My face suddenly feels numb and uncomfortable, what's going on?

Studies have found that the sudden onset of uncomfortable numbness on the face is mostly due to tear gland secretion disorders, eye changes, auditory hypersensitivity, geniculate ganglion involvement, saliva secretion disorders and other causes. In this case, we must first determine the cause and then treat it accordingly; in addition, we must develop good living habits, avoid staying up late often, and especially avoid alcohol abuse.

1. Tear gland secretion disorder

When facial nerve paralysis occurs, salivary gland and tear gland secretion dysfunction, forehead wrinkles become shallower or disappear, and inability to frown is an important clinical feature of Bell's facial nerve palsy. The bilateral nasolabial grooves become shallower, the lips cannot be closed tightly, water leaks from the corners of the mouth, and food remains in the cheeks when eating. Therefore, for patients with facial nerve paralysis, liquid and semi-liquid foods should be the main diet.

2. Eye changes

The eyeball of patients with facial nerve paralysis is not at the same level as the healthy side, but is moved upward compared to the healthy side, and the pupil level is also higher than the healthy side. This sign is called the eyeball sign.

3. Symptoms of hyperacusis.

After many cases of facial nerve paralysis occur, patients will experience hyperacusis. This is mainly because when the facial nerve is paralyzed, the stapedius muscle is paralyzed. As a result, the tensor tympani muscle is relatively tense, the tension of the tympanic membrane is high, and small sounds produce strong vibrations, resulting in overhearing. The tensor tympani muscle that keeps the tympanic membrane tense is innervated by the medial pterygoid nerve, which is a branch of the trigeminal nerve, and the stapedius muscle is innervated by the facial nerve. These two muscles are in an antagonistic relationship to maintain balance.

4. Involvement of the geniculate ganglion

In addition to auditory hypersensitivity, taste disturbance in the anterior 2/3 of the tongue on the same side, and peripheral facial nerve paralysis, there is also pain in the mastoid area of ​​the affected side, decreased sensation in the auricle and external auditory canal, herpes in the external auditory canal or tympanic membrane, the eyeball on the paralyzed side is not at the same level as the healthy side, but is moved upward compared to the healthy side, and the pupil level is also higher than that of the healthy side.

5. Saliva secretion disorder: The patient's saliva secretion on the paralyzed side is reduced. This is because the chorda tympani nerve, which is derived from the facial nerve, innervates the submandibular gland and sublingual gland. When there is a lesion below this branch, saliva secretion will decrease.