Facial Progress

[Jeanlea]

Sara, you will get there.  I was where you are now a few years ago.  I heard of others who went before me and described their new smiles.  It seems like a long time for you now, but the time will fly by before you know it and you'll be smiling about it.  :-)

David, good luck with your long run.  It feels good, once you are done, to run that far.  It gives a great sense of accomplishment.  I went out and ran about 3 miles today in the heat.  It was about 90.  When I got home I heard from my son.  He is a freshman as Michigan State University.  He trained all summer to be able to walk on to their track team.  Well, today he met with the coach and made the team!  They said he had good times and are willing to give him some further training.  Not  bad for coming from such a small school.  His high school has under 300 students.  He was my motivation to get running.  It's fun how our kids can motivate us.  Have fun running with your daughter.

Jean

[Kaybo]

Jean~
That is GREAT about your son!  You'll have to keep us posted!

K

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

Jean,

I don’t know how I missed this thread… until today. Wow you look fantastic! Seeing these photos is very inspiring to me… Thank you SO much for posting these for all of us.

You have a beautiful smile. Keep smiling and showing off those pearly whites! 

DHM

[Dfcman]

Jean,

I've  definitely noticed the progress over these last couple years.  From when you used to post different profile pics.  You've always been kind of my inspiration with facial paralysis. They always say the 24 month rule.  Most regeneration occurs between 6 and 24 months; so i've been told.  They say anything after that is luck.  I'm really hoping because I had the 12/7 jump and most activty has occured between 12 and 24.  I'm going on 23 and i'm scared to death that it's going to quit.  Im 2 1/2 years post op and m still slowly improving.  The fact that you said  you've made alot of progress between years 2 and 3 is helpful cuz that's where i'm at.

Chris

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

Jean,

Did you have any neuro-muscular facial retraining therapy or did your facial nerve branches just heal on their own- with time?


DHM

[Jeanlea]

DHM,

I really didn't do any formal facial retraining therapy.  Shortly after my surgery I visited the bells palsey web site and looked at their exercises.  I did some of those rather sporadically.  My vestibular therapist also gave me a few exercises to try such as lifting one eyebrow and visualizing the other side moving.  I more or less continued playing with my face in various ways to see if it would move.  When my muscles felt tight on that side I would use put my thumb on the inside and my finger on the outside and pull down for about 30 seconds.  I think I read that on the BP site.  Basically it is coming back on its own. 

I was told at 6 months that my face would not come back.  In hindsight I think that was good to hear that because I didn't have any false hopes and I'm very happy with the movement that I have recovered so far. 

Jean

[jazzfunkanne]

jeananne, did the tightness go away in time?

[Jeanlea]

Anne,

The tightness in my face comes and goes.  At least the kind that hurts a little.  There's always a kind of pressure in my face that I feel, but it doesn't hurt.  I notice it more right before I get new movement.

Jean

[Karen]

Jeanlea, have you ever figured out what causes the tightness to come and go?  What helps it go away?  I am noticing that when my face is tight that is when it hurts.  Like you there is always a heavy feeling from the numbness I guess, it is when I have the tightness that really bothers me.  Have you tried Neurotin for it.  I have some but am putting off taking it.  I hate to take thoses drugs because of the side effects.  Karen

[CROOKEDSMILE]

For tightness I like to put a very warm/hot washcloth (be careful not to get too hot) over my face or I put my beanbag in the microwave and put it on my face and neck. This really helps me alot. I was also told that you could take a muscle relaxer from my ear specialist....This was when I was getting the thumping in my ear during part of my facial nerve recovery and the stapedus (sp?) muscle in the ear was pounding driving me bonkers and she said that Clonazepam could be prescribed for that. It is an antiseizure medication but also can be used to relax the muscles. I was on this med. for 5 years for hemifacial spasm and it does help loosen things up a bit but makes you a little sleepy and you move in slow motion until you adjust to it. If you oppose medications then I would do the heat and stretching exercises. Relaxation exercises help me too. This takes getting in a quiet room ( ha, ha....with two little kids...yes it is hard) and listening to meditation music....deep breathing....stress reduction.....and yoga. Also I try to schedule a bi-weekly massage with a licensed therapist. It can get expensive but it is worth it. Be sure to have them...of course...include the face and neck but I find that when the rest of my body is relaxed then my face and neck tend to be relaxed too. I must say I am dreading the winter...cold makes the tightness worse. Bundle up! My Dad uses those heat things that you pop and stick in your shoes for hunting to keep your feet toasty.....BUT you can pop one and stick it in your pocket and pull it out and use it on your face if you're outdoors in the cold for extended period of time. It last about 30 minutes.
Angie

[Jeanlea]

Hi Karen,

I really don't know what causes the tightness in my face.  I just noticed that it seems to happen before new movement occurs, even if it is very small movements.  The only thing I take is ibuprofren.  There is really little pain, just a little annoying sometimes with the tightness.  I do exercise everyday with running or powerwalking.  I tell myself that all the exercise causes the blood to move through my face and cause healing.  I really have no idea if that is true, but it does keep me exercising everyday! 

Jean

[jazzfunkanne]

I asked the Physio on the Bells Palsy site about tightness this is what he said,
 Tension is almost always the result of how the facial nerve recovers - when the recovery takes longer than a few months, then the muscles get tight due to the nerve fibers acting "hyper", holding the muscle in a state of tension. Why this is, we are uncertain about, but it is a very common problem. That is why we recommmend massage, massage, massage, plus stretching

[LADavid]

Jean

Sorry I'm late for getting caught up on this thread.  But I just wanted to say congratulations on your son making the Track Team.  That is fantastic.  What is his specialty?  I ran the 400.

David

[Jeanlea]

David,

Thanks. My son is doing the long distance runs.  He's just beginning so he has no certain one right now.  How is your running coming along?  Did you have your race yet?  Let us know how you do.  I'm getting a cold, but I still went out and ran 3 miles tonight. 

Jean

[LADavid]

Jean

The Half is October 12th in Long Beach.  I am starting to get a bit concerned since I've developed a painful knee.  Old age.  But I have over two weeks to go to ice it and nurse it back to health.  I'll keep you posted.

Three miles is great.  Are you still keeping the same pace that you had in the Half?

As far as your son, based on our performance in the distance races in the Olympics, the door is wide open.  America could use another Jim Ryun or Steve Prefontain.  It's been a very long time.

David