Author Topic: Facial Twitching  (Read 12257 times)

Jeanlea

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Facial Twitching
« on: August 18, 2009, 07:29:34 pm »
I'm nearly four years post-op and just today for the first time my face is having visible twitches.  I can watch them in the mirror and my husband can see them.  My face has been feeling really tight the past few days.  Now it's the twitching.  CrookedSmile talked about this back in March.  What happened?  I'm hoping that it means that more movement is coming.

Jean
« Last Edit: August 22, 2009, 09:19:31 pm by Jeanlea »
translab on 3.5+ cm tumor
September 6, 2005
Drs. Friedland and Meyer
Milwaukee, WI
left-side facial paralysis and numbness
TransEar for SSD

Kaybo

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Re: Facial Twitching
« Reply #1 on: August 18, 2009, 07:33:35 pm »
4 months or 4 YEARS?????

K

I think it is a GREAT sign!!  YEA for you!
Translab 12/95@Houston Methodist(Baylor College of Medicine)for "HUGE" tumor-no size specified
25 yrs then-14 hour surgery-stroke
12/7 Graft 1/97
Gold Weight x 5
SSD
Facial Paralysis-R(no movement or feelings in face,mouth,eye)
T3-3/08
Great life!

Jeanlea

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Re: Facial Twitching
« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2009, 07:37:46 pm »
Kay,

Thanks for catching that.  It's been nearly four YEARS, not months.  Hard to believe that much time has gone by already.

Jean
translab on 3.5+ cm tumor
September 6, 2005
Drs. Friedland and Meyer
Milwaukee, WI
left-side facial paralysis and numbness
TransEar for SSD

nancyann

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Re: Facial Twitching
« Reply #3 on: August 19, 2009, 06:46:04 am »
WHOO - HOO ! !   Great news Jean ! !  Thanks for making my day ! !  Hoping also movement is on the way ! !
Always good thoughts,  Nancy
2.2cm length x 1.7cm width x 1.3cm  depth
retrosigmoid 6/19/06
Gold weight 7/19/06, removed 3/07
lateral tarsel strip X3
T3 procedure 11/20/07
1.6 Gm platinum weight 7/10/08
lateral canthal sling 11/14/08
Jones tube insert right inner eye 2/27/09
2.4 Gm. Platinum chain 2017
right facial paralysis

Jim Scott

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Re: Facial Twitching
« Reply #4 on: August 19, 2009, 12:59:24 pm »
Jean ~

I'm not a doctor but I suspect the twitching you're experiencing may be a sign of nerve regeneration.  I truly hope so.  I think we'll all be awaiting further reports from you.

Jim
4.5 cm AN diagnosed 5/06.  Retrosigmoid surgery 6/06.  Follow-up FSR completed 10/06.  Tumor shrinkage & necrosis noted on last MRI.  Life is good. 

Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is.  The way we cope with it is what makes the difference.

mimoore

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Re: Facial Twitching
« Reply #5 on: August 19, 2009, 08:21:27 pm »
WOW that is soooo exciting! News like this certainly gives people like me more HOPE and hope is a wonderful thing!
Keep us posted this is exciting!
Michelle  ;D
Retrosigmond surgery on June 4th, 2008 for an AN. 100% hearing loss and facial paralysis (was not prepared for facial paralysis). Size: 2.3 cm, 2.1 cm, 1.8 cm. some tumour remains along facial nerve. Pray for no regrowth. Misdiagnosed for 10 yrs.

Jeanlea

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Re: Facial Twitching
« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2009, 09:22:54 pm »
Today as I was gazing in the mirror, (my post AN hobby) I noticed that I can now smirk and it looks like I'm smirking!  I have a strange sense of humor and smirk a lot.  Now it really resembles a smirk.  Maybe all this twitching is really causing some change. 

Jean
translab on 3.5+ cm tumor
September 6, 2005
Drs. Friedland and Meyer
Milwaukee, WI
left-side facial paralysis and numbness
TransEar for SSD

Kaybo

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Re: Facial Twitching
« Reply #7 on: August 23, 2009, 07:35:53 am »
WHOO-HOO!!   ;D

;D
Translab 12/95@Houston Methodist(Baylor College of Medicine)for "HUGE" tumor-no size specified
25 yrs then-14 hour surgery-stroke
12/7 Graft 1/97
Gold Weight x 5
SSD
Facial Paralysis-R(no movement or feelings in face,mouth,eye)
T3-3/08
Great life!

nancyann

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Re: Facial Twitching
« Reply #8 on: August 23, 2009, 08:11:50 am »
Keep this great news coming Jean ! !  I'm so happy for you !
Always good thoughts,  Nancy
2.2cm length x 1.7cm width x 1.3cm  depth
retrosigmoid 6/19/06
Gold weight 7/19/06, removed 3/07
lateral tarsel strip X3
T3 procedure 11/20/07
1.6 Gm platinum weight 7/10/08
lateral canthal sling 11/14/08
Jones tube insert right inner eye 2/27/09
2.4 Gm. Platinum chain 2017
right facial paralysis

sgerrard

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Re: Facial Twitching
« Reply #9 on: August 23, 2009, 11:24:03 am »
I noticed that I can now smirk and it looks like I'm smirking!

Smirk away, Jean!  ;D

Steve

PS: Can you smirk while wearing a hat?
8 mm left AN June 2007,  CK at Stanford Sept 2007.
Hearing lasted a while, but left side is deaf now.
Right side is weak too. Life is quiet.

moe

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Re: Facial Twitching
« Reply #10 on: August 23, 2009, 09:30:15 pm »
Great news, Jean!
Was your facial nerve cut during the original surgery?
I'm feeling more twinges on my AN side, 18 months after the 12/7 nerve transposition, 3 years post brain surgery.
I'm hoping my twinges evolve into twitches!
Maybe there is hope afterall ::) I'm looking into acupuncture though to help things along.
Congrats again on your smirk!
Maureen
06/06-Translab 3x2.5 vascular L AN- MAMC,Tacoma WA
Facial nerve cut,reanastomosed.Tarsorrhaphy
11/06. Gold weight,tarsorrhaphy reversed
01/08- nerve transposition-(12/7) UW Hospital, Seattle
5/13/10 Gracilis flap surgery UW for smile restoration :)
11/10/10 BAHA 2/23/11 brow lift/canthoplasty

Jeanlea

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Re: Facial Twitching
« Reply #11 on: August 23, 2009, 09:36:09 pm »
Maureen,

I hope your twinges turn to twitches also.  My nerve was not cut during surgery so I operate under the premise that it will eventually come back, even though that process is exceedingly slow.  My random guess is that it will take ten years.  Ha! Only six more years to go.  lol

Jean
translab on 3.5+ cm tumor
September 6, 2005
Drs. Friedland and Meyer
Milwaukee, WI
left-side facial paralysis and numbness
TransEar for SSD

ToddH

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Re: Facial Twitching
« Reply #12 on: August 25, 2009, 02:19:49 pm »
Hi Jean, twitching can be both good and bad. Good that more nerve fibers are regenerating, bad that they may be causing muscle hypertonicity (means " high tone" or "high tension") to develop and with that a tic (the name given for a periodic spasm or twitch). This can be easily managed by massaging your face, which will  not harm your nerve regrowth, but will help the muscles to relax more and "behave". There are many ways to massage your face, don't know if one technique is better than another. I like stroking horizontally across both sides from center out with the flat part of your fingers from the forehead and working your way slowly down.  Use slow, firm steady strokes. Use skin lotion if needed. Don't cause pain (too hard!). However, any massage technique is good and if you can get someone else to do it so you are completely relaxed, all the better! Best wishes,
Todd

Jeanlea

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Re: Facial Twitching
« Reply #13 on: August 25, 2009, 04:31:46 pm »
Todd,

Am I correct in assuming you are the facial therapy guy I've heard such good things about on here?  Thank you for your advice.  I didn't know I should be massaging my face, but I have been doing that off and on ever since I had my surgery.  I noticed it stops the twitching.  It also helps when my face feels tight.  I think I read something about using your thumb and fingers to massage your face on Jackie Diehls site a long time ago.  I even had my husband doing it the other night.  He thought I was just trying to see if I could feel it.  lol  (I have no feeling either.)

Jean
translab on 3.5+ cm tumor
September 6, 2005
Drs. Friedland and Meyer
Milwaukee, WI
left-side facial paralysis and numbness
TransEar for SSD

moe

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Re: Facial Twitching
« Reply #14 on: August 26, 2009, 08:11:21 am »
Yes, thanks Todd for that useful bit of info.
I have been getting facial massages every other week for months now, my massage lady has seen chnges in the left side of the face. More "tightness" in the jaw  area, which means there is some muscle action going on there. If you can afford it, I would definitely look into it, Jean.
I'm off for an acupuncture consult tomorrow to see if what they say- hoping to get some more movement.
Todd, do you have any insight into acupuncture? There are some people who have had good results.
Thanks :)
Maureen
06/06-Translab 3x2.5 vascular L AN- MAMC,Tacoma WA
Facial nerve cut,reanastomosed.Tarsorrhaphy
11/06. Gold weight,tarsorrhaphy reversed
01/08- nerve transposition-(12/7) UW Hospital, Seattle
5/13/10 Gracilis flap surgery UW for smile restoration :)
11/10/10 BAHA 2/23/11 brow lift/canthoplasty