facial paralysis

[Karen]

How many of you notice your face feels worse                        when it gets so cold outside?  Also I am so tired    of dealing with facial paralysis!!!  I would just like for my face to feel good again.  I have been trying Neurotin and now Lyrica   to see if anything woould help since my face is numb on that side it is so uncomfortable  all the time.  It's like when I talk it feels so heavy and tight.  So far nothing seems to help.  My AN doctor isn't much help, he says I will have to just get used to it!!! ANy one else with this problem?  My trigeminal nerve was damaged I guess, the feeling has never come back.  Karen

[nancyann]

Hi Karen:  I had the same problem with heaviness on the paralyzed side.  1/2 way thru the work day I'd be holding up my face just so
people could understand what I was saying.   I always had feeling, just couldn't move the right side.
On 11/20/07 I had the Temporalis Tendon Transfer (TTT) surgery at Johns Hopkins with Dr. Patrick Byrne.   I have posted my before/after
pictures under Facial Issues: Post Temporalis Tendon Transfer.  For me it has given me back my face.   I'm starting to feel like my old self again.
My next hurdle will be the darn eye issue - I'm tired of putting lubricant in every couple of hours, wearing an eye bubble every night.  I have an
appt. 3/3/08 with an eye specialist to see if there's anything that can be done, any new research, etc.

Keep a peaceful heart my friend,  there are new procedures happening out there for us,    Nancy

[Jeanlea]

Hi Karen,

I also notice that my face moves less in the cold weather.  It's like it freezes up.  I try to stay inside.  I also massage my face with my hand and open my mouth and try moving it (when no one is watching).  Luckily it doesn't really hurt, just feels weird.  I wonder if the feeling will ever come back.  Sometimes I think a little of the feeling may be coming back, but I'm not sure. 

Maybe something new will come along soon.

Jean

[Soundy]

I don't have facial paralysis just twitchy eye ...

But when I go out side in the cold my AN side gets cold fast and hurts and I get a droop to
corner of mouth )something that was there a week or so after surgery but went away ) ...also
scalp draws up along scar and get a head ache... it didn't take but a couple trips out in cold for
me to get a goofy looking insulated knit hat with flaps that come down over my ears and cheeks...
my kids think it is hilarious ... I don't care since it keeps my nerves warm and happy and I don't
end up hurting ... being on the farm or at school at least I don't have to have good hair... hat
hair doesn't bother the cows or kids