Facial Numbness-Injury

[sbeck]

I had a facial injury 72 hours ago (blunt force trauma eybrow and below left eye)).  I have a laseration above my eyebrow with 6 stitches and a black eye.  My left upper lip, left upper teeth, right side of my nose and cheek are numb.  I am concerned about getting sensation back.  Will this comeback on its own? Get worse?  Please help.

[cslay]

I had the same type of injury (punched in face) and had the painful stinging sensation below my eye running along the side of my nose to above my teeth.  It happened saturday night and now being thursday night, I can say I can move my face without much discomfort, only numbness.  It only hurts when touched (most likely due to bruised still) or brushing nose as if to wipe away drainage, then I get a stinging sensation enough to make my eyes water.  My upper gums, however, are completely numb below where the trauma occurred.  
I am very concerned though that I can hack up blood from the back of my nasal passage... I have been rinsing it using a netipot system but still see purple/dark blood and feel it draining... I hope that it does not get infected though, but I'm pretty sure the doctor would just tell me to wait it out so thats what I'm doing...

Thanks!

[JainMD]

Hi,
I think the symptoms you are describing are due to neuropathy. The common symptoms are pain, tingling and numbness.
The nerve involved here appears to be Trigeminal nerve on left side.
Nerves heal, at a rate 1 millimeter/day. The only nerves that can regenerate are the nerves outside of the spinal cord, or peripheral nerves. The nerves in the spinal cord, once damaged, cannot regenerate. However, if the peripheral nerve is severely damaged or stretched it may never heal.
I think it will take approximately 4-6 weeks for healing depending upon severity of injury.
Keep me informed.
Bye.