Facial Spasms

Facial muscle contractions (spasms) cover many kinds of twitching sensations that occur in the face. Out here, the muscles experience a facial nerve contraction. The facial nerve is rooted in the brainstem, where it trails outside the skull, just below the ear. This is where it is then separated by five branches. It is a motor nerve that controls the facial movements of the mouth, lips, eyes, and eyebrows.

There are different kinds of facial muscle contractions that one can experience.

► Oromandibular Dystonia
This kind of spasm occurs in the lower part of the face, around the tongue, jaw, and pharynx to be precise. Meige syndrome occurs when dystonia combines with blepharospasm. Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder and blepharospasm is a neurological condition characterized by forcible closure of eyelids.

► Facial Myokymia
Facial twitching that causes a ripple-like effect under the skin is known as vermicular twitching. This sort of a spasm takes place in recurrent episodes that start and stop for a few seconds at a time.

► Craniofacial Tremor
This is a focal motor seizure, most commonly associated with those suffering from thyroid dysfunction, Parkinson's disease, or electrolyte disturbances. Usually, the lower face is affected by this spasm and one experiences a weakening effect right after a seizure.

► Hemimasticatory Spasm
This spasm is similar to what is called a hemifacial spasm (affecting one side of the face) in which one suffers from unilateral involuntary contractions that are triggered by the motor trigeminal nerve.

► Facial Chorea
This takes place in those suffering from Sydenham chorea or Huntington disease. The twitches are inconsistent and occur in random movements. A similar disorder called Orofacial Dyskinesia, which takes place in the old, is characterized by spasms that occur around the mouth and lips.

► Myoclonic Movements
This takes place due to lesions present in the brainstem or brain and is a spasm that is sudden and jerk-like in nature. This is known to be a disabling kind of problem.

This problem is of two kinds, namely: cortical myoclonus that affects the functioning of organs in the motor/sensory cortex and the other is subcortical myoclonus that occurs due to a brainstem abnormality in the spinal inhibitory circuits.

► Facial Tics
These spasms take place in the neck and face muscles and are brief and recurrent with no muscle pain. These are associated with Tourette's syndrome and take place in random body parts as well. For example, one can experience an upward jerk in the shoulders, rapid eye twitching, or even facial grimacing.

Other causes for muscle spasms and twitches besides the above-mentioned include vascular compression, Bell's palsy, idiopathic diseases, multiple sclerosis, or compression of the facial nerve.

There are three kinds of alternatives given to patients to help them cope with the recurring and disturbing spasms.

➜ Botox Injection
Botulinum bacteria produces the botulinum toxin or most commonly known as botox. It is injected into the muscle causing it to paralyze upon insertion. This blocks the electrical impulses that signal the muscles to react.

The neurotransmitter called acetylcholine carries messages to the muscle for this very function. These are blocked upon botox insertion to control spasms. This works for a couple of days or three months in some cases although spasms can occur again in the future due to the presence of antibodies from the repeated botox use.

Eyes can get irritated/sensitive, facial muscles become weak, and the eyelids begin to droop.

➜ Surgery
Microvascular decompression is a procedure in which the doctors relieve the patients by targeting the problem of nerve compression. This is done by carrying out a procedure called craniotomy in which a hole is made into the bone that is behind the head, exposing the facial nerve inside. A Teflon sponge is then placed between the blood vessel and facial nerve to avoid impulses from coursing through in those suffering from muscle spasms.

➜ Medication
Some Drugs are given in order to relax the muscles in mild cases. A closer eye is kept on patients to help reduce the chances of blood disorders from taking place by regulating the level of drugs present in the system.

With these options available, patients should be able to explore what works best for them and benefit from controlled spasm movements. Have a healthy tomorrow!

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.