AboutDina Q Goldin, Ph.D. Expertise Information and advice for Acoustic Neuroma patients who would like honest patient-to-patient interaction about their symptoms or about treatments and related medical procedures. If you are unsure if your experience is "normal", or are wondering whether your information is complete, feel free to ask.
Experience I am an Acoustic Neuroma patient and the founding editor
of the Acoustic Neuroma Patient Archive (http://www.ANarchive.org).
Expert: Dina Q Goldin, Ph.D. Date: 4/3/2007 Subject: Numbness in left side of face
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 If your one-sided facial numbness presists, that means that there is something impacting your facial nerve, and you need to find out what it is. For most causes of such problems, it's definitely better to diagnose them sooner rather than later, before they are more advanced and more difficult to treat. I cannot say what if any tests will be necessary for the diagnosis, but you do have to make sure that you see a neurologist rather than some other type of doctor. Neurologists are trained in diagnosing nerve-related problems.
