So you are 15 months post op? That is amazing that movement still occurs. I was told at one year that is all I could expect.
Currently I find it difficult to grade myself on the scale (if I had to choose one I would say five). At rest I have great tone. I have movement only in the center of my lip (apparently the good side has grown over to compensate?) I had never heard of this in all the research I have done. It certainly makes eating and drinking easier but still those darn Ps,Bs, and Fs are hard while speaking (try teaching kindergarteners how to pronounce letters and and sounds). According to my EMG nerve regeneration has started taking place around my eye and just yesterday I have started to get tears (they pool in my slightly limp lid) and have a tiny blink back. Nothing else, I am a wee bit discouraged about my mouth and cheek. I feel I should have had some signs of slight movement at the corner of my mouth by now but nothing.
I did have my nerve tested during surgery and at my brain stem the 7th CN tested 0.1 mA, which apparently is as good as it gets. The report also indicated that at some points the nerve was quite splayed. I get conflicting responses from my surgeon (who by the way was not sure if it was an acoustic neuroma or a menginoma) first he said that he was quite surprised that I had facial paralysis at all and then at our 3 month post op visit he said I could expect 50-75% recovery, closer to 75%. I had complete facial paralysis when I woke up and a tarsoraphy.
Anyway time will tell won't it. I hope I don't have to have a nerve graph I am such a wimp when it comes to surgery.
It is so sunny in Ontario today - hmmmmmm gotta love it!
Michelle
