Re: Permanently numb and not minding it?

September 28, 2005

Wow, 5% seems like a lot of people

*worried aura*

--- andreag078

wrote:

---------------------------------

Hi

I have pretty much decided to have surgery, and am

wondering if

there's anyone reading this who ended up with

permanent numbness after

the surgery and got used to it?

My surgeon told me that 5% of his patients end up

permanently numb,

and that they hate it at first but over time they get

used to it and

it's not a big problem for them.

I find that hard to imagine although don't disbelieve

him. Like many

people, I suppose, the idea of being permanently numb

makes me shudder.

Thanks,

September 28, 2005

Hi ,

My OS actually gave a higher percentage of possible numbness for my

type of surgery. But when he was talking about permanent numbness,

he didn't mean complete numbness. There is a big difference. He

said that permanent numbness is usually in a smaller area of the lip

or palate etc, and that it is not complete. I mean, that you can

feel deep pressure, or temperature or in other ways not have

complete numbness. That is more rare.

And I most often see reports of limited numbness, such as limited to

the inside of one side of the lip, or a portion of the tongue (which

is still able to function, just has a patch of numbness). I was

really concerned about this when I was told about it too, but my OS

assured me that it was not a functional paralysis, and that there is

a difference between complete numbness and the partial numbness that

can be permanent. I don't know if this helps, but it really helped

me.

Hugs,

Fran

>

> ---------------------------------

> Hi

>

> I have pretty much decided to have surgery, and am

> wondering if

> there's anyone reading this who ended up with

> permanent numbness after

> the surgery and got used to it?

>

> My surgeon told me that 5% of his patients end up

> permanently numb,

> and that they hate it at first but over time they get

> used to it and

> it's not a big problem for them.

>

> I find that hard to imagine although don't disbelieve

> him. Like many

> people, I suppose, the idea of being permanently numb

> makes me shudder.

>

> Thanks,

>

September 28, 2005

Hi , I've just gone through this surgery and I'm quite numb, but

I'm only 2 weeks so I've got lots of time (but currently pretty

freaked out about it).

Both my sister and a friend had this done a while back. They both

have some permanent numbness on their chin, my sister has some on the

side of her face. They both said that they have absolute no regrets,

that the advantages of the surgery outweighed the numb feeling, and

they are quite used to it, it doesn't bother them on a day to day

basis.

Pam

> Hi

>

> I have pretty much decided to have surgery, and am wondering if

> there's anyone reading this who ended up with permanent numbness

after

> the surgery and got used to it?

>

> My surgeon told me that 5% of his patients end up permanently numb,

> and that they hate it at first but over time they get used to it and

> it's not a big problem for them.

>

> I find that hard to imagine although don't disbelieve him. Like many

> people, I suppose, the idea of being permanently numb makes me

shudder.

>

> Thanks,

>

September 28, 2005

If that doc has 5 percent of his patients turn out completely numb,

all around the mouth and chin... well, that also means 95 percent do

not. But that's no help if you're one of the 5 percent.

Ask him again about that. If he means that only 5 percent of his

patients come out with ANY permanent numbness, that's quite

different. Many people do have a residual spot of numbness here or

there, and do inded reach the point of ignoring it.

Cammie

>

> ---------------------------------

> Hi

>

> I have pretty much decided to have surgery, and am

> wondering if

> there's anyone reading this who ended up with

> permanent numbness after

> the surgery and got used to it?

>

> My surgeon told me that 5% of his patients end up

> permanently numb,

> and that they hate it at first but over time they get

> used to it and

> it's not a big problem for them.

>

> I find that hard to imagine although don't disbelieve

> him. Like many

> people, I suppose, the idea of being permanently numb

> makes me shudder.

>

> Thanks,

>

September 28, 2005

I had lower jaw advancement last July and I still have a numb chin and

bottom lip. My surgeon told me that it typically takes 1 year for

feeling to return (although he did not guarantee it). I have also

heard 5-7 years from other people.

I, for one, DO mind it. Very, very much. If it turns out that I am

part of the percentage of people who have this permanently..then I will

regret ever having this surgery.

-Ash

September 28, 2005

Do you have any sensation at all? How did it feel for you the weeks

after the surgery?

I feel somewhat led astray, the pamphlets the Drs give you when you

first look into this surgery say " numbness can last for weeks " , and

there's no mention of permanent numbness - then the day before your

surgery the surgeon tells you that it can last for months. They're

misleading, and don't give you the full story before you start the

process.

Pam

> I had lower jaw advancement last July and I still have a numb chin

and

> bottom lip. My surgeon told me that it typically takes 1 year for

> feeling to return (although he did not guarantee it). I have also

> heard 5-7 years from other people.

>

> I, for one, DO mind it. Very, very much. If it turns out that I am

> part of the percentage of people who have this permanently..then I

will

> regret ever having this surgery.

>

> -Ash

September 28, 2005

Hi Ash

Thanks for the honest reply. I really hope the feeling comes back. Do

you mean your surgery was in July 2005? If so there's lots of time for

it to come back yet.

I saw your photos and think your chin looks lovely.

My surgeon said that people who do have *real* permanent numbness

despise it at first and then get used to it. I wonder how long getting

used to it would take - many many months, I would guess. Hopefully you

will never know.

Best wishes,

> I had lower jaw advancement last July and I still have a numb chin

and

> bottom lip. My surgeon told me that it typically takes 1 year for

> feeling to return (although he did not guarantee it). I have also

> heard 5-7 years from other people.

>

> I, for one, DO mind it. Very, very much. If it turns out that I am

> part of the percentage of people who have this permanently..then I

will

> regret ever having this surgery.

>

> -Ash

September 28, 2005

Hi Ashlee, I looked at your photos too, and think you look great! I

hope your feeling comes back - what I understand is that the permanent

numbness would not be your whole chin, but just a small portion.

Hopefully this won't be the case for you, but you're young so you

should keep getting more and more sensation, it's probably just so

gradual that aren't noticing it.

Pam

> I had lower jaw advancement last July and I still have a numb chin

and

> bottom lip. My surgeon told me that it typically takes 1 year for

> feeling to return (although he did not guarantee it). I have also

> heard 5-7 years from other people.

>

> I, for one, DO mind it. Very, very much. If it turns out that I am

> part of the percentage of people who have this permanently..then I

will

> regret ever having this surgery.

>

> -Ash

September 28, 2005

Thanks for the comments & Pam!

(Oh, and yep, my surgery was July 25).

Honestly, my chin could stay numb forever and I could probably learn to

live with that..it's really my bottom lip numbness that is driving me

nuts for various reasons.

-Ash

September 28, 2005

> > I had lower jaw advancement last July and I still have a numb

chin

> and

> > bottom lip. My surgeon told me that it typically takes 1 year

for

> > feeling to return (although he did not guarantee it). I have

also

> > heard 5-7 years from other people.

> >

> > I, for one, DO mind it. Very, very much. If it turns out that I

am

> > part of the percentage of people who have this permanently..then

I

> will

> > regret ever having this surgery.

> >

> > -Ash

My Laforte was done last December and I am still numb. My total nose

and upper lip is affected. I still have no idea if my nose is running

or if anything is on my face. My braces came off 4 weeks ago. and It

doesn't feel any different to my lips and surrounding areas.

If I had to do it again knowing what I do, I wouldn't do it. I would

have looked into different options. When my surgeon told me about

numbness he made it sound as if only my palate could be numb and the

chances of it remaing were slim. I also have had 2 root canals on my

front teeth due to the surgery trauma. The tough thing was since I

have no feeling in my face and nose I couldn't tell something was

wrong until my face swelled. I have had many sinus infections since

my surgery. This has truly been a learning experience for me. I hope

things go better for you.

September 28, 2005

Pam - My OMS told me the risks right from the beginning, although he

knew that I had already read up on everything. I think that acquiring

some basic amount of knowledge about these surgeries should be the

patient's responsibility - don't expect your surgeon to tell you

every little thing about it, because they won't. It frustrates me

when I read about someone about to undergo this radical surgery and,

at the last minute, not knowing what kind of surgery they will be

having or why. This is one type of surgery that should never be

rushed into, but planned ahead for and read up on way in advance

before signing on the dotted line. Do a web search and learn about

the procedures you will be having; and ask questions when you go to

your Surgeon! Just a thought! ~~~~ Diane (Idaho)

> > > I had lower jaw advancement last July and I still have a numb

> chin

> > and

> > > bottom lip. My surgeon told me that it typically takes 1 year

> for

> > > feeling to return (although he did not guarantee it). I have

> also

> > > heard 5-7 years from other people.

> > >

> > > I, for one, DO mind it. Very, very much. If it turns out that

I

> am

> > > part of the percentage of people who have this

permanently..then

> I

> > will

> > > regret ever having this surgery.

> > >

> > > -Ash

>

> My Laforte was done last December and I am still numb. My total

nose

> and upper lip is affected. I still have no idea if my nose is

running

> or if anything is on my face. My braces came off 4 weeks ago. and

It

> doesn't feel any different to my lips and surrounding areas.

> If I had to do it again knowing what I do, I wouldn't do it. I

would

> have looked into different options. When my surgeon told me about

> numbness he made it sound as if only my palate could be numb and

the

> chances of it remaing were slim. I also have had 2 root canals on

my

> front teeth due to the surgery trauma. The tough thing was since I

> have no feeling in my face and nose I couldn't tell something was

> wrong until my face swelled. I have had many sinus infections since

> my surgery. This has truly been a learning experience for me. I

hope

> things go better for you.

September 28, 2005

Hi Diane, I didn't go into this not knowing what kind of surgery I

was getting or why - your comment was rude! I knew exactly what I

was getting done and why. I don't believe the numbness issues

people are having is a " little thing " are you refer to it. In my

early meetings with my OS as I was deciding whether or not to go

through with the braces & surgery, the numbness issue was never

highlighted as a major side effect, which I now believe it to be by

the amount of people that suffer from it. The numbness issue was

highlighted as something that will take some weeks to subside, and

was clumped in with the bruising, the swelling, the liquid diet and

all the other things you deal with. Just before the surgery my OS

made a big point of letting me know that it could take a year for

the numbness to go away - there was nothing said about this

before.

> > > > I had lower jaw advancement last July and I still have a

numb

> > chin

> > > and

> > > > bottom lip. My surgeon told me that it typically takes 1

year

> > for

> > > > feeling to return (although he did not guarantee it). I

have

> > also

> > > > heard 5-7 years from other people.

> > > >

> > > > I, for one, DO mind it. Very, very much. If it turns out

that

> I

> > am

> > > > part of the percentage of people who have this

> permanently..then

> > I

> > > will

> > > > regret ever having this surgery.

> > > >

> > > > -Ash

> >

> > My Laforte was done last December and I am still numb. My total

> nose

> > and upper lip is affected. I still have no idea if my nose is

> running

> > or if anything is on my face. My braces came off 4 weeks ago.

and

> It

> > doesn't feel any different to my lips and surrounding areas.

> > If I had to do it again knowing what I do, I wouldn't do it. I

> would

> > have looked into different options. When my surgeon told me

about

> > numbness he made it sound as if only my palate could be numb

and

> the

> > chances of it remaing were slim. I also have had 2 root canals

on

> my

> > front teeth due to the surgery trauma. The tough thing was since

I

> > have no feeling in my face and nose I couldn't tell something

was

> > wrong until my face swelled. I have had many sinus infections

since

> > my surgery. This has truly been a learning experience for me. I

> hope

> > things go better for you.

September 28, 2005

I agree - permanent numbness is not a little thing.

Surgeons should tell everyone from the beginning that it is a risk -

that's what 'informed consent' is about.

> > > > > I had lower jaw advancement last July and I still have a

> numb

> > > chin

> > > > and

> > > > > bottom lip. My surgeon told me that it typically takes 1

> year

> > > for

> > > > > feeling to return (although he did not guarantee it). I

> have

> > > also

> > > > > heard 5-7 years from other people.

> > > > >

> > > > > I, for one, DO mind it. Very, very much. If it turns out

> that

> > I

> > > am

> > > > > part of the percentage of people who have this

> > permanently..then

> > > I

> > > > will

> > > > > regret ever having this surgery.

> > > > >

> > > > > -Ash

> > >

> > > My Laforte was done last December and I am still numb. My

total

> > nose

> > > and upper lip is affected. I still have no idea if my nose is

> > running

> > > or if anything is on my face. My braces came off 4 weeks ago.

> and

> > It

> > > doesn't feel any different to my lips and surrounding areas.

> > > If I had to do it again knowing what I do, I wouldn't do it. I

> > would

> > > have looked into different options. When my surgeon told me

> about

> > > numbness he made it sound as if only my palate could be numb

> and

> > the

> > > chances of it remaing were slim. I also have had 2 root canals

> on

> > my

> > > front teeth due to the surgery trauma. The tough thing was

since

> I

> > > have no feeling in my face and nose I couldn't tell something

> was

> > > wrong until my face swelled. I have had many sinus infections

> since

> > > my surgery. This has truly been a learning experience for me.

I

> > hope

> > > things go better for you.

September 29, 2005

Hi Diane. Can I tell you that no one that goes through this surgery

goes without not knowing waht to expect. It is very hard to know how

everyone is going to feel. I for one had no option but to have the

surgery because of my 15mm overbite and the horrific headaches and

frozen jaws which I could not longer put up with. It took me 10

years to pluck up the courage to go through this surgery fully

knowing that I could have permanent numbness in parts of my face,

but at the end I was willing to sacrifice my biggest fear for some

releif, It does not mean you deal with the fear any better than if

you did not know. I do a lot of meditation to help me deal with the

constant numbness which I can not control and which I hate, it does

not mean that I like it or I can deal with it any better than if I

did not know it was going to happen. I for one can feel for Pam

beause we are at the same point in our recovery. Some days are

better than others, but you survive each day as they come. Its hard

and unless you have gone through it yourself its really hard to

judge some one else. Also you have to remember we are all different

and we all have different levels of pain thresholds. I for one have

had 10 IVF treatments 2 babies and no painrelief for either births,

so my pain threshold is quite high, but I still find it frustrating

the numbness in my face.

> > > > > I had lower jaw advancement last July and I still have a

> numb

> > > chin

> > > > and

> > > > > bottom lip. My surgeon told me that it typically takes 1

> year

> > > for

> > > > > feeling to return (although he did not guarantee it). I

> have

> > > also

> > > > > heard 5-7 years from other people.

> > > > >

> > > > > I, for one, DO mind it. Very, very much. If it turns out

> that

> > I

> > > am

> > > > > part of the percentage of people who have this

> > permanently..then

> > > I

> > > > will

> > > > > regret ever having this surgery.

> > > > >

> > > > > -Ash

> > >

> > > My Laforte was done last December and I am still numb. My

total

> > nose

> > > and upper lip is affected. I still have no idea if my nose is

> > running

> > > or if anything is on my face. My braces came off 4 weeks ago.

> and

> > It

> > > doesn't feel any different to my lips and surrounding areas.

> > > If I had to do it again knowing what I do, I wouldn't do it. I

> > would

> > > have looked into different options. When my surgeon told me

> about

> > > numbness he made it sound as if only my palate could be numb

> and

> > the

> > > chances of it remaing were slim. I also have had 2 root canals

> on

> > my

> > > front teeth due to the surgery trauma. The tough thing was

since

> I

> > > have no feeling in my face and nose I couldn't tell something

> was

> > > wrong until my face swelled. I have had many sinus infections

> since

> > > my surgery. This has truly been a learning experience for me.

I

> > hope

> > > things go better for you.

September 29, 2005

Hello everyone. I have not checked back in for a while but I have

been monitoring.

I had my surgery in April of 2003. My lower jaw was rotated slightly

as well as my upper was advanced forward a few millimeters.

I still have what I could sort of call " numbness. " To be more exact

I would so I have a spot in my cheek, part of my lower lip and part

of my chin still having what I prefer to call altered sensation. My

gum line feels some of this " altered sensation. "

When I get my teeth cleaned or bite my lip, I feel I pressure or

pain. Especcially when flossing or a deep cleaning. Most of the

time, I don't realize it being an issue.

Overall in the scheme of things, my bite is better, I can shew

easier and I know longer have a crooked smile.

If I could do it over, I would want to be knocked out for the first

7 days. Other than that, I knew the risk that this sensation could

be permanent. Everyonce in a while, When I poke at my gum line or

any other area and feel pressure or pain, I know the feeling is

there. The closest I can say altered sensation to me feels more like

there is something under the skin (scar tissue?) that causes a

strange pressure when I pay attention to it. Like right now.

If you can be helped medically and/or astetically by the surgery,

then the numbness risk is not that bad, even if you end up with it.

I still feel when I kiss my wife and kids even though most of the

time I think part of the lip feels the altered sensation.

Considering all of it, it is not that bad.

-

September 29, 2005

Hi , thanks for relating your experience. I am hoping that

most people that have this done, including me, will realize the

benefits of the surgery outweigh the side-effects. The slow healing

process is hard for some of us who have just come out of surgery, so

it's nice to hear from someone who is down the road a ways and happy

with the outcome.

Pam

> Hello everyone. I have not checked back in for a while but I have

> been monitoring.

>

> I had my surgery in April of 2003. My lower jaw was rotated

slightly

> as well as my upper was advanced forward a few millimeters.

>

> I still have what I could sort of call " numbness. " To be more

exact

> I would so I have a spot in my cheek, part of my lower lip and

part

> of my chin still having what I prefer to call altered sensation.

My

> gum line feels some of this " altered sensation. "

>

> When I get my teeth cleaned or bite my lip, I feel I pressure or

> pain. Especcially when flossing or a deep cleaning. Most of the

> time, I don't realize it being an issue.

>

> Overall in the scheme of things, my bite is better, I can shew

> easier and I know longer have a crooked smile.

>

> If I could do it over, I would want to be knocked out for the

first

> 7 days. Other than that, I knew the risk that this sensation could

> be permanent. Everyonce in a while, When I poke at my gum line or

> any other area and feel pressure or pain, I know the feeling is

> there. The closest I can say altered sensation to me feels more

like

> there is something under the skin (scar tissue?) that causes a

> strange pressure when I pay attention to it. Like right now.

>

> If you can be helped medically and/or astetically by the surgery,

> then the numbness risk is not that bad, even if you end up with

it.

> I still feel when I kiss my wife and kids even though most of the

> time I think part of the lip feels the altered sensation.

> Considering all of it, it is not that bad.

>

> -

September 29, 2005

My surgeon was very open about the surgery and what he was going to do. He went

through the risks and complications many times.

clarkkimmer wrote: