Expert: JM Starkman, MD - 7/15/2009

Question
had knee surgery a few months ago. woke up with a large cut under my tongue(the skin that connects under your tongue). it was a large gash cut with a chunk of skin missing.-- it began to heal, but then i started to experience swollen glands-sores in the back of my mouth and tongue., and a constant burning sensation. it is slowly going away but is still painful to swallow and hurts.  i went to my doctor-dentist-and upper gastro.  they are saying that it is nerve damage from the cut under my tongue. reccomended that i see a neurologist.
since this happened while under Anesthesia
any further help would be appreciated..

Answer
This is not a complication of knee surgery but one of anesthesia----see your anesthesiologist about it.  I really have no idea why you were referred to a neurologist, who has no treatment modalities at his disposal to address the matter.  Better that after a thorough evaluation your anesthesiologist had an otolarygnologist give you an opinion.

Please pardon my delay in getting back to you--I wanted to 'bounce' this off a few other anesthesiologists first.