Before I had my surgery, my Doc told me that I would have a spot on my lip and chin that would be numb forever. He said that some people end up with pain in those areas, instead of the numbness. He blew past the "pain" part, saying we'd worry about that if and when the time came.

At first, the numbness was over a large area, but the feeling is starting to come back. I can actually feel the dripping food before it reaches my neck . But now, there is a spot on my chin that is painful. It is constant, but it sort of pulsates. When I push on the spot, it still feels numb there, but there is definately pain beneath the numbness. During the day, if I think about it, it is there. But in bed at night, I can't stop concentrating on it. Now don't get me wrong, it's not excruciating pain, but it hurts enough to bother me. It does not respond to Tylenol or Motrin at all.

I will of course be bringing this up to the Doc on Friday, but I was wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like this?

Amy

Hi, Amy Mom- I can relate to that-altho not from cancer- but from implant surgery years ago. Several nerves in my lower lip were severed. At first the area was painful, but now, it ranges between numb and irrated, and I have to watch out for biting that area accidentally. I have to keep my lips well lubricated [I use John's Aquaphor] If the Tylenol or Motrin isn't working , ask for something stronger to use at bedtime - because you need good sleep- those nerves are trying to heal themselves, but that may not happen.{It didn't in my case]Consider it part of the battle won!! Amy in the Ozarks

I also had areas of numbness for awhile that developed strange sensations as the nerves grew back. Eventually, the areas that had been numb got back to feeling almost completely "normal" again.

Cathy