As many of you know, I have BMS (burning mouth syndrome), believed to be associated with a brain stem lesion from my MS.

I've been battling this burning sensation since mid 2007. It's truly awful. I have to take Clonazepam (Klonopin) and chew peppermint gum to keep my mouth from being a raging fire of pain (like being scaled with hot coffee, worsening as the day progresses).

Today, I noticed an odd taste (at first), then a really odd sensation along the side of my tongue on the right side (where the BMS really did start in my mouth). At first I didn't understand what was going on... it was while making supper that I remarked to hubby, "Oh my gosh, I don't feel burning anymore along my tongue!!!". It's more a numbness with a tiny bit of pin prickly feeling, versus the other side (left) that has the burning mouth thing going full force.

Is this possibly my nerve(s) going into a "healing" process? Or re-wiring around the damaged area? Oh I so, so hope the BMS is going away. I haven't done anything special to help the BMS, just taking my medication regularly. NOW if the BMS goes, I can taper off Clonazepam (oh I so want off these prescription drugs).

Hope everyone's been well. Been SO busy here. January and vacation can't come soon enough!

Oh, Laura! I hope it means healing. Nerves do rewire.

ANN

Wouldn't that be great, if He is giving you a break, Laura..

Hi Laura

I have everything crossed for you that a healing process is beginning and you will get some reprieve from this nasty symptom.

(((hugs)))

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and comments.

He is giving me a break I believe SallyC. When I was down and out, He was there for me. Each time I prayed with my neighbours for answers, more came in the next day or 2. He is watching his little firecracker of a girl.

Right now I'm dealing with a mouth full of cancer sores. Worst outbreak in a long while. I even had them on my lips (visible a bit). Dreadful pain, but with cankers you can at least dowse them with a warm salt & water mix, swish, wipe the tears off your face, and you get relief for a while. Of course, you ultimately want them gone, and unlike the burning mouth, cankers go away fairly quickly (although there's not been a lengthy period of time during which I've gone completely canker-free since my childhood).

Even though I have the cankers, the burning is still absent on the right side from what I can tell! Hope the cankers clear up soon so I can say for sure if my right side has been spared. Left side needs to catch up now.

You have my sympathy--I've been prone to cankers, off and on, most of my life. And worse since MS. But I can't imagine having the constant pain of BMS. I hope it continues to improve.

Thank you

Right side of mouth feels 'numbish', but importantly, it's not burning still (and I originally noted this December 5 and posted here that day). This is by far the longest I've gone with the burning sensation completely absent from a large area of my mouth.

It's difficult to tell how the left side's doing, as I have my cankers there (more of them, argh... non stop!) and a lot of neuralgia pain/migraine/headache and generally messed up sensory on the left. I don't believe the burning is very intense at all - maybe overshadowed by my other aches and pains?

I'm really curious if, in the New Year, I can try tapering off Clonazepam slowly. I want to wait still a little while to see if the burning comes back at all, or if it's absent. If it's not back, will have to try taking 2 instead of 3 on alternate days to see if the burning returns.

This will be the best Christmas gift ever if the burning is gone for good!

Very good news, Laura.

Happy Holidays!
ANN

Great news that the burning is gone...but the cankers must be annoying. It might be worth having it checked out to see if there is a fungus (thrush) causing them.
There are good meds that can help to treat fungal infections that cause cankers in the mouth.

Often the tongue is coated in a thick whitish paste when there is fungus present. Some people find that fungal infections are common after a round of steroids like prednisone.

Wishing you a speedy recovery

With love, Erika