I am suffering nerve pain in both of my ears from a lower face/neck lift that I had 5 months ago. Will this resolve on its own?

Question

I have prickly pain in my ears (especially ear lobes) with intermittent acute pain in spots on and around my ears. I tried Neurontin which helped the pain but had horrible side effects and other drugs and cortisone injections in the grtr auricular nerves that did nothing. My surgeon wants to open up the area around the nerve to see if there are sutures that didn't dissolve but I am afraid of making it worse. Everyone tells me it will resolve on its own but I have had no improvement so far.

Samuel Lin, MD, FACS · Answer

Agreed, nerve symptoms after surgery can occur that take an amount of time to resolve/stabilize.. another thought is checking to see if your surgeon would recommend a pain medicine specialist ...

Andrew Campbell, MD · Answer

If you can tolerate it, I'd recommend waiting until you are a full year out from surgery before attempting any invasive procedures. You may want to try another steroid injection if you can find a "trigger point", an area that is very tender that can reproduce your symptoms.Andrew Campbell, M.D.Facial Plastic SpecialistQuintessa Aesthetic Centers

Kouros Azar, MD · Answer

I would suggest that you wait another 5 months and if the pain is still present then consider surgery. I always prefer the more conservative approach assuming that you can "live" with this ear pain/discomfort for another 5 months.Kindly,Kouros Azar

Anna I. Wooten, MD, FACS · Answer

Thanks for your question.  It sounds like your nerves need more recovery time.  If after another 5 months you still have the same issue, I would seek a possible surgical solution.  This usually resolves itself.  Often it takes the nerves time to wake up and this sensation can occur when they begin their awakening.  I know it is difficult, but be patient and it will probably self correct.  Always tell your surgeon what you are feeling so it can be properly evaluated by the person who performed the surgery.  Best of luck.

Jeffrey Nelson, MD · Answer

Nerves can get very "irritated following face lifts, and as a nerve recovers from trauma from surgery pain fibers wake up many weeks if not months before the regular sensation fibers get back to normal. Complete numbness can mean a nerve is very damaged, but pain can often resolve with gentle massage or the area, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories like Aleve or Motrin ( If you have no contraindications ). Another non-invasive option that works well in our office to quiet down this type if problem is low level laser therapy (Erchonia) which settles down inflammation around the nerve and may require a couple treatments over a couple weeks, but is completely non-invasive with no pain or down time so you might look into that option in your area, but always check with your surgeon first so they can advise you. Remain upbeat and hopefully you'll get better soon.

I am suffering nerve pain in both of my ears from a lower face/neck lift that I had 5 months ago. Will this resolve on its own?

Answers (7)