Facial Twitches: Seeking Answers

[ekatielee]

First of all I have to say that I'm so pleased to have found this site.

I've been experiencing facial twitches (around my eye, cheek and mouth on one side of my face) for about three weeks now. I'm headed for an MRI tomorrow, but my GP thinks that it's nothing to worry about and related to stress. Over the course of the past few weeks I've been convinced that I have ALS, MS, a brain tumor or any number of other mysterious problems. I'm still anxious about it as it's an unsettling condition and one that I was completely unaware of until today.

Has anyone else had constant facial twitching in just one side of their face? Also, has anyone had a loss of facial symmetry as a result? My smile appears "off center" and my one eye appears smaller than the one on the unaffected side, but I have no weakness. Scary stuff - I'd appreciate any insights! Thanks.

 

[owingDuckWhistler777]

I've had one-sided facial twitching for about 6 months but no asymmetry or weakness. I understand from my neuro that facial twitching in als is incredibly rare. On the grounds that common things occur commonly, could this be early Bell's Palsy?

Let us know how you get on!

David

 

[starGalaxyGazer]

Hi,
I don't think you have ALS. ALS usually starts in libms not face. Face twiching is very uncomon in ALS untill bulbar area is affected (usually it's a last stage of disease).
Anyway, I think you should see a neuro, because there are other neuro conditions which can apear in face first. Just to ease your mind.

And the most important: FACE TWICHING (EYELIDS, MOUNTH AREA) IS VERY VERY OFTEN STRESS RELATED.

regards
Marcin

 

[dylan.dibber1]

i've had fairly extensive facial twitches for over a year now -- and of course i've had the eyelid twitches since as long as i can remember. last summer, i even found that the muscles in my face would get tired quickly, like i couldn't maintain a smile without the muscles starting to tremble and hurt.... well, it's been a year, and those symptoms wax and wane, but they're no worse now than they were a year ago. it does drive me nuts, but clearly if it was related to ALS then i wouldn't be able to do much, let alone smile (which i can do, no problem ), at this point in time.

 

[ekatielee]

Thanks for all the reassurances! It's horrible to wake up in the middle of the night and be terrified over something as seemingly silly as a facial twitch, but my mind couldn't stop wandering from worst case scenario to even worse case scenario. I'll know much more after my MRI and if things persist, I'll head to a neuro. Today is my first day at my new gym, so I'm hoping that a little excercise will eliminate most of my stress.

It's great to see how well all of you seem to be dealing with this (I'm sure once a BFS 'diagnosis' is made, it gets easier to deal with the symptoms to a certain exent) - what a great community and thanks again for providing some much needed support.

Stacey

 

[Tweeker]

One thing with exercise is that it will probably increase your twitching. Personally, my muscles twitch like mad after exercising.