What Is a Hemifacial Spasm?
An abrupt, involuntary contraction of a muscle or set of muscles is known as a spasm. Half of the face is called hemifacial. The facial nerve is liable for all facial muscle controls. Both sides of the face have their own facial nerve. It begins deep inside the brain and travels through a number of structures before arriving at the face. The facial muscles can contract or relax by receiving signals from our brain through the facial nerve. The facial nerve, for instance, causes us to blink, twitch our noses, and pout our lips.
Signal transmission to the face may be impacted if a nerve is compressed at any point along its path. When individuals do not want their muscles to contract, this could cause them to twitch or contract or even go into spasm. A hemifacial spasm is not another brief twitch of the facial muscles. For instance, there are differences between blepharospasms, which are muscular spasms around the eyes, and face tics and twitches. Both sides of the face can frequently be affected by various other disorders, though not always simultaneously.
How Does Hemifacial Spasm Manifest?
Tic convulsions are another name for hemifacial spasms. They might at first only be minute, hardly perceptible tics around the lips, cheek, or eyelid. The tics could spread to other areas of the face over time. Men and women can experience hemifacial spasms, but women over 40 are more likely to do so. Additionally, they seem to happen more frequently on the left side of the face.
Hemifacial spasms themselves do not pose a threat. But a persistent facial spasm can be annoying or uncomfortable. In extreme situations, the impact of these spasms on speaking or the reflexive closure of the eyes can restrict function. These spasms could occasionally be a sign of an underlying illness or a structural flaw in the face. The nerves may be compressed or damaged by either of these factors, which will cause the facial muscles to twitch.
What Causes the Hemifacial Spasm?
Compressed facial nerves are the cause of hemifacial spasms. The organs that transmit electrical impulses from one area of the body to another are known as nerves. The nervous system in the body is composed of a network of electrical signals. Twitches typically happen when a blood vessel, which is a tube that delivers blood throughout the body, presses against a facial nerve. Neck and head tumors that are benign (non-cancerous) can also irritate the nerves. Sometimes there is no visible reason why the face twitches. Healthcare professionals refer to the disorder as idiopathic hemifacial spasm when there is no recognized etiology.
What Are the Symptoms of Hemifacial Spasms?
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One side of the face twitches uncontrollably as the initial sign of a hemifacial spasm. The eyelid may initially experience muscle contractions as a slight twitching that may not be particularly bothersome. It is called blepharospasm. One might find that the twitching intensifies when they are stressed or exhausted. These eyelid spasms might occasionally cause the eye to totally close or to tear up.
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The portions of the face where the twitching currently affects may become more obvious with time. Other areas of the same side of the face and body may also start to twitch, such as the lips, eyebrows, jaw, upper neck, chin, and cheeks around the mouth.
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Hemifacial spasms can occasionally affect all the muscles on one side of the face. One might get spasms when they are asleep. Individuals may have other signs as the spasms expand, such as:
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Alterations in their hearing.
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Ringing in their ears (tinnitus).
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Ear pain, especially behind the ear.
How to Diagnose Hemifacial Spasm?
A doctor will conduct a physical examination and look for indicators of hemifacial spasm to determine the cause of the disease. Imaging tests could be required to identify the root cause of the problem and create the best treatment plan for it.
A magnetic field and radio waves are used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to produce precise images of the skull and identify the origin of the hemifacial spasm. When performing a magnetic resonance angiography to search for any aberrant blood vessels that might be causing the facial nerve to become irritated, the doctor may inject a contrast dye into a blood artery.
A hemifacial spasm can sometimes be diagnosed without the use of an MRI or other imaging tests. Based on the symptoms and a clinical examination, the physician might be able to identify the illness. If the symptoms are unusual or patients are getting ready for surgery, they might need to have an imaging test.
How Is Hemifacial Spasm Treated?
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Injections of botulinum toxin (Botox), which results in a slight, partial paralysis of the muscle and ceases the spasm, are typically the first line of treatment for hemifacial spasms. Since the paralysis is only temporary, injections must be given again about every six months. The facial muscles are changed with botulinum toxin, which over time may cause the treated side of the face to flatten. Botox injections should not be administered until imaging scans, and other tests have ruled out the presence of a tumor or lesion because an accurate diagnosis is essential to effective treatment.
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In circumstances where hemifacial spasm is more severe, a surgical procedure called microvascular decompression is the more effective and preferable cure. The artery that disturbs the nerve as it emerges from the brainstem is moved in this highly successful microsurgery operation. Relief generally comes right away.
Conclusion:
Hemifacial spasms can get aggravated if left untreated because they tend to get worse over time, especially if they cover an entire side of the face. Being open about having spasms with your loved ones will make an individual feel more supported while they cope with the condition's symptoms. Hemifacial spasms can be managed at home, with medicine, or with surgery. If patients adhere to their doctor's recommendations, they should be able to minimize muscular twitching. One can learn how to control their spasms better by joining a support group.
