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Why Do Saliva Glands Grab The Bottom Of My Tongue?
Question: My saliva glands jump and grab the bottom of my tongue, my children have heard them doing it. They say it sounds like I have pop rock candy in my mouth. It affects my hearing, hurts the bottom of my tongue, It gets in rythym with anything I read or hear, I have been to DR's from Brookhaven to XXXXXXX have had botox injected into the tubes that feed my saliva glands. I have been on the internet looking for what causes it??
Brief Answer:
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. The salivary glands are incapable of movement themselves. However, they lie on a muscular bed that moves.
2. You probably have a myoclonus (involuntary rhythmic contractions) of the muscles forming the floor of the mouth including the suprahyhoid muscles which are known as the anterior belly of the digastric, stylohyoid, geniohyoid, and mylohyoid muscles.
3. Given your history of stroke, maxillofacial and mandible (jaw) surgery, it is likely that the nerve supply to these muscles was injured.
4. The lower division of the Trigeminal Nerve (5th Cranial Nerve), the Facial Nerve (7th Cranial Nerve) and the Uppper Cervical Nerves (C1, C2).
5. The myoclonus explains why the sounds can be heard and matches the rhythm of sounds that your hear or when you read.
6. You can get your NCS (Nerve Conduction Studies), EMG (ElectroMyoGraphy) and EEG (ElectroEncephaloGram) done. Also get an NMDA (N-Methyl D-Aspartate) receptor antibody and VGKC (Voltage Gated Potassium Channel) receptor antibody test done.
7. Ideally, botox should have given relief, even if it was temporary. You may take another trial with botox into these muscles (and not into the salivary gland). Did the botox injections cause a decrease in salivary flow?
8. The other option is medications to decrease the myoclonus. These can be taken in consultation with a Neurologist.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. The salivary glands are incapable of movement themselves. However, they lie on a muscular bed that moves.
2. You probably have a myoclonus (involuntary rhythmic contractions) of the muscles forming the floor of the mouth including the suprahyhoid muscles which are known as the anterior belly of the digastric, stylohyoid, geniohyoid, and mylohyoid muscles.
3. Given your history of stroke, maxillofacial and mandible (jaw) surgery, it is likely that the nerve supply to these muscles was injured.
4. The lower division of the Trigeminal Nerve (5th Cranial Nerve), the Facial Nerve (7th Cranial Nerve) and the Uppper Cervical Nerves (C1, C2).
5. The myoclonus explains why the sounds can be heard and matches the rhythm of sounds that your hear or when you read.
6. You can get your NCS (Nerve Conduction Studies), EMG (ElectroMyoGraphy) and EEG (ElectroEncephaloGram) done. Also get an NMDA (N-Methyl D-Aspartate) receptor antibody and VGKC (Voltage Gated Potassium Channel) receptor antibody test done.
7. Ideally, botox should have given relief, even if it was temporary. You may take another trial with botox into these muscles (and not into the salivary gland). Did the botox injections cause a decrease in salivary flow?
8. The other option is medications to decrease the myoclonus. These can be taken in consultation with a Neurologist.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
No the botox injections did not not stop anything?? I was wondering about the stroke, back surgery's and maxiofacial surgerys. But then I ruled them out. because they were in the latest oct 08. This is 5 yrs after then with no problem. I am also diabetic, and another thing was I had some tooth work done just prior to this starting. I had to wear a mouth piec and sad to say but my wife had me taking zanex. I believe that is what got it started, my tongue got to working over the hole in the mouth piece I was wearing, pulling a vacuum on my mouth, causing the saliva glands to start jumping up and grabbing the bottom of my tongue. Do you think maybe a chiropractor could help with the myoclonus??? I know they are not DR's but maybe they could help as therapist????
Brief Answer:
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. Since your surgical procedures were done many years ago, there are a few possible causes for the myoclonus:
a. Following the dental work including irritation from the mouth piece.
b. Drug induced twitching and drug interactions between drugs with common metabolism.
c. Diabetic neuropathy.
d. Idiopathic (unknown cause).
2. There is no harm in visiting a Chiropractor. Current treatment in allopathy is limited to botox and certain medication.
3. If you still have no relief, follow up here with your test results.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. Since your surgical procedures were done many years ago, there are a few possible causes for the myoclonus:
a. Following the dental work including irritation from the mouth piece.
b. Drug induced twitching and drug interactions between drugs with common metabolism.
c. Diabetic neuropathy.
d. Idiopathic (unknown cause).
2. There is no harm in visiting a Chiropractor. Current treatment in allopathy is limited to botox and certain medication.
3. If you still have no relief, follow up here with your test results.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Note: For further inquiries on surgery procedure and its risks or complications book an appointment now
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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