About Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Expertise I am a board-certified otolaryngologist with additional subspecialty training in otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery. This is the subspecialty of otolaryngology that involves the ear, hearing, balance organs, the facial nerve, and surgery of the skull base including surgery for acoustic neuroma and other benign and malignant tumors of the base of the skull.
Experience Medical school, residency in otolaryngology, fellowship in otology/neurotology/skull base surgery
Organizations American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
North American Skull Base Society
American Neurotology Society
Publications Laryngoscope Otology and Neurotology
Education/Credentials MD Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 2001
Otolaryngology Residency, University of Iowa Department of Otolaryngology, Iowa City, IA
Otology/Neurotology Fellowship, House Ear Clinic, Los Angeles, CA
Expert: Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Date: 4/3/2007 Subject: Left Face Numb
Question Hi-
Recently, (3 days ago) I started to experience slight facial numbness from the left side of my lips along my cheek towards my ear. When it first appeared, it really freaked me out. Now, it may either be getting better, or I'm just used to it a little? I'm trying to just live with it, but today, I don't feel all that great. Sort of weak, tired, unable to think all that clearly. I ate lunch and now feel a little better as far as the weakness goes. I started to think of all the things it could be. (One idea was my wife asked me to take a dose of Metronidazole, prescribed by her gyno for both of us. The symptoms appeared shortly after taking the 4 tablet, 1 time dose.) Or, I have a problem when I shower, sometimes water will get into my left ear. However, I don't have any pain associated with my ear or my face. I have other guesses like "stress", but I don't think I'm stressin' all that much?
Anyway, I decided to go ahead and make an appt. to see a doctor. Other than these symptoms, I've felt perfectly healthy. I don't think I need a bunch of tests run on me, but what do I know?
By the way, I'm 35 years old, 6'0, 175 pounds and just a normally healthy guy.
Thanks for any help!!
Answer Slight facial numbness can be from several conditions--you might have had a neuritis of the trigeminal nerve that supplies the facial sensation, or there may have been some local facial swelling. I would have it checked out by a physician to make sure you don't have any other neurological findings. They may want to do some tests to determine the origin of this.
