New Findings

I have started doing push-ups and it seems to help a bit, albeit ...temporarily. No need to elaborate about push-ups. It squeezes the shoulder blades. It seems the neck needs more extension backwards from its base. Arching the whole back upwards might help too, but I'm still experimenting.

To counter the tendency of the eye to close, I add forced smiling with gritted teeth and try to open the eye wide while performing the push-ups.

Why the eye muscles have become weaker may be due to botoxing in the past.

Let's see after a month of this regime. Lots of work ahead.

Cheerio.

My latest conviction is that HFS is a by-product of spinal arthritis.

Lately I have been "attacking" the nuchal ridge, doing a lot of head nodding and rotations around the C1 area. At this level there is a thick band of fascia, probably the thickest in the human body as the skull protects the brain.

After 4 sessions of myofascial release treatments where beneficial result was temporary, I decided to work at the base of the skull. But while the 4 sessions was mainly directed at the neck fascias, I believe working at all hurtful areas of the spine helps the cause as well.

It is the beginning of working on skull nodding and shaking. There are noises at this level.

Doing this has improved the left eye spasms.

Do try out after good body massages.

And if you also find improvements, some feedback would be most appreciated!

....

I'm still here, coping quite well with the condition. I know some ways that help living with the conditions and am not afraid to live with it.

1) Avoid bright light; I have 3 grades of tinted glasses.

2) Avoid head down and don't sit too long.

3) Don't sleep towards the left side if you have left side HFS.

4) Do stretches to touch the ground keeping legs straight, but avoid starining the knees.

5) Lean back, from shoulder blades up more. Arching backwards helps the neck curve. In the morning, the eyes are usually very calm - the best time of the day!

6) Although people might notice the eye closure, they usually pass off, its within yourself that you feel embarrassed. Most people suffer lots of other conditions and nobody is 100%. Friends will accept you, no worries. You don't have plaque!

7) I suspect the condition of HFS is caused by spinal arthritis, and arthritis creams, voltaren cream can help a bit, but muscle energy techniques, counterstraining, can provide some support. Any previous lumbar damage can be considered a contributory cause as the spine is from the the atlas to the coccyx. 

I have not found any cure yet unfortunately. Despite great efforts.

I hope some of you out there are finding these self efforts worthwhile and mentally coping well.

Cheers.

For those of you who have followed this thread, I have stated before that HFS seems to have causative factors (etiology) in the spine but at what level? C2,3,4,5,6?  The head is a heavy object to carry around, especially those who have a big head relative to the size of the spine or body.

My implication/inference is that the head weight places a lot of stress on the cervical vertebrae and can lead to conditions that generate a  lot of suffering like cervical spondylosis, cervical dystonia, tension headaches etc,,, and I have warned against too much "head down" as in knitting, cooking, dentistry, texting and other similar activities as it changes the curvature of the cervical segment of the spine.

So once again, for those who are suffering from HFS and want to know more about how to alleviate the symptom of eye closure, here is another useful manouver:-

Placing your head on the pillow, outstretch the left arm, palm down, turn the head to the right, and press down you feel the stretch at the base of the neck and pectoris area. Not too forcefully, but with just enough tension for 5 seconds to feel some stretching there. Do the opposite side next.

Finish with another press with forehead on pillow, hands bent and palms down, squeezing your scapulae together.

These are isometric stretches, meaning stretching without movement. It can be considered a counter-strain move as well.

You should find your HFS better, albeit for a while. And how good is that for a temporary reprieve?

Cheers. and till next time...

I just found this thread and have had hfs for 4 years and don't want surgery. I cannot accept that there is no known cause and I appreciate reading your posts. Any updates since your last post?

Hello. I'm new to this forum and wanted to share my experiences to date with HMS. I was diagnosed with Mild-Moderate HMS in the Fall of 2017 after my right eye twitched for 6 months. After 4 months I was able to see a Neurologist in DFW area who was knowledgeable of HMS. We started with the Anti-Convulsants which didn't help. Next was Botox at UTSW.. I have had 5 treats the last few years and due to a crooked smile and a droopy face I've decided to stop Botox..... Next I tried Wellbutrin which actually helped by taking my mind off the spasms, but created other problems.... Next I started trying to understand the underlying cause. In 2004 I had Cervical fusions at C5-C6 adn C7-- two levels. I still have bone spurs at C3-C5. I've started Yoga, and it is helping somewhat... I think it's part mind and the other being the stretching of the neck. Another tool that has helped is a massage wand I bought from Amazon (Sonic Wave--- $125)... I know it's a little expensive, but using this wand to massage my neck, shoulder and face provides temporary (20minutes to and hour) of 90% relief... This lead me to believe my muscles are compressing a facial nerve..... Next... and I'm not advocating but it's helping me as much or more is a traction device given to me by a B'ham Neuro-Surgeon before my Cervical surgery in 2004... I lay flat on the floor and stretch my neck for 5-6 minutes using what feels to be 4-5 pounds of pull. This has helped more than anything else.. We're all different and again I'm not advocating this approach but it is helping me. I've read and heard of MVD.. I hear it's 85-90% effective, but my doc says what they don't share is it only works for a while and some folks have the same issues after a few years.Good luck to everyone.. This is the best Forum I've found to date.. Please continue to share what is helping or working... I'll do likewise. J.T.