Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Tingling Sensation On Right Side Of The Tongue?
Question: YYYY@YYYY Hi My name is XXXX XXXXXXX and I live in Perth, Western Australia and i am 65 heading towards 66 sooner than I would like. In the beginning of December I was taken to hospital thinking I was having a stroke. My blood pressure was 200/101. The doctors in emergency thought i had Bells Palsy and gave me steriods (I know I spelt it wrong). I also had had a funny tongue on my right side although it wasn't painful. I was told to go to my doctor when I had finished taking the tablets which I did. He confirmed I had bells palsy although he thought maybe it could be XXXXXXX Hunt Syndrome although no rash around the ear. I showed him my tongue which was going white and sore. He gave me tablets and I ended up back there a week later worse. My mouth was white and sore. He then took a swob of my mounth but said he was pretty sure it was XXXXXXX Hunt and just take some tablets I think. He didn't tell me a great deal more but it takes time for it to heal. I don't have the pain anymore but my face still has facial droop although people tell me it is not as bad as it was. It has killed my taste for the moment as well. I also had awful taste in my mouth which has mainly gone. My eye seems ok but I put drops in during the day and oitment at night and tape it. I think I have got off rather lightly compared to some. I was very stressed at the time and work long hours. I was sick with the flu in August/September but still worked which may have caused weakness in my body. I have rested now for 11 weeks and not done a great deal but feel I must start again.
I forgot to mention that the funny tongue was there on the Tuesday and this happened on the Thursday and I still have that feeling on the tongue but not as strong as it was. The feeling has never hurt only when it was white.
I forgot to mention that the funny tongue was there on the Tuesday and this happened on the Thursday and I still have that feeling on the tongue but not as strong as it was. The feeling has never hurt only when it was white.
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mrs. XXXXXXX My name is Olsi Taka and I am a medical doctor specialized in Neurology.
I read your story carefully. You do not seem to make a specific question so I assume you just want a general impression after reading the story.
The diagnosis of a Bell's palsy seems correct to me from your description. Whether that is in the setting of a XXXXXXX Hunt syndrome, a varicella virus infection it is a little difficult to ascertain with having examined your mouth, rash can be only in the mouth not ear, but your description is not that typical of a zoster rash. I wonder what did the swabs he took show. Could be perhaps a fungal infection triggered/exacerbated by the steroids you were given.
Anyway in terms of present management it doesn't change much, you are doing the correct thing by chewing gum and protecting the eye. Recovery times vary, most improvement takes place in the first 3 months, but can go on up to a year so shouldn't give up too soon.
Whether improvement will be partial or complete can't be said with certainty. Naturally the more severe the initial paralysis the higher the possibility of some deficit remaining. In order to help with the prognosis though I would suggest a test to be done, nerve conduction studies. It gives an estimate of the degree of damage and nerve function left and allows a better prediction.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mrs. XXXXXXX My name is Olsi Taka and I am a medical doctor specialized in Neurology.
I read your story carefully. You do not seem to make a specific question so I assume you just want a general impression after reading the story.
The diagnosis of a Bell's palsy seems correct to me from your description. Whether that is in the setting of a XXXXXXX Hunt syndrome, a varicella virus infection it is a little difficult to ascertain with having examined your mouth, rash can be only in the mouth not ear, but your description is not that typical of a zoster rash. I wonder what did the swabs he took show. Could be perhaps a fungal infection triggered/exacerbated by the steroids you were given.
Anyway in terms of present management it doesn't change much, you are doing the correct thing by chewing gum and protecting the eye. Recovery times vary, most improvement takes place in the first 3 months, but can go on up to a year so shouldn't give up too soon.
Whether improvement will be partial or complete can't be said with certainty. Naturally the more severe the initial paralysis the higher the possibility of some deficit remaining. In order to help with the prognosis though I would suggest a test to be done, nerve conduction studies. It gives an estimate of the degree of damage and nerve function left and allows a better prediction.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Dr Taka
Thank you for your answer. I will go back to my doctor again with your questions. I am also starting to have a itchy ear now and that hasn't happened before. Is there any other suggestions that you can make that I can do. I went back to him last week and said that I feel I need to do more. I feel that I need to be active in getting myself better. I try not to get depressed and I know that I am lucky that I didn't have a stroke etc and that it is not going to kill me and there are worse off people than me.
What can you suggest that I try to improve myself. I thought I might try physio. The doctor is sending me to a doctor that does massage and I am going to another doctor for my eye (not sure what he does but will find out Wednesday).
I just don't want my brain/face to think that this is what my face should be. I don't want the muscles to get slack and not work again. I can't smile which upsets me greatly. As a photographer I deal with a great many people so need to be able to smile but apart from that it is my nature to smile. I look like a Popeye without a pipe. I try and make a joke about it to make myself feel better. I looked on line and saw some horrific photos of XXXXXXX Hunt Syndrome but nothing like what I have.
I really don't know what else to ask but if you can give me all your thoughts on it I would really appreciate it. I have to get better.
I will ask the doctor for my results on the swob and also about the other test you said to have.
Regards
XXXX XXXXXXX
Thank you for your answer. I will go back to my doctor again with your questions. I am also starting to have a itchy ear now and that hasn't happened before. Is there any other suggestions that you can make that I can do. I went back to him last week and said that I feel I need to do more. I feel that I need to be active in getting myself better. I try not to get depressed and I know that I am lucky that I didn't have a stroke etc and that it is not going to kill me and there are worse off people than me.
What can you suggest that I try to improve myself. I thought I might try physio. The doctor is sending me to a doctor that does massage and I am going to another doctor for my eye (not sure what he does but will find out Wednesday).
I just don't want my brain/face to think that this is what my face should be. I don't want the muscles to get slack and not work again. I can't smile which upsets me greatly. As a photographer I deal with a great many people so need to be able to smile but apart from that it is my nature to smile. I look like a Popeye without a pipe. I try and make a joke about it to make myself feel better. I looked on line and saw some horrific photos of XXXXXXX Hunt Syndrome but nothing like what I have.
I really don't know what else to ask but if you can give me all your thoughts on it I would really appreciate it. I have to get better.
I will ask the doctor for my results on the swob and also about the other test you said to have.
Regards
XXXX XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I completely understand the distress this issue causes to you, it is only natural to feel like that when one's facial features are involved.
Physiotherapy may have a certain beneficial role, although you have been keeping your muscles active by chewing gum but they are also exercises which can done apart from massage, may even find them on the internet (on youtube for example).
Often vitamin B complex are used as they are thought to help in nerve recovery, but there are no studies to prove that though.
Other than that I am afraid there is not much else to add, time will tell eventually, as I said recovery can continue for up to a year. Nerve conduction studies while not being a cure in themselves can help make a prediction as I said.
I hope things will work out for the best.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I completely understand the distress this issue causes to you, it is only natural to feel like that when one's facial features are involved.
Physiotherapy may have a certain beneficial role, although you have been keeping your muscles active by chewing gum but they are also exercises which can done apart from massage, may even find them on the internet (on youtube for example).
Often vitamin B complex are used as they are thought to help in nerve recovery, but there are no studies to prove that though.
Other than that I am afraid there is not much else to add, time will tell eventually, as I said recovery can continue for up to a year. Nerve conduction studies while not being a cure in themselves can help make a prediction as I said.
I hope things will work out for the best.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
