Facial pain & numbness

[Foxy07]

I woke up a week ago with numbness in my face from cheekbones down to my chin, I started on Duloxetine two days later - recommend by neuro. The numbness then turned to pain, it felt like my face was sliding off my skull! This pain has passed now & so has most of the numbness, sadly I have been left with a gagging feeling when I yawn & I am struggling to swallow saliva - it takes 3 attempts to get it down, oddly I seem fine with drinks and food.

I am currently waiting for my brain scan results and go back to see my neurologist in November, can I ask if anyone else has experienced these sensations and if the have MS or CFS. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

Xxx

[Kompany]

It’s so frustrating when the body doesn’t cooperate with us isn’t it!?! I’m sorry you are dealing with this, especially when it’s even the simple things that are misbehaving (saliva vs food who would have thought that saliva would’ve won THAT one!). But this is one of the joys of MS - not understanding completely what we are up against but just happily enjoying the free fall (if you like that kind of thing)!

As for Duloxetine, I’m glad that you got rid of your numbness, but make sure that you speak with your doctor if your ever want to get off of the medication. I made the mistake of trying to get off of it myself and ended up in the ED due to side effects of withdrawal. So you will need tapering off of duloxetine.

[Foxy07 in reply to Kompany]

Thank you for your kind words and advice, it’s just so frustrating not knowing what best to do for best. I have noticed this morning that my smile is weaker on the right side is this again a side effect of the drug or of ms & will it come back to normal after the numbness and tingling disappears. Does it ever truly disappear?

Gosh it feels so good to talk to someone who has been there and has experienced something similar.

I have a call booked in with my doctor this afternoon, I almost want to stay on the drug as I am desperate for some relief from the pain. Is this how you felt?

Thank you in advance

Xxx

[Petunilla]

I have MS and I had numbness on the left side of my body, including my face and tongue. I had trouble swallowing (would get panicked at night especially), but I was always able to swallow food and breathe when push came to shove. I also had some trouble talking (because of the tongue numbness) along with other more common MS symptoms. It was my first attack and my neurologist put me on a full course of steroids, which did not help.

Eventually the attack remitted and now I'm on Tysabri, so I don't have any advice for helping you with this episode except to say that you're not alone - I definitely had similar symptoms and I know it's really scary. I now have almost none of those symptoms and can walk again also, so don't give up hope for a pretty good recovery.

[Foxy07 in reply to Petunilla]

Thank you for such a positive response, the fact that you now have none of those feelings really does fill me with hope. Why do you think the steroids didn’t work for you, do you find certain foods makes your pain/symptoms worse/better?

Thank you so much I really needed to read a positive story to give me my mojo back. Yes my smile is getting weaker on the right hand side & I am going to mention that to my physio today & see if he can suggest an exercise for me to build the strength back up.

Thank you.

Xxx

[Petunilla in reply to Foxy07]

I have no idea why the steroids didn't work - but apparently they just don't always have an impact. I've tried to be healthier/cleaner with my nutrition since I was diagnosed, but honestly I think eventually (after almost three months) it just remitted. I also think my DMT (Tysabri) is helping the attacks stay away, but I've only been on it for three months so we'll see. I did do physical therapy and even though I'm not sure that helped either, it couldn't hurt so I did all of my exercises faithfully. I hope your symptoms also recede and improve as much as possible.

[RoyceNewton]

Ask about Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN)