Facial hemispasm: causes, symptoms, treatment

Hemifacial spasm is a disease in which uncontrolled contractions of the muscles on one side of the face are observed. This condition looks like a lead to the side of the corner of the mouth or tip of the nose, closing and squinting of the eye. Cramps of the facial muscles can occur due to stress, cold exposure or bright light. The duration of the pulsation is from a few seconds to an hour.

With the development of the disease, skin folds and wrinkles appear on the affected half of the face. Facial hemispasm does not go away for a long time, of course, there are short-term improvements in the form of the absence of involuntary seizures.

The main causes of the development of Brissot's disease

As already known, hemispasm is a disorder, accompanied by periodic contractions of the facial muscles. Such convulsions do not cause pain. A similar ailment can occur as a result of compression of the radicular section of the facial nerve located in the brain stem. However, the exact causes provoking nervous disorders are not yet known to medicine.

The most popular theory of the occurrence of involuntary muscle pulsation is the compression of the nerves of the face due to the expansion of blood vessels that are located at the base of the brain. It is for this reason that people with hypertension and other circulatory disorders are prone to hemaphasic spasm.

facial hemispasm

Facial hemispasm usually develops amid the following problems:

  • long intake of hormonal drugs and antibiotics;
  • multiple sclerosis;
  • heavy drug use;
  • injuries with further damage to the subcortical areas of the brain;
  • tumors in the brain stem.

By the way, facial hemispasm causes can be hereditary. Damage to the nerves of the face in many cases occurs in those whose relatives suffered from a similar ailment. Such a pathology most often has a permanent character, therefore any irritating factors can lead to cramps in the muscles of the face. For example, eating, a sudden change in temperature, coughing and sounds too loud.

It should be remembered that facial hemispasm is a disease caused by nervous disorders. When the frequency of seizures increases, then the pathology continues to develop, which quite often affects the general well-being of the patient.

Facial hemispasm: symptoms

facial hemispasm treatment

The onset of classical hemifacial spasm is accompanied by periodic convulsions of the circular muscles of the eye. Attacks of pinched nerve with the development of the disease begin to become more frequent, and the lesion area expand. When Brissot's disease covers completely one side of the face, the eye ceases to see. Atypical hemispasm of the facial nerve, on the contrary, begins with a contraction of the muscles of the cheek, passing gradually to the eye.

Among the main symptoms of hemificial spasm, characteristic signs such as:

  • Involuntary cramps that do not go away even during sleep.
  • The occurrence of an attack due to stress, panic fear, overwork and overexcitation.
  • On the affected side of the face, expressively traced nasolabial folds.
  • The facial muscles are greatly weakened, the eyelids cannot close to the end, and when you close your eyes, an eyebrow is raised.

In addition, with hemispasm, the face becomes asymmetric: in the half where the disease provokes muscle contraction, the wing of the nose and the corner of the mouth are raised.

Diagnostic measures

facial hemispasm photo

The doctor makes this diagnosis based on the clinical picture of the disease and the patient's complaints. Facial hemispasm, the photo of which is presented below, begins, as a rule, from the lower eyelid. Over time, the pathology passes to the muscles of the neck, cheeks and chin. At first, the disease has clonic convulsions, which, as the disease develops, acquire a tonic-clonic character.

Instrumental methods of examination only help confirm or exclude the presence of neoplasms in the cranial cavity, where the root of the nerve of the face is located. Magnetic resonance imaging is performed to detect the proximity of the facial nerve and vessel. True, neuro-vascular conflict in people with such a pathology is not always detected.

Facial hemispasm: treatment

hemispasm of the facial nerve

Such an ailment is treated in many ways. The choice of method depends on the factors provoking seizures, as well as the nature of the manifestation of a nervous disorder. Only the doctor can choose the most effective treatment after performing diagnostic tests and detecting potential contraindications to various drugs.

Hemispasm of the facial nerve, the treatment of which is carried out in several ways, can be eliminated only if all the doctor's recommendations are followed. Botulinum toxin is often used today for the symptomatic treatment of hemificial spasm. It is recommended to be administered 2-3 times a year. The result from such injections lasts up to 4 months, so patients have to repeat them regularly.

Psychological therapy also helps to save a person from involuntary convulsions of facial muscles, especially when various emotional and stress factors provoke their appearance. Specialists at their sessions teach patients self-control techniques so that they can avoid negative manifestations and reduce stress.

facial hemispasm treatment

Hemispasm is also treated with electrical stimulation. Such treatment is aimed at improving blood circulation in the muscles of the face, which helps to reduce the level of pathological excitability. Moreover, such a procedure promotes the production of hormones that favorably affect the facial muscles.

Drug therapy

In most cases, facial hemispasm is eliminated with special drugs. These drugs have a calming effect on the roots of the facial nerves. Medication involves taking medications aimed at preventing inflammatory processes and improving blood circulation.

Surgical removal of hemispasm

Often with involuntary contraction of the facial muscles, doctors resort to neurosurgery. During surgery, a teflon protector is implanted in the area between the nerves of the face and the blood vessels. Thus, it is possible to prevent compression of the nerve endings, as a result of which the disease cannot develop. This operation is carried out by patients up to 40 years old.

Treatment of hemispasm of the face with folk remedies

But before proceeding to such treatment, it is necessary to understand that traditional medicine will not completely cure the disease, it will only help alleviate the condition. In addition, you should consult with a specialist.

An effective tool in the fight against involuntary convulsions of the face is a compress with lemon juice and garlic. To prepare it, you must first clean and grind several cloves of this plant, and then pour the resulting slurry with water.

facial hemispasm symptoms

Such a product is boiled for 5 minutes, then it should be cooled and lemon juice added to it, mix well and put on gauze. A compress is applied to the affected area on the face until warm, then a new mass is prepared. A similar procedure is repeated until the unpleasant symptoms of the disease disappear.

You can try to treat hemaphacial spasm by the root of the marshmallow. A few spoons of this component should be poured with boiled water and left to infuse for 8 hours. In the resulting product, the fabric is moistened and applied to the face, paper and a woolen scarf are placed on top of it. Compress is best applied in the evening before bedtime. The procedure must be carried out about 7 days.

A compress from a white bulb helps to fight this pathology quite well. First of all, it must be passed through a meat grinder, and the resulting mixture should be distributed between the layers of the napkin and applied to the problem area.

Getting rid of hemispasm in another way

If pain is felt during involuntary contractions of the facial muscles, then geranium leaves should be used. They must be laid on a small piece of linen cloth and pressed to the affected area. The procedure should be performed at least 3 times a day, constantly replacing the leaves with fresh ones. The signs of hemispasm should decrease in a few hours.

facial hemispasm causes

Nutrition for cramps of facial muscles

Therapy prescribed by the doctor is more effective if the patient is on a diet. It is advisable to use foods rich in magnesium, group B vitamins and potassium with this ailment. Such components reduce the risk of developing hemispasm. It is also recommended to limit or completely exclude coffee and fatty foods from the diet.


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