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Experiencing Numbness In Mouth, Headache And Jaw Pain. Cause?
Question: My sister-in-law has been experiencing numbness in the roof of her mouth, a one-sided headache and jaw pain for about 2 mos. She recently noticed the veins on her forehead and temples are "popping out XXXXXXX Also she is having some pain in her neck and behind one ear. Any idea what could be causing this?
Dear friend, welcome to Healthcaremagic!
I am Dr. Prasad Akole (Critical Care Expert- http://bit.ly/Dr-Prasad-Akole) and am glad to address to your query here.
There can be a problem with the nerve (compression etc.)-usually vascular compression in the brain.
But before blaming it on the nerve, I would like to know a few more facts.
What is her age, other illnesses, any medications?
Could you tell if the pain is episodic, electric shooting type?
Is it triggered by jaw movements, chewing etc?
What brings it on or relieves it?
Is there nausea, vomiting, fever?
Is there difficulty swallowing, speaking?
I would advise her to undergo a detailed evaluation, neurology opinion and scans (CT/ MRI) on evaluation (if indicated). An ENT evaluation should be done.
I hope to have answered your query satisfactorily. I would be glad to answer any further queries. Take care and please keep me informed of your progress at http://bit.ly/Dr-Prasad-Akole
Good Luck!
I am Dr. Prasad Akole (Critical Care Expert- http://bit.ly/Dr-Prasad-Akole) and am glad to address to your query here.
There can be a problem with the nerve (compression etc.)-usually vascular compression in the brain.
But before blaming it on the nerve, I would like to know a few more facts.
What is her age, other illnesses, any medications?
Could you tell if the pain is episodic, electric shooting type?
Is it triggered by jaw movements, chewing etc?
What brings it on or relieves it?
Is there nausea, vomiting, fever?
Is there difficulty swallowing, speaking?
I would advise her to undergo a detailed evaluation, neurology opinion and scans (CT/ MRI) on evaluation (if indicated). An ENT evaluation should be done.
I hope to have answered your query satisfactorily. I would be glad to answer any further queries. Take care and please keep me informed of your progress at http://bit.ly/Dr-Prasad-Akole
Good Luck!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your advice. Her dentist told her he thought she had temporal arteritis and she needed to see a specialist. No tests have been run to date.
She was recently dx'd with diabetes but is on no medication for it. She is also experiencing nausea. The headaches are constant on one side and so is the jaw pain. She is 59 and takes lexapro, and no difficulty speaking or swallowing. She is over-weight. She cannot get a dr's appt for 3 weeks is it safe to wait that long?
She was recently dx'd with diabetes but is on no medication for it. She is also experiencing nausea. The headaches are constant on one side and so is the jaw pain. She is 59 and takes lexapro, and no difficulty speaking or swallowing. She is over-weight. She cannot get a dr's appt for 3 weeks is it safe to wait that long?
Thanks for the update.
If the headache and jaw pains are dull and constant, and not electric like, it could be arteritis.
But temporal arteritis should not cause the numbness in the palate (roof of the mouth).
Does jaw movement/ chewing increase pain too much?
In temporal arteritis there is severe inflammation of the artery in the temples and front of the ears (temporal artery) and is tender to touch/ pressure over the artery (in front of the ear on the cheek and upward above the ears.
If it is on one side only and non-tender, other possibilities should be considered.
In diabetics, some infections can also present like this , but will mostly have fever too. You have not answered my questions.
Please follow my advice in the first reply.
Hope you get the right direction and get better.
I would be glad to answer any further queries. Take care and please keep me informed of your progress at http://bit.ly/Dr-Prasad-Akole
Good Luck!
As it helps us to improve continuously, may I request you to write a rating review before you ‘accept’ and ‘close’ the query anytime.
Thank you!!
If the headache and jaw pains are dull and constant, and not electric like, it could be arteritis.
But temporal arteritis should not cause the numbness in the palate (roof of the mouth).
Does jaw movement/ chewing increase pain too much?
In temporal arteritis there is severe inflammation of the artery in the temples and front of the ears (temporal artery) and is tender to touch/ pressure over the artery (in front of the ear on the cheek and upward above the ears.
If it is on one side only and non-tender, other possibilities should be considered.
In diabetics, some infections can also present like this , but will mostly have fever too. You have not answered my questions.
Please follow my advice in the first reply.
Hope you get the right direction and get better.
I would be glad to answer any further queries. Take care and please keep me informed of your progress at http://bit.ly/Dr-Prasad-Akole
Good Luck!
As it helps us to improve continuously, may I request you to write a rating review before you ‘accept’ and ‘close’ the query anytime.
Thank you!!
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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