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If your tongue suddenly starts to feel a burning sensation after surgery,
Hello. I’m Dr. Hwang Sang-cheol, and I specialize in researching and treating the autonomic nervous system. When consulting with patients who come to my clinic with a burning sensation in their mouth, I sometimes discover an unexpected commonality. “My tongue started burning right after I had surgery.” “My mouth feels prickly and numb, but the hospital says there’s nothing wrong.” At first, most people don’t make the connection between surgery and oral burning sensation. This is because they haven’t had surgery on their tongue, nor do they have any specific wounds inside their mouth. However, in my practice, I often meet patients who report that their symptoms began after surgeries unrelated to the mouth—such as cesarean sections, gallbladder removals, thyroid surgeries, or knee surgeries. Of course, I cannot say that all surgeries cause burning mouth syndrome. However, if symptoms begin after surgery and no specific cause has been identified, it is necessary to examine changes occurring throughout the entire body as well.
My test results are normal, so why does it hurt so much?
This is exactly what frustrates patients the most. They’re told that their blood tests are normal, their dental exams show no abnormalities, and their MRI and CT scans reveal no issues. Yet, they experience a burning sensation on their tongue and a searing pain in their mouth all day long. Drinking cold water provides only temporary relief, and in some cases, the pain becomes so severe that patients dread mealtimes. Since there are no visible wounds, people around them often fail to understand and may say things like, “Isn’t this just because you’re under too much stress?” But the pain the patient feels is by no means minor. The discrepancy between test results and the actual pain can actually cause even greater anxiety and tension, and this tension can lead to a vicious cycle that further exacerbates the pain.
Surgery can also affect the autonomic nervous system throughout the body.
Surgery is not merely the process of making an incision in the skin. The body perceives the surgery itself as a major source of stress. As anesthesia is administered and tissue is incised, inflammatory and immune responses occur simultaneously during the recovery process. During this process, the autonomic nervous system also becomes significantly more active than usual. While most people naturally regain their balance over time, those who are naturally nervous or sensitive to stress may find that their autonomic nervous system does not easily return to equilibrium even after recovery. These changes can also affect the nerves responsible for sensation in the tongue, potentially leading to abnormal sensations such as a burning sensation in the mouth.
We can also examine changes in sensitivity related to anesthesia and nerves.
The local and general anesthetics currently in use are generally safe. However, in very rare cases, there have been reports of sensory nerves becoming more sensitive than usual due to changes in the nervous system before or after surgery. Sensation in the tongue is controlled by several cranial nerves, including the trigeminal nerve, the glossopharyngeal nerve, and the facial nerve. If these nerves become hypersensitive, you may experience a burning, stinging, or tingling sensation even in the absence of an injury. Of course, this does not apply to all patients, and it is important to understand that this is just one of several possible causes.
In traditional Korean medicine, we examine the balance of the entire body as a whole.
In traditional Korean medicine, we do not treat only the tongue just because it hurts. We view the tongue as an important indicator of the body’s overall condition. It explains that surgery is viewed as a process that depletes the body’s qi and blood; if physical strength is not fully restored during recovery or if stress persists, the body’s body fluids may become depleted, leading to a condition where heat rises upward. Furthermore, when the autonomic nervous system becomes unbalanced, saliva secretion decreases and blood circulation changes, often leading to a combination of tongue pain and dry mouth. Therefore, rather than simply treating the symptoms, it is important to examine one’s constitution, the balance of the autonomic nervous system, and overall physical condition together.
Stories of Patients I Often Meet in the Exam Room
One patient said she began experiencing a burning pain at the tip of her tongue after her C-section. At first, she thought it was due to postpartum fatigue, but it did not improve over time. Another patient said that after her gallbladder removal, her mouth felt so hot and burning that she could no longer eat hot foods. In both cases, medical tests revealed no specific abnormalities, and they were often told by those around them that the symptoms would subside with time. However, for the patients themselves, every day was a struggle. These experiences highlight the importance of examining the body’s overall balance and changes in the autonomic nervous system, rather than attributing the cause of pain to a single organ.
I hope you don’t have to go through this alone.
Burning mouth syndrome is a condition that’s hard for others to understand because there are no visible sores. As a result, many people end up enduring the pain alone, wondering, “Am I just being too sensitive?” However, the pain is never just a matter of mood or willpower. It may be a signal your body is sending you. If you methodically identify the cause and choose a treatment plan suited to your current condition, there’s a good chance you’ll get better. I hope you won’t have to endure this alone for too long. If you’re going through a difficult time right now, that emotional distress also needs to be addressed. The body has a greater capacity for recovery than you might think. Even if it takes a little longer, you will certainly be able to regain a comfortable daily life. Please remember that there is a medical team here to help you navigate that journey and walk alongside you.
