Facial numbness and lump near occipital region Posted: 11-10-06 16:50pm
I was involved in a low impact MVA about 2
months ago. I am just about to return to
work now. I had alot of neck and facial
pain immediately following the accident.
My Doctor put me on muscle relaxants and
pain meds along with Ativan to keep me
from being to anxious about my condition.
During the first month I had alot of
pressure at the base of my neck (C1
region). It felt like intense sinus
pressure but it was coming from the base
of my skull. I noticed a lump on the
right side of my neck around the occipital
region two days after the injury. I had
facial numbness from the top of my right
cheekbone down the side of my face and
along the mandible to the midline. My
smile was obviously shifted to the left
with a weakness in the facial muscle on
the right. I had ear pain, similar to the
ache you get when you eat something sour.
Sensitivity to sounds. Alot of difficulty
swallowing, followed by instant reflux.
And a difference in my taste sensation. I
have seen an orthopedic surgeon, there is
no fracture. I have seen a neurologist,
he noted only the weakness in the mental
nerve region(my doctor was worried about
Bells Palsy). I also saw a chiropractor
who took his own series of xray and told
me that the C1 was tipped and rotated
towards my throat on the right side. None
of my professionals like Chiropractic so I
have not pursued treatment. I was
getting better until this week when I
tried to work on my computer in
anticipating returning to work. The lump
never went away but now it is bigger. It
was not tender before but is becoming so
now. My facial numbness is returning and
my high cheekbone is burning. I am having
problems swallowing again. My doctor is
now sending me to see a ENT in six weeks.
I am on the list for an MRI. Should I be
pushing for more tests. I do not know
what this is. He is concerned about the
parotid gland. I want to be safe and make
sure my doctors are covering all the
possibilities. Can you give me some
direction please. Thank-you.
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DoctorAnswer
Doctor Answer
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Ear, Nose & Throat Disorders Answer A1854 Posted: 11-30-06 09:33am
Some of the symptoms you describe (smile
shifted to the left with a weakness in the
facial muscle on the right and difference
in your taste sensation) could be due to
Bell’s paralysis of the right facial
nerve... but only if you can’t close
your right eye. If you can close your
right eye, then you are probably not
experiencing Bell’s paralysis
(peripheral facial nerve failure), but
perhaps a central facial nerve failure.
Eventual central facial paralysis combined
with facial numbness and burning and
difficult swallowing with reflux might
suggests that something is happening in
the head. Another neurological examination
together with a CT-scan or MRI of the head
might help to clear this case. The lump
you mention in the occipital region is
third problem that should be diagnosed
correctly. A physical examination and an
MRI might provide you with more
information about it.
You can ask for second opinion from
another neurologist and orthopedist. An
ENT (ear-nose-throat) specialist is also
needed to check that lump on the neck.
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