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What Causes Numbness On Right Side Of The Face And Dry Eyes?
Posted on
Fri, 19 Aug 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 19 Aug 2016
Answered on
Fri, 16 Sep 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : Hello Dr. Rynne. I am experiencing numbness on the right side of my face from the eye area down to my mouth. I cannot open readily open my mouth on that side, or smile fully, or even blink my eyelid. it is not drooping but it is definitely numb. I have just returned from an eye exam and I had put drops in my eye for dryness. One reason for seeing the optometrist was that I had been seeing white light flashes in my right eye, although that symptom has passed. My retinal exam did not disclose anything unusual other than floaters routine for my age. But at lunch right afterward I had some difficulty chewing food on the right side of my mouth, not pain, but not efficient jaw movement either.
Brief Answer:
Consult your treating physician earliest.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for the query under health care magic. I have read your query carefully & understood your concern.
Your symptoms suggest beginning of facial nerve palsy. It is a condition of involvement of facial nerve that supplies face muscles .. making them weak/ inactive . The dryness of eye can be aggravated due to facial nerve involvement . It's good you already have started using the drops.
This condition tends to improves over a period of 6 months or may linger over a longer time . Usually it recovers of it's own. BUT consultation & review by the treating physician is essential to assess the damage , cause, improvement.
Though there are various causes of the condition in your case it seems to be due to blood pressure & diabetes that you are already taking medicines for... still other causes like viral infection & inflammation of facial nerve / some tumor in neck or spine/ cervical spinal problems need to be excluded
* In this context I would advise you to see your treating physician the earliest.He would examine you thoroughly/ get few blood tests done/ imaging investigations & electromyography to check nerve / muscle involvement .. if needful
It will be followed by -
-specific treatment advise for the cause ( anti viral medicines,steroids, management of blood sugar & blood pressure, treatment of compressing element in neck or spine )
- Physical treatment to strengthen muscles
- Eye care. . to avoid drying( wearing close fitting goggles/ using artificial tears/ drinking lot of water
- For chewing problem, use the healthy side of jaw/ eat semisolid food
-Supplements of vitamins like B12
- Surgery to repair the damage done is indicated in non responding patients after 6 months
* I insist on early contact with physician.. to start the treatment earlier so that more damage is prevented
I hope the answer is both useful & informative to you. A follow up query if any .. I would be happy to help.
Thank you.
Consult your treating physician earliest.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for the query under health care magic. I have read your query carefully & understood your concern.
Your symptoms suggest beginning of facial nerve palsy. It is a condition of involvement of facial nerve that supplies face muscles .. making them weak/ inactive . The dryness of eye can be aggravated due to facial nerve involvement . It's good you already have started using the drops.
This condition tends to improves over a period of 6 months or may linger over a longer time . Usually it recovers of it's own. BUT consultation & review by the treating physician is essential to assess the damage , cause, improvement.
Though there are various causes of the condition in your case it seems to be due to blood pressure & diabetes that you are already taking medicines for... still other causes like viral infection & inflammation of facial nerve / some tumor in neck or spine/ cervical spinal problems need to be excluded
* In this context I would advise you to see your treating physician the earliest.He would examine you thoroughly/ get few blood tests done/ imaging investigations & electromyography to check nerve / muscle involvement .. if needful
It will be followed by -
-specific treatment advise for the cause ( anti viral medicines,steroids, management of blood sugar & blood pressure, treatment of compressing element in neck or spine )
- Physical treatment to strengthen muscles
- Eye care. . to avoid drying( wearing close fitting goggles/ using artificial tears/ drinking lot of water
- For chewing problem, use the healthy side of jaw/ eat semisolid food
-Supplements of vitamins like B12
- Surgery to repair the damage done is indicated in non responding patients after 6 months
* I insist on early contact with physician.. to start the treatment earlier so that more damage is prevented
I hope the answer is both useful & informative to you. A follow up query if any .. I would be happy to help.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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