what is it

[mecateca]

Hi i want to find out what happened to my husband about a month ago half of his face started going numb and he said that that half of his head would hurt and also around his ear his eye got watery and it almost seamed as if his face was being pulled back because his mouth was crooked hes only 24 years old. whats wrong ??

[mecateca]

thanks for the comments its almost been 1 n a half months and when u look at him now u can kinda tell but not much and he says he feels fine. But i still worry , he doesnt have any insurance so the only thing we can afford is to go to a clinic. thanks alot!!

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Hi, Welcome to Medhelp Forum. The symptoms you are describing bear resemblance to few possibilities like facial nerve palsy, trigeminal neuralgia, MPDS( myofacial pain dysfunction) and then TMJ disorder due to strenuous opening of mouth for long sittings of RCT. Facial nerve palsy is characterized by inability to close eye, loss of sensation on affected part, difficulty in speaking and mask like face on affected side because facial nerve innervates facial muscles and any damage to facial nerve may cause inability make facial expressions like smiling, frowning etc. Second possibility is Trigeminal neuralgia - neural pain of face with possible loss of sensation on the affected part of face but eye is seldom involved. It is usually associated with history of traumatic extraction of ipsilateral tooth. Third possibility can be sinusitis due to possible oro-antral fistula after extraction leading to sinus infection. This may lead to dull pain over the cheek area but inability to close eye and tongue involvement may not be explainable with this condition. You may consult an oral surgeon/physician/ neurologist to rule out above stated possibilities who may be able to help you in this regard. Take care.

[caregiver222]

Needless to say he has to go to an emergency room, as of yesterday.

There are ominous possibilities and not-so-ominous ones.

Bell's Palsy is one possibility. General Curtis LeMay had this problem and went on to fly bombersd and command the Strategic Air Command.

Another possibility is a stroke or growth.

An evaluation is necessary, preferably at a stroke center or ER.

Anm appointment with the family physician is pointless.

This something that requires an MRI or CT scan immediately.