okay... i mentioned in my paranoia post that I had a sore chin... right at the tip... and an ear ache.

I have been taking antibiotics and the ear ache appears to be getting better... I am not having pain perse in my chin anymore... now it is an odd cool tingly numbness from midway along my jaw and my cheek... backn towards my ear - the good news... no pain and it isn't as far along my chin as it was two days ago....

I know there is some kind of nerve involvement with regards to the lesion on my tongue it was in the biopsy report, I am wondering if this is what is causing the numbness and ear pain, or if I genuinely have an ear infection (which apparently can cause cheek/chin numbness too..) anyone else experience anything like this? I also have a tender spot on my neck near where my jaw meets it... I know the doctors palpated my lymph nodes a week and a half ago and didn't find any issues that he told me about and this tender spot was there before christmas so I am assuming it's maybe a swollen gland (r/t ear infection?) or maybe im just unbalanced and kinda neurotic...

any ideas...

Cheryl,
I have experienced earache from time to time with this. When I visited the oncology dentist at the cancer center I am at, he thought it was likely TMJ. Goodness knows we are all tense, so even if you have not had TMJ before you could develop something like it. I was sure I had another tumor causing ear pain, etc., but nothing else showed up on any scan, etc. Ear pain is a symptom of some locations of oral cancer. Since the time I saw the dentist here, and he gave his opinion, I have had limited ear problems.

I also think we are really complexly made, and it is possible some part of your tumor would be pressing on a nerve. I always thought if they were truly well differentiated lesions and not too big you would not have neural involvement, but I don't know that for a fact.

Actually my husband is a general dentist in private practice, and he says many patients come in complaining of their ear when it is a problem with a tooth or teeth, or TMJ. These folks do not have oral cancer, or at least have not developed oral cancer yet. He (my husband) is the one that insisted I needed to see someone about my small lesion and got me that first appointment.

Anne

Thanks for the reply- the lesion is fairly small - but deep. 2.7cm x1.5 cm and there is perineural involvement. Since it's had six weeks to grow a little more and since there is a lovely HOLE where the ENT guy dug out my biopsy tissue, and since when something gets stuck in there or it rubs up agaist my teeth - it hurts and causes ear pain, I think it's likely the tumor is messing with a nerve and causing radiating pain/numbness. My concern is the jaw... I keep thinking maybe it's moved into my jaw... but I was clear 3 weeks ago - so I hope not.

Bottom line it's coming out in a week and a bit. If there is anything else there hopefully the radiation (assuming they offer it to me) will nuke the crap out of it. I will tell my doctor though when I see him next.

you are terrific and thanks so much for the input... and tell your hubby he's a smart man.
take care!

Cheryl,
If it is well differentiated the tumor will probably not metastasize into your jaw in 3 weeks. But, perineural involvement is something I know nothing about. Waiting is just about the hardest part.

I know there is a nerve that connects the tongue, the tip of the chin and the ear. But again, your pain could be something else entirely. Our imaginations can play havoc with our feelings.

Lots of questions to be asking your docs . . .

I hope for you that you get some relief for all of it soon.

Best,
Anne

I had the earpain and still do along with the other symptoms. It must be a part of OC . All of that area has been biopsied and came back negative at the time. Keep the pain under control and ask them questions.

Hi Cheryl, I had the nerve removed from under my tongue and the complete left side of my tongue is numb. Sometimes though my inner ear itches like crazy also the sides of my mouth? Weird, I just chalk it up to nerves. I also have chin pain and numbness under my chin but that is nerve involvement also. Just ask your doctor that their job they'll let you know. Good luck with your surgery.

Well to clear some things up...let's learn about the cranial nerves!

The nerve that controls your tongue is the Cranial Nerve VII or CNVII.

The nerve that controls the motor functions in your face is the CNXII

The nerve that is responsible for facial sensation (and some motor) is the CNV of which the trigeminal nerve is part of.

And finally there is The glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves (CNIX &CNX) which are responsible for a multitude of functions...including taste, larynx, gag reflex etc...

Here is an excerpt from some light reading I did before I had my facial nerve graft last year that may help ease your mind.

"Somatic sensation
The glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves (along with the facial nerve) supply tiny sensory branches to the external auditory canal. This extensive overlap (which also includes some contributions from the trigeminal nerve and the 2nd cervical nerve) precludes detecting loss of sensation caused by lesions of any one of these nerves. However, pain in the ear may be a prominent early symptom of irritation of any one of these cranial nerves. If the vagus or glossopharyngeal nerve is involved, the pain often extends into the pharyngeal region, helping to differentiate from the pain of seventh-nerve irritation (which would be confined to the ear and mastoid region)."

You have a lesion on your tongue dear, realize that these nerves have a lot of overlap and disruption of one can cause issues in another.

Hope that helps Breath and believe...and don't forget my advice on vaporizing!

Eric

Actually Exspressochick (cute nick) I have had itchy internal ears before - and you are right... it's funny if I manually scratch the back of my mouth near my tonsil it gets rid of the itchiness... Very weird... nerves are profound little things that have a lot of control and do whatever they like at times. You had the nerve under your tongue removed..? Interesting... I wonder if they will do that for me.

Thanks for the input. I think everyone here is right. Hopefully this isn't metastacies - rather just a fall out from the lesion etc...

Thanks so much everyone... I am way more relaxed about it all now. I finished my antibiotics this morning and my ear is feeling better and the tingling is almost gone. I think it was a combination of the lesion messing with my nerves and a low grade infection that was hanging out in my ear.

Also thanks for the information on the nerves of the mouth and cranium. I kinda had a feeling it was nerve related but I'm new to this ordeal so I have been having a fleeting moments of panic when something new pops up and I begin to wonder if it's spread. But then it's also likely I am being hypersensitive to stuff I wouldn't have noticed before as well.

The mind does play tricks and you guys are a fantastic support system...

Bless you all.
I am way calmer today. No pharmaceutical help required. Just feeling better. I think I have lichen planus as well in the surrounding area and when it acts up it gets painful and then also sets off my nerves...

UGH... Enough of my pity party.

Have a great day.

I had Bell's Palsy on the left side of my face 9 years ago. That is an inflammation of the 7th Cranial Nerve from compression within the Fallopian Canal which is behind your ear. It causes paralysis of one side of the face. As that nerve gradually came back on line I had itching in my ear and pain along the jaw among other things. Nerves are interesting beasties but where would we be without them?

Glad you are feeling better today.