half of my face has been going numb it goes and comes but now im worried because its staying..?

Question

people ask if my tooth is hurting or i have sum kind of mouth blisters but i dont.. so I made an appt for monday but just wanted to get peoples oppinions and be serious please.. what do you think caused this.? my tongue sumtimes goes numb too. worried.

Answer 1

When my oldest daughter was younger she had a condition called Bell's Palsy where one side of her face was temporarily paralyzed.

Answer 2

Better see your neurologist fast, you could be facing Bell's Palsy.
Bell's palsy (facial palsy) is characterised by facial drooping on the affected half, due to malfunction of the facial nerve (VII cranial nerve), which controls the muscles of the face. Bell's palsy is the most common acute mononeuropathy (disease involving only one nerve), and is the most common cause of acute facial nerve paralysis. The paralysis is of the infranuclear/lower motor neuron type.

The most important factor in treatment is to eliminate the source of the nerve damage. Some cases are mild and do not require treatment since the symptoms usually subside on their own within 2 weeks. For others, treatment may include medications such as acyclovir -- used to fight viral infections -- combined with an anti-inflammatory drug such as the steroid prednisone -- used to reduce inflammation and swelling. Analgesics such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen may relieve pain, but because of possible drug interactions, patients should always talk to their doctors before taking any over-the-counter medicines.

Massages can keep the facial muscles stretchy so that they can bounce back quickly once the nerve heals. Someone with Bell's palsy will likely need eye drops (and maybe an eye patch) for a while. A few people might have continuing problems with one eye, their sinuses, or facial muscles, but most people make a full recovery. The symptoms may go away suddenly or get better a little bit each day.

Answer 3

This sounds like it may be a case of Bell's Palsy. I have had this myself twice, and had similar symptoms as you. The 7th cranial nerve "gives out" for unknown, yet speculated on reasons. Some think the herpes virus causes it, others think that a narrowing of the bony canal that the nerve passes through can cause it. The most common medications given are prednisone, a steroid, to reduce inflammation according to the "pressure on the nerve due to a narrowing of the canal" theory, and acyclovir, an anti-viral medication given for the "herpes virus is the cause" theory. I think about 86% of those with Bell's Palsy get over it within a few weeks to a month, and 7% of those that recover will get it again. Sylvester Stalone and George Clooney both sufered from this, although Stallone did not fully recover obviously. The only real danger with Bell's Palsy is that your lower lid can stop blinking and your eye can dry out and cause permanent eye damage. Most people with Bell's Palsy need to tape their eye shut at night and put in a gel substance to ensure the eye is lubricated and kept moist. Durring the day, you need to make sure you "manually" blink your lower lid with your finger, or get an eye patch, (although this will draw more attention than blinking it with your finger). Feel free to send me an e-mail if you need more info, like I said this has happened to me before and I did several studies on it in highschool and college.

Also, the quicker you get the medications the better, although there is only a small % that both prednisone and acyclovir will even help. They are given based on theories that have not been proven. This is not to say you shouldn't take them. If/when your nerve starts healing I think that typically it grows back 1mm a day.

Answer 4

Consult a neurologist. VII th cranial nerve might have involved. Bell's palsy is sudden, idiopathic, unilateral peripheral 7th cranial nerve palsy. Symptoms are hemifacial paresis involving the upper and lower face. There are no specific tests for diagnosis. Treatment may include corticosteroids, lubrication of the eye, and intermittent use of an eye patch.
Please see the web pages for more details on Cranial nerves and Facial nerve palsy (Bell's palsy).

Answer 5

if you're not up in years, it's probably not a stroke.
It could be stress or sinus or related to migraines.
Or possibly a pinched nerve.

My guess is that the doctor will want to do a bunch of tests.

I had similar numbness a long time ago, and they told me it was likely stress, to take vitamins, and monitor it. It went away after a couple weeks and never came back.

Answer 6

See a Neurologist. The condition could be viral or nerve impingement but should be examined by a highly trained physician. The condition, if worsening should be seen to immediately.

Answer 7

There's a disorder called something Palsy that paralyzes half of face. Go to dr. right away. It isn't permanent.

Answer 8

It sounds like Bells Palsy my mom has it when she is stressed it flares up and it looks like one side of her face is paralized its really scary she cant move that side at all when it flares up but I would go to the doc asap to figure out what is really going on

Answer 9

could be Bell's Palsy, if caught early on is easily treated with a short course of steroids.

Answer 10

Go to the emergency room. It sounds like a stroke.