Crazy Throat Numbness/Pain

[SOONERMOM]

I have another crazy question.  Back in January, I got extremely numb on my left side and lost feeling inside my throat on the left side.  I also started having periodic ear pain.  A few weeks ago, I got really numb on my right side and had a black dot in my vision briefly and lost feeling inside my throat on the right side.  So, I went a few weeks without feeling in my throat.  A few days ago, I got excited because I got feeling back in both sides.....then later that day it turned into pain on the left side and left ear.  I know it sounds like glossophyrangeal neuralgia somewhat.  Today, I have feeling on the right, none on the left.  It just seems to have a mind of its own and the numbness/pain travels around from day to day.  I am also having terrible headaches, not just migraines.

I was wondering if any of you have experienced this and if it ever gets better??

I went to urgent care a few weeks ago sure that I REALLY did have an ear infection....only to get a referral to another neurologist.  I was running a low fever and he said my nasal mucosal lining was abnormally thick (this was stated on my 2nd mri in Nov. also) and thought I might have a sinus infection....but I had no pain there?  

Is it possible w/MS to have numbness so that you couldn't feel a sinus infection?  It just seems unlikely to me since they are caused from pressure...???

Stacey

[smcneel]

Hi Stacey,

Last year I suffered with unbelievable ear pain for more than a month.  I kept going weekly to a doctor for antibiotics for the "sinus or ear infection" that I was sure I had.  Finally one day I got a momentary stabbing pain in the back of my tongue and throat and thought it might have something to do with the ear pain, so I went to a doctor that immediately knew it was glossopharyngeal neuralgia.  They say that it is not supposed to be bilateral, which mine, like yours, is, but if it is bilateral that it is more suggestive of MS.  My doctor actually printed out info for me from the NIH website, which is at: www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/glossopharyngeal_neuralgia/glossopharyngeal_neuralgia.htm.  He also prescribed Lyrica, which works great, but mine is brief pain so not really worth taking 2-4 pills a day just to prevent the possibility of a 5 second pain...but I do take it when I feel the imaginary ear infection flaring up, and it might be a lifesaver for your pain.  Anyway, hope you feel better soon!

Shelly

[Nerve_Wrecked]

I  totally get it. Being in the same diagnosis boat (or lack there of) I know how worring things can  be. That's why i hang out here, people understand, and it's likely someone here's had the same symptom. That makes it more tolreable.

Glad I could be of some help :)

Christine
(un-dx)

[SOONERMOM]

Thanks for your reply.  I guess it is being undiagnosed that makes these things so worrisome!  You did help, thank you!

Stacey

[Nerve_Wrecked]

I can't say anything about the ear pain, or sinus infection, but we do have something in common.

Early July 2007, I lost all sensation in the left side of my mouth and throat. The left side of my mouth came back fairly quickly (within 4 or 5 weeks or so), but the left side of my throat is a different story.

It's still not completely back, but regained some sensation in it, starting in January. I'm figuring that this is as good as it will get, and thankful that I'm not numb somewhere more important.

So, I'm sorry I can't help you, but I did want to let you know you're not alone.

Christine
(un-dx)