Tongue is cracked, red, burns and is painful

[becnbri]

After surgery about a year ago on my knee, I noticed that my tongue developed cracks in it.  I was told it was possibly due to the anestesia.  Since, then it has not gone away.  This has now gone to the roof of my mouth as well.  No doctor, even the specialist knows what it is.  He has me taking Predensone(?) dissolving on my tongue 3 times a day.  This does not seem to be helping either.  Does anyone know what this is.  Per my doctors, this in not geographic tongue.  It seems especially sore when eating acidy fruit or spicy seasonings.  What's wrong with me????

[hmck]

I am a 33 year old female. I've had a geographic tongue since childhood and at some point in the past 10 years or so it changed over to a tongue with lots of deep cracks in it. It is very sensitive to some foods and the sensitivity varies by the day. I have never smoked, drank alcohol or done anything other drugs. I wasn't on medications except for prednisone for 5 days due to random hive outbreaks back in college and a low dose antibiotic when I was a teenager for acne. A dentist once prescribed me something to get rid of thrush, but it didn't work, because it isn't thrush. I had one episode where my entire mouth tasted metalic for about a week and it all became inflamed. The doc did a full blood panel test and everything showed normal.  He prescribed prilosec....what a joke.  It wasn't due to reflux.  He said probably a virus.  After that it went back to my normal cracked tongue. I have had the daily B6 shots....when I was pregnant...didn't help the tongue. Anybody have any other ideas???

[Beaglema]

I periodically get this tongue condition and have for the past 30 years.  First couple of times the crack was so deep it bled.  I do get it from a round of antibiotics & my doctor gives me diflucan which kills the thrush & the tongue does heal.  When not caused by thrush I take a mouthful of Mylanta II & soak my tongue it in to soothe & coat.  Then I swallow some to coat my stomach.  My doctor & I think that it's from GERD.  Although I'm not experiencing any reflux while awake we think it's happening while I sleep.  Acids from the stomach make sense.  I have it now & will consult the doctor if the Mylanta II does not do the trick.  Note: Prilosec & Nexium, for me, made my stomach & tongue worse.

[jacq221]

Correction to my previous comment.  Typo the 50 mgs of Folic should read
5 mg Folic

[jacq221]

Some comments from someone who has had a sore red tongue off and on over the last few years.
I take a high dose (100mg) multi vitamin each day.  When my tongue gets sore I add extra 100mgs of B2 and B6.  This used to do the trick.
Lately it hasn't and I have added Folic Acid which improved my tongue immediately (50mg) per day for some weeks.  NOw the sore red  tongue is back and after reading the above comments decided to try coconut oil to see if it is indeed some type of fungus.  Immediate result.  Tongue this morning is normal colour with no soreness.  Will keep posted on results.

[esmeraldaa]

I am 60 years old and developed this problem in May, 2008.  The symptoms are similar to many posts in this page:

- sores started at tip of tongue
- was prescribed an anti-biotic by a doctor, but worsened the problem
- sores advanced covering 1/3 of tongue
- cracks developed in the middle of tongue
-  strong burning sensation
- developed a metal taste in mouth

After mentioning this to an Indian friend of mine, she recommended using pure salt (i.e. the salt granules, not diluted in water).  In just two weeks I have improved dramatically; the sores and cracks have disappeared!  The burning sensation still remains, but is much more tolerable; it is about 70% gone.

What I do is cover the entire surface of my tongue with salt and keep it there 3 - 4 minutes then rinse with water.  Do this 2 times per day.  You will feel a strong burning sensation for about 30 minutes after each treatment, but DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED!  After two weeks, the burning sensation is much less and the sores and cracks have gone.

Also, my doctor has prescribed me an antacid, 20 mg Omeprazole, for the metal taste and cramps.  This medication is used to prevent acid buildup in the stomach.   This was prescribed to control the metal taste.  I have been using this medication for 3 days and it has definitely helped.

I hope this helps some of you, please report back!

[deedoee]

This is a common symptom of pernicious anemia, which is fatal if not diagnosed correctly.  Treatment if vitamin B-12 supplementation, starting first with frequent vitamin b shots.  A person can have this conditon for many years (10 or more yrs.) before finally showing up on a blood test=low rbc (red blood cell), low hematocrit, low hemaglobin, high MCH or MCV.  Takes years before showing any abnormalities in these tests, however, can show early in the test for methymalonic acid (MMA) and homocysteine (effects on the heart).  This is an early indicator of b-12 deficiency (this type of deficiency is called pernicious anemia) and the test is for the tissues, an early marker before finally showing up in the blood.  Anyone taking Prilosec (and some other acid-reducers) are at a high risk for PA due to the stomach's intrinsec factor (cells in the stomach's lining & acid production) being damaged/inhibited.  Studies have shown b-12 deficiencies in those taking Prilosec, etc., as early as 2 mos. of continuation of this type of drug/acid-reducer/s.  Hope this helps.  One other thing, if you are presently taking b-12 supplements it will mess up the results of these tests (any & all of these tests).  Should go off b-12 for at least one month prior to testing & inform your doctor of such.