Hemifacial spasm is a disorder of the nervous system. When a person suffers from it, the muscles on one side of their face move involuntarily.
What are the symptoms?
Basically the spasms or contractions of the muscles of the face that, in general, occur on one side of the face, without pain, but without being able to control.
Of course, the most severe cases can have such frequent and intense contractions that they make it difficult, for example, to read, watch television, walk or drive, because people close one eye and it can be really uncomfortable and even dangerous.
What Causes a Hemifacial Spasm?
In most cases it occurs when a blood vessel touches the facial nerve. It can also be caused by an injury to the facial nerves or by a tumor.
But the truth is that, many times, there is no identifiable cause.
However, as a physician, I have been able to see how anxiety, stress and extreme fatigue due to our modern lifestyle can trigger this condition.
On the other hand, hemifacial spasm affects both men and women, although it is more common in middle-aged and older women.
How is a hemifacial spasm diagnosed?
Through a physical examination, where we will look for signs of hemifacial spasm. Imaging tests may also be necessary, especially if symptoms are unusual or if the specialist is considering surgery.
For example, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a magnetic field and creates detailed images of the head, allowing the cause of hemifacial spasm to be determined.
What is the right treatment?
This condition is usually treated with botulinum toxin (botox to paralyze affected muscles) or another medication (such as anticonvulsants), but if the medications are not effective, surgery may be necessary.
The surgical intervention is called vascular decompression and serves to separate an abnormal artery from the nerve, placing a small sponge or pillow between them.
What does this surgery consist of?
In decompression surgery, the doctor makes a hole in the skull and opens the membrane that covers the brain to expose the facial nerve where it exits the brain stem.
Next, the surgeon locates the blood vessel that presses on the facial nerve and places a spongy material between the nerve and the blood vessel. This should remove pressure on the nerve and relieve hemifacial spasm, restoring quality of life to the patient.
In fact, this treatment for people with hemifacial spasm is similar to that of the trigeminal nerve that we have already talked about in this blog.
Other procedures include removing parts of the facial nerve with surgery and radiofrequency thermocoagulation.
If you suffer from hemifacial spasm, contact me as soon as possible. We will find the most suitable treatment and you will soon feel like new.
