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Right cheek spasam with headaches

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annaaw
annaaw

Ihave had my right cheek in spasam for 9 months with bad headaches and pressure in eyes. was told i have TMJ. I would like to try remendy Spzm

and the mask. I have been on norflex  and take Zanax 3 times a day 0.25 mg and advil 3 times a day total of 900 mg.  Been to er 5 times in 6 weeks and all they do is give me different meds to try .Do you think your mask and SPMZ would help me .Ifeel like my right cheek is trying to thaw out sometimes i get these little movements. Please respond

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Roseann
    Roseann annaaw

    Posted

    Hi Anna.  Just wondering if you have had an MRI scan to confirm your diagnosis?  I think it's quite unusual to have headaches or pressure behind eyes with Hemifacial Spasm but not sure if this is a symptom of Trigeminal Neuralgia?  The right diagnosis is so important to getting the right symptom control.  If you have hemifacial spasm then it seems to be generally accepted that no medication is going to work (sorry).  SPZM seems to be something which just a few people have had a small degree of success with and the other thing that people seem to be trying is turmeric paste (taken in the right dose and checking that it will not interfere with other medications you might be taking).  But you have to remember that neither of these natural remedies is medically proven.  You might want to join the Facebook Hemifacial Spasm Support Group where turmeric has been quite widely discussed by members.  It's also useful to put a video of your spasms on the Facebook site so that members can say whether it resembles the facial movement that they experience with HFS.  Quite a few people on the HFS group also have trigeminal neuralgia.  I imagine that you must be in the US or Canada?  There are lots of people from US and Canada in the Facebook groups.  

    Do hope you find something to give you some relief.  The best weapon you can have in your armoury is the right diagnosis coupled with as much information as possible from these helpful sites.  I had HFS for 9 years and eventually had surgery in the UK last year.  I am now symptom free and it's fantastic.  Wishing you the best.  Roseann 

    • annaaw
      annaaw Roseann

      Posted

      HI Roseann ,Yes i have had a mri cat scan of sinus and all were normal.

      I was told i have TMJ.The thing that botheres me most is i just feel like its sinus.When i lie down it gets worse.My ENT tells me i have supreem sinus. My headaches are between my eyes and the bridge of my nose is tender.When i put sunglasses on and after i take them off

      it trigers the headache.I also can't lay on my side when i do and get up i get a rush and the pressure is there .Ihave been to the er 5 times in the last 6 weeks.all they do is give me a pill to take and a script.So far Norflex helps a little bit.and 0.25 mg zanax 3 times a day.This started after i had my teeth cleaned .It seems like when ever i have my teeth worked on the next day i suffer.But i was told i do not ha Trigeminal nuralgia.Ido not get shocks .

       

  • Roseann
    Roseann annaaw

    Posted

    Sorry Anna I was confusing TMJ with Trigeminal Neuralgia.  I just looked up TMJ on our UK health site and here is some of the advice they give:

    Lifestyle changes

    There are a number of self-help measures that can help improve Temporomandibular (jaw) joint disorder , including:

    resting the joint by eating soft food and avoiding chewing gum

    holding a warm or cold flannel to the jaw after doing a few gentle jaw-stretching exercises

    avoiding opening the joint too wide

    massaging the muscles around the joint

    relaxation exercises to relieve stress (people tend to clench their jaw when stressed)

    not resting your chin on your hand

    Mouth guards

    Mouth guards (plastic mouthpieces that fit over your teeth) may be helpful if you grind your teeth. These cover the teeth at night to reduce jaw clenching and teeth grinding, and can be made to measure by your dentist.

    Read more about treatments for teeth grinding.

    Medication

    Paracetamol, ibuprofen or codeine can help relieve pain. If these are not strong enough, ask your GP if they can prescribe you a muscle relaxant or tricyclic antidepressant, which may be more effective at relieving the pain.

    Steroid injections

    If your TJD is caused by a disease such as arthritis, you may benefit from a steroid injection into the jaw joint.

    A steroid injection can help reduce pain and swelling in a joint or the surrounding soft tissue. Most people report feeling less pain within the first 24 hours to one week. You may find that your pain improves for a period of a few weeks to several months, and in some cases the injection resolves the pain completely.

    Hope there are some useful hints here for you, but expect you've already explored all of these options with your doctor. 

    • annaaw
      annaaw Roseann

      Posted

      Thanks Roseann. I have such bad headaches from muscle spasams in my face. Doctor put me on Neurotin.  It helps a little.The headaches are between my eyes and over my brows.So much pressure on right eye it twitches because of the spasams.What a way to live .I went er 5 times in one month. They say to go to a nuroligist.
    • Roseann
      Roseann annaaw

      Posted

      How hard this must be for you Anna.  I also took neurontin (for a frozen shoulder) and although it did kill the pain, it made me feel as if I was on another planet most of the time.  Have you considered paying privately to see a neurologist?  I eventually did this because I wasn't getting anywhere with the doctors I was seeing for my HFS.  It cost me £250 for the consultation and then another £450 for an MRI scan but it was the best money I have ever spent.  Eventually I had surgery and now I am completely better.  Hope you will find some answers to this awful pain and spasms.  x
  • rosie60552
    rosie60552 annaaw

    Posted

    I have the exact same problem and was told it was TMJ. I already had a diagnosis of TMJ and am aware that I had it, so the diagnosis was not useful. I don’t care about my popping jaw as much as I do the horrible headaches!

     I am going to see a neurolologist about the pain because their suggestion of taking anti-innflamatory medication is not enough. I am convinced that the spasms are hitting a nerve somewhere. Hopefully a neurologist will be able to determine it.

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