tongue

Several years ago I had a benign tumor removed from under my chin.  Supposedly the Hypoglosal nerve was damaged and theright side of my tongue has atrophied.

Is there any surgery, therapy, etc. that would restore the capabilities of my tongue?

Though not serious, I occasionally bite the right side of my tongue, salivate excessively, swallow prematurely.

Thank you,

drward1945

[Dr Rajgopal]

Hi,
Disorders or damage of the 12th cranial nerve (hypoglossal nerve) cause weakness or wasting (atrophy) of the tongue on the affected side. This nerve is responsible for movement of the tongue. Causes of the nerve damage include include a tumor or bone abnormality at the base of the skull, a stroke, infection of the brain stem, or an injury to the neck. The tongue becomes weak on the affected side and wastes away or atrophies at last. As a result, people have difficulty speaking, chewing, and swallowing. Nerve reconstruction surgeries are done to restore the lost function caused by nerve damage. You must consult your neurologist for the details of the procedure. Hope this helps you. Take care and regards!