18 months ago I had radiotherapy after neck surgery. I still find the roof of my mouth painful at times. At my recent check-up my consultant said the pain was probably due to nerve-end damage. Has anyone else experienced this and if so do have any suggestions re coping with this?

Hi ElsieB

It may or may not be a 'nerve-end damage' pain. It may or may not be related to the radiotherapy. Until we know the answers to the questions below, we can have no way of understanding this pain.

• Did you have radiotherapy to the roof of mouth?
  
• When do you get the pain?
  
• What kind of pain is it? Please describe.
  
• How long have you had it?
  
• Do you remember how/when it first started?
  
• How long does it last?
  
• Does anything help bring it on?
  
• Does anything help take it away?

Best wishes
Vinod

Sorry for the delay in replying,

I had radiotherapy to my lower jaw and neck as my first small tumour was in the lower gum and the second in my neck.

I got the pain intermittently, perhaps for a day or so at a time and then I'm fine for a week or two. It's a tingling sort of pain and my mouth feels very sensitive. I can't take anything acidic or hot.

I've had that tingling feeling again since I finished my radiotherapy, which was 18 months ago. I find soluble paracetemol helps.

My mouth is always extremely dry and I find that if I talk a lot then that exarcerbates the dryness. I also chew gum constantly and this helps.

Elsie Bell

Hello Elsie

I wonder if you are clenching and keeping your tongue pressed hard against the roof of the mouth? If you are, learn to let your jaw hang loose and keep your teeth apart; at rest the tongue does not press against any thing in the mouth. Also only chew gum for 5 minute durations to avoid tiring the jaw muscles.

Best wishes
Vinod