post operative numbness following rhizotomy

[Jessie1973]

Can you please tell me how long I can expect to have numbness following a rhizotomy? My surgery was yesterday (I have atypical trigeminal neuralgia) and I have been experiencing severe numbness on my bottom lip, the left side of my tongue (can't taste anything but salt), the inside of my cheek (keep biting it!), the outside of my face all the way up to my ear. I realize that it has been less than 24 hours since the procedure but I would like to know when I will regain sensation. I am having difficulty eating and drinking, and my speech is affected as well.  This is causing me a lot of anxiety, as I am fearful that I have traded one malady for another! I expected a certain amount of permanance to the numbness, but not this much!  

Thanks!

[nancy99n]

A Rhizotomy damages the nerve to stop the pain.  Your neurosurgeon should have warned you about numbness as a side effect.  It probably has also affected your jaw muscle.  This is a large muscle though, and it will come back with time if you exercise it (chewing).  As for biting the inside of your cheek and lip -- that just takes practice chewing carefully on your numb side.  The first few weeks are the worst, but some of my numbness has faded a little or else I've just gotten used to it.  I don't bite the inside of my mouth as much.

From my personal experience, (I had a Gamma Knife in April 2009, a Balloon Rhizotomy  in January 2010, a second Balloon Rhizotomy in April 2010), the numbness can fade on its own.  According to my doctors, if the numbness fades it does NOT mean the pain will come back -- but everyone has their own individualized experience.  

In my case when the numbness faded completely with the first two procedures, my pain came back.  So I am happy to have the numbness lasting after my third procedure -- because that means no pain.

[te8252]

i had surgery almost a yr ago and still have numbness is this common,now i have mouth pain is this normal any comments are welcome thank u