back in the day I had a similar problem with a different phone. Had to call verizon from a house line/different cell and they reprogrammed the phone somehow. Don't know the details, just know that they fixed it. This phone was ancient though, not the touch.
I've had the same problem for several months now. I took my phone to a verizon store the other day and they admitted that LG is having a problem! There's some type of chip that is supposed to support text messaging in this phone. well the software isn't protecting it and therefore the chip is being destroyed if you are a heavy text messager. They have replaced my phone a 3rd time. I just got the new one in the mail this morning. Supposedly it has a 'version 8' software and a new chip. If this continues I, myself will NEVER buy another LG phone again if they don't give up and give me a new brand. This is ridiculous.