What are My Nerve Injury Treatment Options?

The nerves that control your face are complex and can be injured in many different ways. In the context of facial, oral, or maxillofacial surgery, injuries can affect the trigeminal nerve, one of the main nerves letting you feel the various areas of your face. Dr. Sonneveld has extensive experience in treating facial nerve injuries and restoring normal function. 

Do I Have a Facial Nerve Injury?

The trigeminal nerve branches out to supply sensation to areas like the cheeks, lips, and tongue The most common sign of a nerve injury is loss of sensation in the area supplied by the injured nerve. People can also experience a range of other sensations. Dr. Sonneveld can perform a range of tests, including neurosensory testing (NST) that determines where sensation has been lost and how much. 

What are my Nerve Injury Treatment Options?

Many nerve injuries are temporary and will often improve or resolve within a few days or weeks. However, some people can have problems that last longer. These people may benefit from other treatments. Which method your surgeon uses depends on many factors, including the type of nerve injury and the location of the nerve. Treatment options include:

• Decompression (removing pressure from the nerve)
• Removing an injured section and reattaching the healthy nerve ends with sutures
• Using a nerve graft of donor nerve tissue to bridge an injured area

Nerve injury treatment is a rapidly progressing area of medicine, and Dr. Sonneveld and his team remain on top of all the latest treatment options. Different treatments may be available depending on the nerves affected and the severity of the injury. 

What is Recovery Like After Nerve Injury Treatment?

Since injured nerves are treated in different ways, recovery times differ. The procedure will generally use incisions inside the mouth where no one will see them, although on rare occasions may require an incision in a crease of the neck area. Most people can return to their usual activities within a few days, although you may have restrictions on physical activity. 

What Results Will I See After Nerve Injury Treatment?

Best results are usually achieved if your nerve injury is treated soon after it occurs, but even older injuries can improve. When treated quickly by an experienced surgeon, the likelihood of a good recovery is 80% to 90%. However, nerve healing is a slow process, and full sensation can take a year or more to return in some cases. 

Because results are better when your nerve injury is treated quickly, reach out for a consultation as soon as you notice your concerns. Immediate treatment maximizes the likelihood of getting back your normal sensation in less time. 

Take the Next Step

If you have further questions about nerve injury treatment, we encourage you to schedule a consultation at Faces Fort Worth. Call us at (817) 927-1818 or fill out our online contact form. We look forward to taking care of you.