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What would cause the tounge to swell and go numb?
Sent to Health Experts October 11 12:33 PM

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Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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Answer
October 11 12:44 PM (10 minutes and 11 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
If your tongue has become swollen abruptly it would be very concerning for an allergic reaction of some sort. Typical causes for an allergic reaction would be foods, in particular strawberries or peanuts, or medications over the counter or prescribed, even vitamins and herbal supplements.
I would reccomend you take some benadryl and go see your doctor emergently as a swollen tongue can worsen and make it difficult for you to breathe.
If you have a had this swelling progressing for a while it may be due to a medical condition such as an underactive thyroid or an infection of the tongue. While this would not require emergency evaluation it should be evaluated just as well.
I believe the numbness is related to the swelling. You may have a funny sensation of the tongue due to the swelling and stretching of the skin of the tongue. If only one part of the tongue is numb for example the tip or only one side it would be more concerning for a potential neurologic cause such as inflammation or damage of a cranial nerve, although the swelling wouldn't really fit with such a diagnosis.

Sincerely, Jennifer. I hope my answer helped you. If it did please be sure to give me a good rating. If it did not please contact me as I would be happy to help you further.
Jennifer PA-C -- PA100% Positive Feedback on 141 Health Accepts
Physician Associate, Masters of Health Science, 7years exp Internal Medicine
Reply
October 11 1:07 PM (23 minutes and 8 seconds later)
         
Reply to Jennifer PA-C's Post: Would the swelling be caused from biting the tongue since there is no feeling? Also there might be a pinched nerve because there's also tingling/numbness in the leg on the outer side.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
October 11 1:17 PM (10 minutes and 29 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark
Swelling in your tongue can certainly be related to biting the tongue or trauma. A pinched nerve or tingling and numbness in the leg would be unrelated to your tongue as the nerves in the tongue are supplied from a different source than the nerves in the leg. Tingling and numbness on the outer side of the leg can often times be related to sciatic nerve inflammation.The sciatic nerve comes out through the lower spinal cord in the back and goes all the way down the leg on both sides to the little toe.

Sincerely, Jennifer. I hope my answer helped you. If it did please be sure to give me a good rating. If it did not please contact me as I would be happy to help you further.
Jennifer PA-C -- PA100% Positive Feedback on 141 Health Accepts
Physician Associate, Masters of Health Science, 7years exp Internal Medicine
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