I am just over 3 months post-op. I experienced a torn IAN due to severely rounded roots catching and tearing the nerve when my tooth was extracted.

The lower left side of my mouth, chin and gums were all numb after the freezing wore off. My OS told me upfront of the complication and the potential risks, but until it actually happens you don't appreciate the sense of fear and uncertanty that sets in. On my follow up visit, he did tell me there was a tear in the nerve. He classified it as slight. I asked for his definition of slight and he told me 40%.

My recovery has been coming along well. I still experience a tight feeling occasionally in the space between my chin and lip. I also experience a mild tingling in my lip. All sensation in my gum has returned and I feel heat and cold. I also increased my multi-vitamin dosage (I found one with lots of B). Many of the people on this site recommended B, so I figured it can't hurt.

Everyone heals at different rates so hang in there and don't hesitate to ask questions.

mike

On my second follow up visit, I got a different OS. I asked him to look at my chart and tell me if the extent of the damage was noted. The only thing I learned is that the OS who did the extraction, was "not surprised" by my lingering numbness, so he knows he did something, I just don't know what. At any rate, the second OS thinks 6 weeks for recovery, but I'm 3 weeks post-op with no improvement. He said if you feel "dead numb" then that's when he starts to worry, but occasional tingling is better. I think I've gotten used to the numbness throughout the day, but eating still sucks. I just want to feel normal again. Any thoughts? I keep posting and no one seems to respond anymore.

I am two weeks out today with the same symptoms as you. My OS is telling me the same thing, except that it could be six months before I feel normal again. We are keeping a chart of the affected area and I think I am improving a LITTLE, but it's not enough to say for certain that it's not just my imagination! I have had 3 medical opinions about this and they all say that as long as I'm not dead numb, the feeling will eventually come back (although there are obviously some people on this site who have been experiencing the burning for years, but it seems that most of their injuries are lingual and not IAN).

Yesterday I bit the inside of my cheek five different times and twice now I have woken up to find that I chewed on my numb lip in the night until it bled. I am anxious to feel normal again too!

Hang in there and keep us posted!
Ann

In the case of the IAN-injury sufferer(us), one must be patient. Take the time to read the many experiences posted in this forum. Unfortunately there aren't many of us who improve dramatically in just a few weeks.

I'm a bit more than 5-months post-extraction. I've got 80-90% of my feeling back in my chin, lips, and teeth on the affected side. It's been a very slow, inconsistant (2 steps forward, 1 backward) recovery. I still have some burning, tingling and hypersensitivity but all-in-all it is far less bothersome. Perhaps I'll eventually recover completely.

Burning, itching, tingling are good signs. I had one specific thumbprint size area that I could identify as the center of the numbness. My o/s, for some reason, said that was a good sign too.

Sometimes I feel like I'm close to normal sensation, other days I'm a bit more numb. As long as you can notice some minimal sensation/improvement then my experience would say you'll get better over time. Like your o/s says, if you're "dead numb" then worry about it. I had very little improvement over the first three weeks aside from losing numbness in some peripheral areas.

In the meantime, eating, etc. does suck. It's no fun chewing up your lip and the constant numbness and odd sensations can really get on your nerves. I found lip balm to be soothing for the lip burning and still use it.

You're much younger than I am so hopefully you'll heal faster.

Best of luck...

Paul

I totally agree with the assessment that some days you feel more numb than a previous day. That kind of worried me, but now I know it's a strange healing process. Thanks again and keep me updated. I'll do the same.

Please do not hesitate to contact me for information @drmarkstein@aol.com

Dr. Stein

Do some of you wish that you would have not had your wisdom teeth out?

The pain that I have now with my wisdom teeth are: pain because it is moving my teeth, and I have had braces!
EAR aches, jaw pain, stiffness, my jaw cracks, sides of my face hurt.

Should I continue to take this pain? Please help. Brenda Thank you so much.

I HOPE AND PRAY FOR ALL OF YOU WITH PAIN TO HEAL.

Can you sue for nerve damage?

Your symptoms sound to me like they could be TMJ. Have you had anyone diagnose this problem for you? I had all of your symptoms and then got a nightguard for TMJ and it helped tremendously. Had my wisdom teeth removed later "just because" and now wish I had not, as I have suffered IAN damage. You might ask your dentist if he thinks you need a nightguard.

Ann

It's so weird that sometimes I hardly notice it, but then I eat and I feel like my lip is huge. It seems like stress of any kind makes the symptoms much more noticeable.

What do my symptoms indicate please be honest, I have not seen the consultant yet for the follow up - he did say during the extraction procedure that he could see the nerve - will he know if he severed it?

PAULINE - (It truely makes you feel so miserable, i most definately wouldnt have had it done had i known, i feel very let down as i was not in pain with the tooth, i just went along light hearted to whip it out -)

I am trying every possible way to heal myself and hope to regain all feeling. I too just want to feel normal again.

I used to have tingling, but now nothing. I fear that the healing has stopped and this is as good as it's going to get. The only good part about all of this, is that I don't have any pain. Just the annoying as hell numbness that affects my eating habits and my speech somewhat. What are you gonna do? I think another surgery would just risk further damage.

Luckily, I don't have pain, only severe numbness, so my injury is more annoying and disheartening than anything else. I am almost 6 weeks post-op, and haven't had much improvement. I too had stiffness and pain at first, but that did go away.

I do have a spot on my chin that is not numb, but when I touch it, I can feel a minor jost through my chin and up to my lip. It's really weird. Is this a good sign? Like I said, I cannot notice any other improvement. Plus, that hole back there is still wide open. I continue to have to flush it out after eating because I can't feel if there's anything in there. Rice is just the right size to get lodged in the opening, so eating is still a hassle too.

My teeth (molars up to eyetooth) were pretty numb for a long time but are about normal now as are my gums though I still have a very sensitive spot by my eyetooth. So in my case the numbness disappeared from back to front.

Soon after my surgery I found a focal point about the size of a quarter at the corner of my chin under and including my lip. The numbness, etc. has gradually shrunk in area but is still a noticable at this focal point. But the symptoms have gradually diminished in intensity.

I found the numbness gradually replaced by hypersensitivity especially with my chin. It is still very uncomfortable to shave there.

My symptoms have been very variable all along, they ebb and then increase from day-to-day.

It's been 81/2 weeks now, and I'm pretty damn numb, with little improvement, so I don't think this healing will be complete unless something dramatic happens very soon.

My condolences to you on a less-than-expected result. I know this is highly unpleasant. Unfortunately, noone has ever received a guaranteed risk-free life. Results like yours are part of life.

Health care professionals, generally, do not plan to injure any of their patients. Paresthesia of the tongue, teeth, lip, and gingiva is a known complication of dental procedures, including tooth extaction. Most patients are informed of that when they present for procedures. Why would you need an attorney for something you knew could happen? A GOOD lawyer would tell you not to proceed with a nuisance lawsuit.

You have my sincerest wishes the situation resolves completely in the least possible time.

In fact, lately, the numbness has felt worse than in recent weeks. Am I out of luck after this 12 weeks? How much improvement can I expect by 6 months? I think I've resigned myself to the fact that this may not heal completely, which totally sucks. Who knew that this annoyance could have such a serious effect.

Exactly two weeks ago I had 3 impacted wisdom teeth removed. I was warned that one tooth was very close to the nerve but was assured this shouldn't cause real problem. Since my op I too have been left numb on the right side of my lip, chin, teeth & gums and so therefore I have been very anxious, worried.....and in pain!!

I'm so glad I found this site as it has been very helpful and assuring, although I'm not too keen on the thought of having this feeling (or no feeling) carrying on for months!!

I hope you all recover soon!

I haven't been back to my consultant, should I make an appointment even though it sounds like there's not much that can be done?

I am 26 by the way

Donna

If your Inferior Alveolar Nerve or your Lingual Nerve has been damaged, then yes, what you are going through is very normal. I am sorry to hear that you are going through so much pain and discomfort. Everyone here understands what you are going through, so don't be discouraged. You are not crazy, or imagining all this.

Although I did not receive my nerve injury while having wisdom teeth removed, I did receive my nerve injury by injection. Your symptoms are the exact same as mine were. The first week I was in agony. I could only eat soft foods, but because chewing aggrevated my TMJ muscle, and the whole area too, I couldn't eat much. I could not open my mouth very wide for about 6 weeks because the TMJ muscle had been affected. I also was numb in my chin, lip, teeth and gums.

I started taking narcotics for the pain, but all they made me was sick. I was able to get some relief with ibuprofen, 800mg every 3 hrs. I was prescribed amitripyline, 25mg after my OS realized what had happened. By the third week the medication started to kick in, and I began to get some relief.

I am now just over 8 weeks since my injury. I have been off all meds for 5 days and am doing well. I still have some numbness, but only in my chin and about 40% of what it used to be. I was lucky. Some injuries heal more quickly than others, but the injury is still very painful and very real.

I would call your OS again and ask to speak with HIM. Tell him your symptoms, and that you suspect nerve injury. He would normally prescribe either an anticonvulsant or an antidepressant for the pain. These medications interrupt the messages that the nerves send to the brain, thereby relieving the nerve pain as well. If you are having trouble sleeping, don't be shy about asking for something to help you sleep. You can not heal if you can not sleep.
You may also want to start taking a vitamin B complex, especially vitamin B12. This will help with nerve healing. Many have found it to be extremely helpful, including myself. I also found warm compresses to also be helpful. It would stimulate blood flow to the area, and also help the muscles in your face to relax. It also helped relieve some of the pain.

If this doesn't help for you, then you might want to consider seeing a nuerologist for a second opinion. Continue to read through the posts here. You will find a bounty of information that will help you, as well as the best support that anyone could ask for. Please keep us informed with your progress. I hope to hear that you are getting the help you need very soon. Don't dispair, we are all here with you.

Best wishes,
Mary

Your comments on this board are so helpful - I so appreciate the time you take.

My question to you is how do you know you received a nerve injury from injection? Was this an anesthetic injection? I ask because when having a root canal done, when I was shot with the anasthetic I felt a strong electric shock. The oral surgeon said not to worry he just hit a nerve. The thing is I have had much pain in my teeth and around my mouth since (7 months ago.) I have been checked for other dental problems but none detected- neuralgia has been mentioned and I take Neurontin for that. TMJ has also been thrown out there as a diagnosis. I never had numbness. Does this sound at all like the injection nerve damage you mention? Obviously I am not healing as fast as did.

Thanks.

I think the hardest part about any illness or condition is not knowing exactly what is going on. I am concerned if you are having pain in your teeth. What kind of tests has your OS performed? Have you seen a nuerologist? There have been people here who have suffered infections after oral surgery. Where in your mouth are you having pain other than your teeth?

I had 3 nerve blocks for a biopsy of a cyst. I was still feeling pain during the biopsy, so my OS gave me a 4th injection. During that injection, I felt an extreme sharp pain shoot down the side of my face to my chin. Following 3 days of sleep, and after the swelling had reduced, I started dealing with unbelievable pain up and down my face, and through my temple. It felt as if someone had hit me over the head with a bat, and had cracked my skull open. My OS couldn't imagine why I was suffering so, until he remembered the last injection he gave me, at which point he prescribed Amitriptyline.

Every injury can be different, and I wouldn't want to diagnose anyone, or have them diagnose themselves. It would be better to read around this site, and compare notes with those posts that you will read here. When you have read enough information to provide you with enough educated questions, then approach your doctor. Make sure you find a doctor that will help you find the answer to your problem. Some of these injuries can get worse if not taken care of. If it is a simple injury, then it will heal in time. However, after 7 months of discomfort I feel that you should really explore every avenue.

You may want to read some of Joannes posts. She developed an infection after oral surgery which developed into acute osteomylitis. This may not be the case for you, but I don't know why your teeth should be hurting if it is just a nerve injury.

Please keep us posted. I pray that you find your answers, and that your road to healing will be short.
Mary

The neurologist diagnosed trigeminal nerve pain - I guess the lower branch of this nerve can cause teeth pain. He prescribed Neurontin which I don't really think is very effective though my dose is still fairly low.

My symptoms do seem different than yours. The pain is constant and in several back teeth and around the lower jaw, sometimes the chin. Not in the TMJ joint though.
I have read Joanne's posts with much concern. The endondontist did xray the bone and felt it looked good and clear. Since there is no pus or swelling or bone loss on the xrays, concerns I had about infection were not taken seriously - I was told they would xray the area again in 6 months.
Anyway thanks for responding/listening. I guess this is some weird phantom tooth pain /neuralgia thing though I have never been sick in my life and I am not a high stress/anxiety type of person and it is so strange that it all happened after the dental work and that weird injection. Yikes.

p.s. neuralgia and phantom pain is not in your head, it is neuropathic pain, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. It is very real, regardless of a the cause or ongoing pathology or if nothing at all is going on under there. Hang in there.

My symptoms do seem different than yours. The pain is constant and in several back teeth and around the lower jaw, sometimes the chin. Not in the TMJ joint though.
I have read Joanne's posts with much concern. The endondontist did xray the bone and felt it looked good and clear. Since there is no pus or swelling or bone loss on the xrays, concerns I had about infection were not taken seriously - I was told they would xray the area again in 6 months.
Anyway thanks for responding/listening. I guess this is some weird phantom tooth pain /neuralgia thing though I have never been sick in my life and I am not a high stress/anxiety type of person and it is so strange that it all happened after the dental work and that weird injection. Yikes.

This is not some wierd phantom pain that you are having. It is a symptom which is telling you that something is wrong. The only problem is, is that you just haven't found the answr yet. If you read around this site, you will find that so many here have been battling very real pain for very long periods of time, and they too are still seeking answers. That doesn't mean that the answers or cure aren't out there either.

Just don't give up. Keep researching information. Education can be your best friend. If one doctor can't help you, then get another referral until you find one that can. Find a way around every wall that comes up in front of you.

Your doctors all seem to think this is nerve pain. What scans or tests have they given you? CT scans are not very conclusive. MRI's may be of some assistance, but some here have mentioned MRN's as being very useful in diagnosing nerve damage.

I agree with Joanne too. Don't rule out an infection. If it is just starting, it may not be detectable yet. Keep an eye on that possibility just in case.

After 5 years of panoramics, my doctors told me that I would not get this cyst I have in my jaw back. It seemed to them that my surgeon had gotten it all. Well, 14 years later, I have this huge cyst in my jaw, that encompases the entire lower left mandible. It had gotten so large, because after such a long period of time, I was sure I had it licked too. SURPRISE! You can never tell. I have learned to never take things for granted. Not everything can be detected while in its early stages.

Get educated, explore all possibilities, and get the medication that you need. If the Neurontin isn't helping, have your doctor give you something else. Many people have said here that they have not had much luck with Neurontin, so I'm not surprised that you have had the same response. My doctor almost put me on that, but he put me on the Amitriptyline instead.

Deb, I truly wish you all the best in finding the answers you need. Don't let anyone discount your pain. It's your body's way of telling you that something is wrong.

Please keep us informed. I'm sorry that I can't give you the answers that you need. I know how frustrated you are. We are here if you need us.

Mary

Yes it certainly is a merry go round. I started with the TMJ diagnosis and now it appears I am being steered back round to that. Splints have not helped me yet either. It may be TMJ though the joints don't bother me and I have minimal clicking so I dunno. 17 months- wow! Yes, I know I have nerve pain too, I also struggle with the thought that something must be causing it. Please let us know how the MRI turns out - I have not had one of those yet. We do have qualified doctors here, but also very conservative about running tests - the expense maybe, I dunno. I guess I need to go in and scream in pain and act all crazy-like; lol.

I hope you find answers, I am so sorry for your pain. Thank you for responding. There are great people on this board; I am sorry I may be headed back to the TMJ board - I rarely get a response there as they seem to have their own little "clique". Well, even if I go back there I will continue to watch this board and everyone's progress. Amazing how fascinated I have become with dental issues these days - never dreamed it was all so complicated.

Take care, I hope today is a 0 to 2 for you!
Deb