and goes....and on good days, numbness is less noticable. Do you have a history of headaches ? (migraines) I get them and have all my life. (yuck) Also thought I was a old cartoon charactor when those shocky feelings started...like others have commented on. But found out normal for some. Remember as someone told me on another site, and ACS we will find our new normal eventually. Warmest regards, Katie

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