What is your pain like?

When I first felt mine, it was just on the tip of my tongue-like it was rubbed raw. Now, half of my tongue, my gums,and my inner and outer lower lip feel so hot and irritated all the time-like I could breath out fire! My lower lip feels chapped even though it isn't.

Is your pain from lingual or inferior alveolar nerve injury? The symptoms are different for each, aren't they?

Lori

It's so nice to see responses when I log in! It's nice to know I can talk to others who understand how I feel!

Ness, I'm sorry you have so much pain - I know simetimes it just gets overwhelming. Don't feel bad about taking the meds - be informed on the potential side effects - but it's your pain and your life.

I take lexapro too, what a coincidence! I think it is an anti-anxiety med and I take wellbutrin for depression (it just runs in my family - lucky me!). Anyway, thanks for being the first person to answer me - I've never chatted online before!

Hi "T",

I'm not certain how far back the nerve was damaged. My doctor did an exploratory surgery and told me the nerve is gone from the mental foramen and back towards the jaw. She said she couldn't find the other end of the nerve - she cut 4 windows into the bone to look for it until she couldn't go any further.

I'm on 2700 mg of neurontin daily and I take darvocet too.

What happened to you "T"?

Lori

I'm in sydney, australia and aslo going through post op complications. I had genioplasty dome , nine weeks now. My doc told me that mu nerve o the left side of my lip was nipped a liltle ( dunno how liltle or big) and now i have a stiff lower lip which can be harly seen, it's so small , did u suffer from anything of the sort. What was your experience? I'm going through anxiety all the time, and no proper sleep.

Dee

I'm 6 months out from my genioplasty now and my lips look normal. My lower lip is stiff and numb. I remember that my lower lip looked smaller after my surgery too but I was told it was due to all the swelling.

Good luck and keep writing. People here are very nice and helpful.

Lori

No, I don't plan on seeing him again unless it's in a courtroom! He MUST HAVE KNOWN that he injured me but he didn't tell me. If he had, I might have had a chance of nerve repair. Instead, I will probably live the rest of my life on meds for the constant burning and will never feel normal again.

I'm sorry for the dismal reply but I'm past the "nervous" stage. I was nervous when I thought the nerve might be severed. Now I'm angry. Have you ever had any type of xray to see if your nerve is intact? I would recommend trying to find out - I originally had a Panorex done by my OS, then my 2nd surgeon in San Fran ordered a C-Dental NewTom image which actually takes a picture of your skull. Then, if nothing else, AT LEAST YOU WILL KNOW!!

Take care and keep in touch. I don't think there are many of us.

Lori

I forgot to tell you that I get the sensation sometimes that my lower lip is hanging down to my chin. It's the strangest thing - I touch it just to be sure it's OK! We have the same things going on. You should go to A DIFFERENT DOCTOR and ask for the images.

Lori

How did your appt go with your doctor on 11/18? Any new med?

I just started on Elavil too - I don't feel any different yet. Just hungrier and that's no good!

Lori

My mental/inferior alveolar nerve is severed at the right mental foramen and the other end has maybe retracted. I had some damage to the mentalis muscles caused by "digging" for a silicone implant after an infection.

The numbness I have in the right chin, low lip and gum I was told is due to the the mental nerve injury and I have accepted the fact that it will never go away.

But why BMS too? It was finally diagnosed yesterday by a somatology specialist. She told me that the original surgery probably "triggered" it and continued emotional stress is probably exacerbating it. She was not familiar with how it could be nerve related.

The top and bottom of my tongue, the incision site and the inner and outer bottom lip are the affected areas. The sensations are so hard to describe but it's like a burning/stinging/tingling sensation - very hot - like it's surrounded by a wierd energy field! When I salivate, I get a rush of burning that spreads through my mouth, then goes away - kind of like goosebumps do.

I's searching for an explanation for why this occurs - I'm hoping that someday this will go away! I would be so grateful to you or anyone who might help me!!

Lori

I have not only loss of sensation, but a partial paralysis also, i have lost my smile, cannot move my lips, and trouble speaking. My Doc had only told me that "theoratically speaking" things could happen, but not clearly, that there is sufficient risk. Now I dont know what papers i had signed and what the fine print was.

I did the cosmetic surgery thinking that there is no risk, but just some theoratical risk, maybe 1 in 100 or so. But this appears to very common problem. I have become 30 years older then my age, with lips like this.

My doc had said, if there is burning sensation or pain, then its good, cause it indicates things "may" get back to normal. But for me, the burning sensation only comes when i drink hot stuff, and usually my lips and gums are dead.

i am young and healthy, i'v had infection, excessive blood loss, facial assymetry increased rather than decreased, a strange funny crooked double chin ... i get a feeling if docs are like crooked mechanics ... who steal/swap parts while fixing vehicles.

I agree that doctors/dentists don't take the time to share the serious side effects. When they talk about what can happen it is sugar coated.

When a side effect does happen it appears they are shocked it happened. Then they don't seem to take the side effect seriously. Oh give it time. Everything look great. Yah right, everything look right even though I was in pain. Hummm I don't understand that kind of care.

I shouldn't be expected to understand all the aspects of surgery. I'm paying the doctor/dentist for their expertise. It should be up to them to be honest with their patients.

I remember my dentist being annoyed with me when I was upset after surgery. He told me... well I asked if you had any questions... My response was... I never had this procedure before so how can I be expected to know all the questions I should ask. I didn't know what could happen nor what type of questions I should ask.

I agree with you that went something goes amis the doctor should be honest and say that there is a problem. Then reasure me that I will be taken care of. If there is a problem then more personal care needs to be given the patient.

Teresa

Wow, did we have the same doctor because my story IS your story!

I had asked my doctor how I would look and feel 9 days after surgery because my family was due in from out of state. He told me I would be "beautiful" and very pleased.

I didn't mind when I didn't look beautiful. I too was bruised all the way down to my chest but I knew this was normal and my fair skin is probably more sensitive.

I was concerned about the numbness and the burning sensation in my mouth. I asked him about it at every follow-up visit. He told me the numbness would go away in 4 to 6 weeks and everyone has different sensations. He obviously didn't want to talk about it. But I believed him and it was OK because he had told me the surgery went very well with no complications. So this was just part of the package - I just needed to wait it out.

When I called him almost 4 weeks after the surgery and told him the right side of my chin was swollen like a golf ball and I thought I had an infection, he told me that it couldn't be an infection but to come in anyway. When I got there, he looked at it from the outside, briefly looked inside and sent me home and told me it must be inflamation and would go away.

When I called him the next morning, I told him I knew it was an infection because I had the same thing happen with a wisdom tooth many years ago. Again he said he didn't understand how it could be an infection but to come in again anyway. Again, he sent me away without thoroughly examining my mouth. He thought I had an inflammed tooth and sent me to my dentist.

Luckily, my dentist got me in right away, concerned that the infection was traveling into my neck. He immediately found the abcess in my mouth oozing yellow puss and put me on a strong dose of clindamycin.

Anyway, that night the doctor brought me into his office after hours and without explaining anything to me, put me in his chair, stuck needle after needle into my mouth and chin, cut me open again and dug and dug and dug with forceps until he "tore" the silicone implant out of my chin - an implant that he put in without my consent!!! I felt at that point like I was in a mad scientist's lab. When I finally got up, my back was completely drenched in sweat. He patted my shoulder and again told me I would be fine. Today, my chin has strange dimples and wrinkles basically whenever I put my lips together.

This doctor told me in our final conversation that he still didn't believe it had been an infection. He also told me that he may have touched the nerve but that the numbness would go away some day.

I'm sorry this is so long. You really "hit a nerve" (haha) with me because this is what it's all about! I can't stand the thought of this "talented" and "respected" doctor getting away with what he did to my life without being held responsible. No "I'm sorry, I made a mistake". I can't accept that.

Keep your chin up NJB and I'll try too!

Lori

They told me I probably waited too long (at 10 weeks) but they tried anyway. Couldn't fix it though. I guess the ends start to die right away. What happened to you?
Lori

DR. B., I know you don't believe in plastic surgery and it sounds almost like you believe a person deserves whatever they get. Do you believe someone would have a procedure done if the true risks were explained to them??? Do you think that there might be surgeons out there who "skim" over and even omit the risks during their sales pitches????

I put my complete trust in a very distingued and well known surgeon in the Sacramento area. In fact, he testifies as an expert witness in cases just like mine!! I was referred for a nose job and he also recommended the sliding genioplasty to me, making it sound as if it was a very simple and uncomplicated procedure.

He explained to my husband and I that he perfected the surgery in another country and then he moved here and has performed them for years with no occurence EVER of nerve injury. According to him, the genioplasty was the best choice over the silicone implant. But instead, he did them both, WITHOUT MY CONSENT and I developed the complications from both! Lucky me!!!

OK, I was naive and I feel stupid about it now. I accepted the advice of people I trusted rather than research the subject myself.

BUT - I paid for a service and received unbelievably SCARY care. Maybe this surgeon needs to retire, I don't know. He must be in his 70's. This is another thing I feel stupid about. I should have gone with my gut instinct.

Anyway, I'll check in again soon. I'm really sorry for everyone out there who has the burning and numbness stuff going on. Whether you needed the procedure, or elected to have it done, you don't deserve what you got.

Alexey, I'll email you later at work. I'm not hooked up here. But, to answer you question, I've heard UCSF has great doctors. Dr. Janice Lee did my follow-up surgery and Dr. Pogrel has a great reputation.

Lori

Was this "surgeon" an OS or an MD? I would not want a "plastic surgeon" to do this type of surgery, but a super-trained oral surgeon, preferably a DDS MD combo. I would not want my surgeon to be in their 70's, the job is too demanding, 4-6 hours in the OR, no one much past mid 60's for me thanks.

I would never trust anyone who made big claims about being in the vangard, never having problems or having perfected surgery. The more the blather the worse the surgeon in my experience.

In any case, I am sorry you are injured. You most probably have a law suit if you choose to go that route. I do not testify in such cases but know a CA oral surgeon who might.

The surgeon who performed my genioplasty is an MD(an ear-nose-throat specialist)and has a DDS degree. He is a former chairman at UC Davis Medical Center, the past president of the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery, and is certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. I'm told by other doctors that he is well known and has written books in his field.

When I told the doctor who referred me to him what had happened, he looked truly shocked , like he couldn't believe THIS doctor could have made such a mistake. Thankfully, he apologized that this had happened to me and thanked me for telling him. I have nothing but respect for THIS man.

I DO plan to sue if I can find an attorney to take my case. I found a reputable "dental law" attorney whose office is in San Francisco but he turned me down last week, even before he reviewed my records. He told me that he doesn't doubt that I have a case BUT because this surgeon testifies as an expert witness in cases like mine, he knows the process and that gives him a big advantage. Also, because of his reputation, we would pretty much need the dept chairman at my hospital to testify against him. But he told me the dept chairman stated this surgeon "is mean-spirited and that because he values his wife and children, he would likely not testify."

I've been under grey clouds since then. I'm really surprised and disappointed that my hospital doctors (who did my second surgery) won't/can't stand up for me and frightened that maybe no one else will either. What kind of man are we dealing with here?

I'm going to mail my records to this San Fran attorney anyway, in hopes that he may change his mind. He said he would look at them. Dr. B, can you refer me to any expert-expert witnesses or to another good attorney? I could really use some help right now!

My email address is alphapt@starstream.net.

Thanks!

Lori

Dr Janice Lee is my OS specialist at UCSF. Did Dr Lee help you? She couldn't do anything for me.

Teresa

Good Luck!
Jennifer

Lori

the surgery was rough; it took four hours and i was really swollen after words. My recovery was rough too because my stitches came out on one side causing a huge wound in my mouth that had to be cleaned all the time and then I got Strep throat because of taking steroids to help with the swelling. But, the burning in my tongue was immediately better after surgery. I mean i still have some but i can live with it whereas before, it burned so bad I could not have lived with it. I am at almost one year after my reattachment surgery and what I have left is: Extreme hot/cold sensitivity to my tongue, numbness/tingling on my tongue and entire bottom part inside of my mouth (which is tolerable compared to how it was before the surgery), and I cant taste anything I cant smell. All the taste buds on my tongue are gone and Dr. Gregg said that is the last thing to get back so I am still hopefull about that.

Good luck to you and please let me know how it goes.

Jennifer

Dont wait!
Jennifer

Wow! That's exciting - good for you!!

But I think I'm unfixable. I already had an exploratory to try to reattach the two ends of the nerve. They located one end but the other end is not there anymore. There's nothing to re-attach it to -they searched as far back as they could without doing a really major surgery.

I don't know. Maybe I should call him anyway. I guess it never hurts to have a second opinion, right?

Thanks Jennifer! I'll look him up.

Lori

Dont waite any longer. Please let me how it goes.

Jennifer