Are you experiencing spasms in one side of your face? You might be having the disorder called hemifacial spasms. You must know that each and every spasms that occur in your face is not always due to hemifacial spasms.
Hemifacial spasms is a rare disorder most commonly seen among middle aged females. It is characterized by sudden irregular clonic spasms of the facial muscles. The severity of the spasms can vary from very mild to severe. People with very severe spasms may usually find it very distressing and disfiguring.
What is the cause for hemifacial spasms? There are several causes, but most of the time it is idiopathic. It means that there are no identifiable cause. Following are some well identified causes for hemifacial spasms.
- Following Bell's palsy - Bell's palsy is a disorder characterized by sudden onset of facial muscle weakness. People can develop hemifacial spasms after recovering from Bell's palsy.
- Acaustic neuroma - Acaustic neuroma is a type of tumor involving the eighth nerve that can also have its effects on the facial nerve as well. As a result, the muscles of the face supplied by the affected nerve can start aving spasms.
- Paget's disease withing the skull base
- Pressure from the vessels in the cerebellopontine angle.
The disorder is treated according to the severity Mild cases do not require any treatment. Severe disease is managed with botulinum toxin injection. Decompression of the facial nerve at the cerebellopontine angle can also be done.
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