When does the temp facial go away

[m4guzman]

Hi

I had surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago.  The doctors said that my facial nerve looked good and I think that when I was in
recovery that I was moving my face with no problems.  4 hours later.  I could not move.  The doctors are saying it is temporary.  Has this happened to any one.  When and how does it come back.  I know I have to be patient but I just want to know.   And by the way I am starting to feel good.  I am walking about 1 mile a day.  Have not pain at all.  Just a little dizzy and my left eye has to to taped shut at night.  But I really am starting to feel good.

Thanks

Marybeth

[jazzfunkanne]

Hi Marybeth, everyones facial recovery is different, my facial nerve got a bit of bruising , i have been doing facial exercies daily , i am seeing good improvments i am 2 and half years down the line , my AN was on the  large side over 4.5cm.

[saralynn143]

Marybeth, delayed facial paralysis typically resolves much faster and with a much better outcome than the immediate paralysis. It's very common after surgery for hemifacial spasm, which is the condition I had. See Predicting Facial Nerve Recovery here: http://neurosurgery.mgh.harvard.edu/CranialBaseCenter/b95.htm#Move

It's good sign that you could move your face in the recovery room. I knew right away that I had facial paralysis.

People with HFS typically recover from the delayed paralysis within six weeks or so, but of course everyone is different.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Sara

[leapyrtwins]

Marybeth -

glad you are starting to feel good. 

As jfanne said, facial nerves do regenerate.  Unfortunately no one can give you a definite time frame as to when yours will.

So, although it's hard, have patience and come to the forum often for support.

Best,

Jan

[cindyj]

Hi, Marybeth!  I was a delayed facial paralysis person - woke up just fine, but within hours of surgery, had the "temporary" paralysis.  Mine was all but gone within 7-8 weeks.  I never did any facial exercises.  The worst part of it, for me, was the eye - eye drops every 20 minutes or so, etc.  I tried to tape my eye shut, but it bothered me so much, I ended up just not doing it.  The only lingering facial trouble I have now at 6 months post-op, is that I still bite my lip every once in awhile and when I'm tired, my speech gets a bit sloppy.  Just enough for my husband to have something to continue to tease me about

Be patient as much as you can!  It's great that you are out walking - keep it up!

Cindy

[NancyMc]

Hi, Marybeth.
I'm 5 weeks and two days post-op.  My facial nerve responded well in the OR, and I'm told I looked pretty normal that evening.  But the next day in the ICU, you should have seen the doctors coming in one by one and saying, "Oh!" when they saw me.  It was pretty comical.  They told me that it would be six weeks to 2 years.  I have noticed some improvement in the last week.  I'll try to get another photo posted to compare with the one I posted on my SpaDay thread at 12 days.  That one was horrifying to me.  Then you can all laugh at my new hairdo!
Like you, I have had a very lucky outcome, no pain at all post-op, no balance issues.  I don't use eye drops or eye gel any more, only did that for about a week or two at most.  Like Cindy, I bite my lip when I try to eat a sandwich.
Hang in there.  I almost lost my patience with it last night, but the numbness of my ear beat out the face, SSD, and tinnitus for most annoying.  Competing symptoms . . .
Nancy

[Keri]

I'm 3 1/2 months post op  - my facial paralysis was very bad at first, but my mouth movement has gotten better. Now, my smile looks almost normal (but I still take a lousy picture, did pre op too!); my eye is still a bit problematic. It closers more now, sort of. The thing is, it waters (I get a tear rolling down my cheek almost every I eat, and it's not usually from my cooking). Since it's watering, I haven't been using drops/ gel / ointment as much.  A million people have told me that facial nerve problems take time but do get better. I'm finding that true. My mouth on one side still feels like it's moving slowly, and when I'm tired my speech is a bit slurred. My eye requires more attention and help and care, but that's getting better too.

Keri

[TaraT]

Hi Marybeth!  I had my surgery 7-1/2 weeks ago.  When I woke up in the ICU, I had some facial function and then nothing.  I still have nothing.  I cannot close my eye.  My doctor just keeps saying give it time and that it will come back.  He gave me exercises to do when I feel a twitch.  Still waiting for that twitch.

I am glad you are feeling better! 

Tara

[Migoi]

One of the maddening things about AN's (and there are many) is that they can't seem to find a good time schedule and stick to it. When I was looking into my little problem I found the "average" ranges of almost all aspects of AN's and their treatments to be so broad as to be almost meaningless. Being only slightly left brained than Spock, this inability to chart or graph information to help with decision making was frustrating... at some point I learned to just embrace the freeform and go with my gut.

I too was one of those that woke up from the surgery with pretty much full facial function and then saw it completely disappear over the next few hours. About a week after discharge I was given a course of Prednisone (spelling?) and started regaining function after about 8 to 9 weeks. The doctor and I did have a pretty long discussion about the side effects of the steriods..they were worried it would cause facial hair growth, but as you can see from my avatar that didn't happen with me...still have that babyfaced smoothness like when I was 8.

Just a bit of residual bugginess at this point. The recovery process also seems to have very few instances where data points behave like data points are suppose to (bad data point...go sit in your time out corner) and group into a useful pattern.

It's good to hear that you are feeling good and your recovery seems to be progressing...congratulations.

[m4guzman]

Thanks everyone for your reply.  I do not know what I would do without this forum.
Everyone is different, and so is every operation so I guess I just have to be patient.  I will
keep everyone posted.
 Keri, thats for the laughs.  It is important to have a good sence of humor during recovery. 

Thanks

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

The fact that you displayed movement post surgery usually means that your facial recovery prognosis is good.

Nerve regeneration can range from 3 months to 3 years. I strongly recommend that until movement returns that you avoid caffeine and alcohol as these interfere with the nervous system. Until the movement returns you may also want to avoid sleeping on the paralyzed side of the face.

Have faith and hang in there- recovery DOES happen.

DHM

[NancyMc]

I hadn't heard anything about alcohol, caffeine, and not sleeping on the AN side.  I'm doing all three!

[salamander]

Oh Oh.  I've been sleeping on my AN side.  I also use a heating pad on that side for awhile in the evening.  No idea if anything helps because nothing has started moving for me yet at 6 months.  People say it is looking better, but I think the pictures I've taken all look alike.  Month 1, Month 2, etc.

My facial nerve was kind of finicky during surgery and then they lost it at the end.  The tumor was very sticky and stuck to the nerve.  My doctors said it was intact and would just need time (more than I would like) to heal.  I think healing just depends on how irritated the nerve gets during surgery.  Once again, we each get our own story out of this experience.  ANs are definitely NOT "one size fits all".

At first, I kind of convinced myself that nobody was leveling with me and that it was permanent.  However, I have felt very encouraged by hearing several people on this forum get it back at varying times up to 3 years.

Samanatha

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

Heat on the AN tumor affected side of the face is fine. However place the heat on top of your face- not the other way around.

DHM

[LADavid]

DHM -- That is the first I have heard of avoiding alcohol and caffine.  If this is the case, I have some screaming to do.  No one warned me of that.  If this is how I wound up with synkinesis....

David