Numb Chin Syndrome
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So I have a small spot on the tip of my chin that is numb, like feeling like how it would feel if a dentist gave you anesthesia. Just numb. I thought maybe a shaved to close and cut it making it numb. Then after taking it for maybe a month or so, I decided to see what could be done about it. I instead found out about Numb Chin Syndrome. Everything I read is this is fatal within months due to cancer. Although I have read it can also be cause by diabetes neuropathy (I'm a type 1 diabetic for about 35 years now, so I'm praying to god that's what causing it, although I don't really have much other neuropathy in my body, so that kinda seems like a stretch), and I've also read anxiety can cause it (And of course I've had anxiety most of my life). Anyways, to the point, suddenly I'm starting to get TMJ symptoms, earaches when sleeping, dull headaches that last a few seconds and then go away... Should I go to the doctor and see about getting an MRI scan, knowing if it comes back positive for cancer of any kind, I'm probably going to die soon and have most of my remaining time spent in a hospital instead of out in the world living, as well as leaving behind my wife (who does think this all in my head) and 10 & 8 year old kids, which the thought of is pushing me towards depression. I'm at a complete loss for what to do here and scared and feel so lonely. Thank you in advance for anyone who has any advice...
2 likes, 260 replies
abbie52983 nate73255
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Hi james and thanks Fiona and Mandy for my last reply. Im 4 weeks in now with my numb/chin. I have been fast tracked to javr a MRI scan on my head and neck next week also and have had bloods taken. I am absolutely terrified by why they will find and im convinced I'm dying. I too James thought it was related to my toothache that i had for weeks and weeks ending in having my tooth out.m but the numbess is still there. They said it nothing to do with my tooth now and thats why i am being sent for all these tests. it's literally Mani me feel sick 24/7 and i can't take my mind off of it. Mine feels like pins and needles in the lower left chin and lip and the corner of my mouth is the worst. its not completely numb, i can still feel it, it feels swollen but it isnt. I have also been getting minor headache on the sane side and every now and then i get a sharp stabbing pain shoot over my head on the same side.
Fiona and Mandy? how you getting on since finding a lump? you mention about having jaw pain and a pain in the collarbone..i do get this and my glands under my armpit feel swollen. i suffer bad with health anxiety bit this is real. I keep hoping it's my anxiety tricking me but it really isn't, its there! just yesterday i have noticed a on the side of my left baby finger has a numb/tingling feeling too. i am just driving myself mad with worry. There is so much more i could write but my mind has gone blank now Sorry about my long post, i just dont know what to to with myself. im so glad i found this group though. xx
james78430 nate73255
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Hi Everyone,
Just thought I'd give an update.
After seeing the doctor last friday, i wasn't entirely convinced by his diagnosis. On Saturday, (with my anxiety racing) i took myself to A&E.
I told the reception my issues and was sent to triage.
My blood pressure was 177/117, i was properly panicked. I had my bloods taken and an ECG. The Doctor checked me over thoroughly for lumps and bunps etc. The doctor came back after a while and said all my bloods were fine and that the numbness in my chin was basically down to anxiety. It was a huge relief and the doctor said that if it was due to cancer or one that had metastasised, then it would have shown in my bloodwork and i'd be unwell. I was asked to record my blood pressure results for a few days and discuss with my GP.
Unfortunately, my anxiety didn't stop because of my blood pressure readings and i felt restless until yesterday until i had a consultation with my doctor. I am changing my medication and i am now being prescribed a beta blocker to combat my high blood pressure.
I've not had a numb chin since the weekend. I do get a fleeting tingle but its not there unless i really think about it.
Abbie - Hopefully you've had a positive result from your MRI. I would seriously discuss anxiety medication with your doctor and try something new. My wife (who is a psychologist) kind of put things in to perspective for me. All the rare things that we read about on the internet that send our anxiety sky high are only written about because they are so rare. You don't hear about all cases because there is no point in publishing them, only the interesting ones.
Please try and stay positive.
James.
abbie52983 james78430
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Thanks James for your reply. I'm glad you have had some good test results but shame about the high blood pressure. Hope they can keep that under control. What a relief it must be to not have numb chin at this time.
I have had MRI on head and neck but still waiting for my result. I am very nervous! I would like to hope mine was down to anxiety but mine came out of no where while I had tooth ache. It was the dentist that referred me to a fast track cancer specialist, I didn't even know this was a thing until then so it was them that was worried before I was. I have some funny feelings my left armpit, same side as chin. It feels like my glands are swollen but I can't feel it when I touch them but I can just feel something isn't right all the time. It's really hard to explain.
Good advice from your wife. Yes that does make sense that we only hear the rare cases. But just the general NCS is so scary to look at even without reading the stories. I'm trying not to look at Google at them moment, it's not my friend. I really hope all this goes away soon, it's taking over everything. I will not think about for a short while and then it comes back and hits me hard.
Let's hope for good news soon.
Abbie
carla97985 nate73255
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Hi Nate,
I'm really sorry you're feeling this way. Anxiety has given me the weirdst and most specific symptoms ever , so I would guess this feeling is probably because of anxiety too! I know that is so hard to believe though.
Hope you feel better soon
Carla
nate73255 carla97985
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Yeah Anxiety seems to be a common them with numbness and tingling anywhere in face, but especially the chin for some reason. And of everyone (including me) gets freaked out when they go to google looking up information about it. My advice, unless you have cancer in the past, I wouldn't go into freak out mode immediately. See your PCP and see what they think. They will know your individual case better than Google ever will. Hope this helps! 😃
abbie52983 nate73255
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Hi all. Quick update on my MRI scan. After nervously waiting all week and being a complete wreck, I have had a Norma result 😁 Yayy!!! I am so relieved. And to not only that, I have started to get some feeling back in my chin. The left side of my bottom lip is still numb and also the corner of my mouth too. This has made me feel even better. I really hope is goes away completely and I really hope it's not NCS. Obviously I'm still a little anxious about what it could be but even with the dentist saying it was nothing to do with my tooth problem, I'm starting to think it really could be, I don't know.
I'm not out of the woods yet, I have my recall smear on Tuesday. I had pre cancerous cells removed last year, and I have still been having a bit of trouble in that area. Also, I am waiting on a reply back from my doctor about my moles that needed checking. I really just need it all to be OK and I can start trying to move forward and stop worrying so much. Hope you all are doing well.
Abbie
laura66857 nate73255
Edited
So glad to find other people who are experiencing the same thing. About a month ago one side of my chin went very numb, it felt like pins and needles. i thought maybe i had a tooth issue so i went to see my dentist later that week. He took a bunch of xrays and said everything looked fine. He seemed a bit concerned and told me to come back in a month.
i assumed it would go away but it hasn't. Its a constant numbness. Its been a month and the only thing thats changed is the pins and needle sensation has stopped.
i mentioned it to my doctor and he said that its probably mental or a pinched nerve. i just started taking lexapro before this happened so i had asked him if that could cause it but he said no. I started taking lexapro due to PPD/PPA and i really dont feel like this is caused by anxiety.
i go back to see my dentist this Friday but Im nervous. My husband got diagnosed with lymphoma last year at 35 years old and so Im so scared something could happen to me. its frustrating feeling something so real but could possibly be caused by anxiety? So frustrating.
krissy76247 nate73255
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Hello! I'm new here and so thankful I found this chat!
I also have developed a tingly/numb sensation in the right part of my chin that comes and goes. it seems to come more when I'm eating. Has anyone else experienced that?
I too went to Dr. Google and completely scared myself. Reading these responses has been a breath of fresh air!
I have suffered with health anxiety for 13 years now and was recently diagnosed with post partumn depression following the birth of my son in April. This of course only increased my health anxiety. I began zoloft to help with the depression and lessen the anxiety back in June.
I also get tingling in other parts of my body as well (calf, knee, fingers, roof of my mouth) but this has been happening for years and always goes away. However, this is the first time with the chin. Has anyone else experienced this?
Thanks again for keeping the chat going and I hope everyone is remaining healthy!
lou17506 nate73255
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hi everyone hope you are well
lou17506 nate73255
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hi has anyone apart of the nump chin get like a twich in the chin as well? thanks
fiona71381 lou17506
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Hi everyone, I'm so sorry for the late reply. I finally spoke to a neurologist. It was a 10 minute telephone appointment due to Covid restrictions. He said my headaches, right sided numbness and flashes in my vision were just migraines and not related to the numb chin.
I explained the numb chin was constant, progressively got more numb then spread to the whole chin. He then said he thinks something is pressing on the trigeminal nerve. I also told him I had lumps on the back of my neck. He said he will include them in the MRI.
4 weeks after the MRI i heard nothing, so I phoned my GP. They said they had received a letter 2 weeks previous??!!! saying 'no further action'. And advised to contact my neurologist's secretary. So I did.
I was told nothing was found to be pressing on my trigeminal nerve. And that 'no further action was required'. I am so angry. So they have stopped investigating what the problem is!!
The biggest shock?....... The MRI showed where I had a stroke back in 2011. This was a shock!!
One night in 2011, after work, kids at their dad's, just as I was getting ready for bed i noticed my left arm was completely numb. I stood in-front of the mirror then realized my face was numb on the left side too. While on the phone with 999 (911 in America), my left leg went numb too. I was rushed to hospital, but a CT scan the next day suggested it was a @neurological blip'. That was what I was told.
I questioned that later in 2018, when referred to neurology for pregnancy migraines and was told it was a hemiplegic migraine. I argued this and pointed out the flaws in symptoms. I knew deep down I had a stroke!!!
From that aspect, I feel vindicated. My short term memory is terrible and i sometimes have difficulty with speech which I have managed to disguise. With the new findings my DR is now believing my bad memory issues and has referred me to a specialist who deals with memory loss. (I constantly forget my kids names and recently forgot my partner's name... as well as instigated the same conversation 5 times in a 30 minute period). Just to give context to how bad my memory is!!.
Right now I feel like I could cry. Because of f***ing covid I wont speak to a neurologist (they have discharged me). I cant ask why I have had a 4 month long migraine when i am not prone to migraines, i'll never get to ask about the stroke they told me was in my head for 10 years and i'll never get advice about future strokes and current damage.
I still have lumps on the back of my neck. It was meant to be included in my MRI (discussed with the neurologist in the 10 min phone call). This never happened!! So no idea what the lumps are. I hate the NHS and I hope they sell it off and it goes private, then I can get health insurance and finally get actual care / treatment.
I have a long list of issues : i think only 1 specialist has been good. I suffer chronic plantar fasciitis and shortened calf muscles and I broke my foot. Bloody guy who fits the boot forced my foot tearing the tendon off the heel bone!!! There are worse but no point dwelling LOL.
Aww I hope those who still have their numb chin are feeling ok. Mine has been constant, progressively getting more numb then the numbness spreading to the left side. And I don't have cancer and my neurologist isn't bothered.
I think I am most resentful that I discovered I have a condition (NCS) with strong associations of cancer and premature death and been left with nothing but time to determine whether my case was serious rather than actual tests because specialists were not seeing patients.
My chin went numb in March. I have had 4 months of hell. Especially considering I have a 1 and 2 year old. So many times I played in my mind the videos of goodbye I would have to make them, so many cuddles and tears, and fright. I'm sorry, i feel i'm ranting a bit. I'm thinking of you all.
fiona71381
Posted
wow! I am so sorry for the rant above 🙈🙈🙈 It had been an emotional day. I discovered from my GP that the neurologist also forgot to include the lumps on the back of my neck so they haven't been investigated. The mental nerve also wasn't checked, only my brain. For those of you who had MRI's done for this was it only your brain that was scanned? I'm not sure whether to bring it up with my GP. I hope you are all well. Sorry again for the rant 😬🙈🙈🙈
Missedi nate73255
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Hi, not sure I am doing this correctly. I have read a ton of everyone's encouraging notes.
I am experiencing numbing lips, burning sensation or prickly feeling on my chin and left side of face. Mostly on chin and bottom lip. Occasionally my bottom teeth feel slightly sensitive.
I have neck problems and wondered if it could be a pinched nerve. I also have occasional problems with acid reflux.
Decided to look on Google and see what it might be.....oh my....not encouraging at all.
This happened about 6 months ago and went away. Now it is back and I went to this forum in hopes of finding some people who might just share this crazy problem.
Thanks to everyone for sharing. I firmly believe it is important to be able to share with people who understand and can show empathy for one another. It can be frustrating when your symptoms are so bizarre.
Not seen my doctor yet...hope this goes away again.
Thanks again for sharing. I plan to stay in touch.
Sarah G.
nate73255 Missedi
Posted
Hi and welcome Sarah,
I’m glad you found this thread, as the amount of stuff that will scare you silly on the internet about numb chin syndrome is too much. 1st thing I tell everyone who post on here, is see your doctor. Your doctor knows your health better than Dr. Google. Remember this, those articles on Google that have a bad ending are made to get views. You will never see an article of someone with numb chin that turns out to be nothing, because 1, it won't get views and 2, it won't feed the authors ego. Now that all that is out of the way, obviously I don't know your specific situation, but we are here for support. Hope this helps!
Nathan
Missedi nate73255
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Hi again....
Christmas has come and gone and I am still experiencing a variety of 'sensations' in my chin and mouth.
I did see my doctor and he feels it is stress and anxiety which I would have to say I am under quite a bit.
Lots going on...youngest son was burned in an accident..he is fine now but it was rough.
My step dad was diagnosed with Melanoma and had to be taken to the hospital Christmas night. My mother is pitiful and is needing me much more now.
Normal worries of a mother with five sons...daughter in laws and 5 grandchildren living in a messy pandemic with media induced fear everywhere.
I sleep fine.. but when I wake and start my day, it starts crazy sensations that vary.
It may be slightly numb on my lips...burning on tip of tongue....burning chin or sort of prickly...and sensitive lower front teeth...not pain...just sensitive.
I am just wondering how long is too long to wait until I go back and talk with my doctor again. I just really need this to go away...it involves the nerves..so it wears on my nerves!😬 Most everybody that has inquired or shared, does not follow up with a doom report...I just know this has never hit me before. Is there anything that helps these sensations? Has anyone gotten relief by trying something? It would almost. e better if it was just outright pain!
I apologize for being needy....it's just hard to talk about this with anyone because they look at you like you have three eyes and are one step away from crazy!
Thanks for reading,
Sarah
rigzi Missedi
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Hi Missedi, i was touched reading this, please stay calm because that's what I am trying to do, I know it's hard, but please try, i know you are trying, i am too, but we need to try harder! I think I have anxiety disorders, especially a panic one, but i calm myself slowly, I get headaches, neck pain, chest pain, i feel breathless sometimes and the only thing i think about is that, that I don't want to name. I guess i need to check my psychiatrist first, because i am really anxious, a lot! So please, let's just stay relaxed, thats the only thing i can say unfortunately. May God help us and everyone🤲🏻🍀 AMEN!
jenna49950 Missedi
Posted
Hi Sarah, sorry to hear about everything your going through. How you just explained your sensations is exactly like mine the tip of the tongue feels like theres heat/prickly feeling my lower gums are sore not so much my teeth. mine has been getting less and less so im sure its anxiety related i suffer with anxiety. hope yours goes off soon. Take care