Trust Our Care for Hemifacial Spasms
Involuntary facial movements, or facial spasms, can be frustrating and awkward. But they don’t have to be permanent, and healing is possible for you or a loved one.
At the AdventHealth Brain and Spine Institute, our caring team can determine the cause of your spasms and provide treatment that restores your comfort, confidence and quality of life. Let’s get started today.
Understanding Hemifacial Spasms
- About Hemifacial Spasms
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A hemifacial spasm is a painless neurological condition that causes involuntary facial muscle twitching, most commonly on only one side of the face.
While it’s generally not considered a medical emergency, it’s important to get immediate medical attention if you have twitching, drooping or other involuntary movements on one side of your face, since these can also be signs of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mini stroke. - Hemifacial Spasm Symptoms
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The most common signs of a hemifacial spasm are twitching facial muscles around the mouth, eye or cheek. Though usually painless, severe spasms can be bothersome and lead to problems, such as hearing and vision loss and ear pain. Spasms may also pull an eyelid completely closed and cause the eye to continually water, potentially affecting your eyesight.
- Facial Spasm Causes
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Facial nerve compression, which is the most common cause of hemifacial spasms, triggers the electrical impulses that cause involuntary face twitching — and abnormal arteries or veins are usually to blame.
Conditions that may contribute to hemifacial spasms include:
- Aneurysm
- Arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
- Arteriovenous fistula
- Bell’s palsy
- Brain tumor
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Hemifacial Spasm Diagnosis
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We may use several tests to diagnose hemifacial spasm and determine why your facial nerve is compressed, including:
- Angiogram: this type of X-ray makes it easier to see blood vessels and vascular abnormalities with the aid of a special dye
- Electromyogram (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity studies: these tests measure nerve and muscle activity in the face
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): an MRI creates detailed images of your brain, which can help determine if you’ve had a stroke or have a brain tumor
Caring for Hemifacial Spasms With Advanced Treatments
We offer surgical and non-surgical treatments that may provide relief from hemifacial spasm, including:
Anticonvulsant Medications
These medications are non-surgical options that can reduce the severity of your symptoms. Botox® treatment for hemifacial spasms may also be effective. This treatment involves injections that help relax affected muscles.
Microvascular Decompression
This is a type of minimally invasive hemifacial spasm surgery. By making a small incision behind the ear and removing a tiny piece of the skull, a surgeon can separate the veins and arteries from the nerve they’re compressing and place a special type of sponge between the nerve and blood vessel to relieve the pressure.
Your doctor will work with you to determine the treatment that’s best for you and your condition.
Expertise That Heals
You can trust our doctors for the knowledge, experience and caring, personalized attention you need to get you back on your feet and back to feeling whole.