2017 was a year of many firsts.
- For the first time, I had my annual MRI without any anxiety medication
- I did my first Reiki course
- Rather embarrassingly, I smoked weed for the first time
- Started using CBD oil
And, also decided to try Botox.
Wait what??!!
One of the symptoms that I’m experiencing is so called hemifacial spasm, a condition in which the muscles contract in tics or twitches on one side of the face, the right in my case.
I have observed slow deterioration of the spasm during the last years. The effect is mostly cosmetic and it did impact my self-confidence quite a bit.
I have been doing intensive neuro-physio, which would restore some of the control of my facial muscles.
However, the results of the exercises were not substantial. After discussing it with my neuro-oncology surgery consultant and neuro-physio nurse I was offered Botox as a way to reduce the twitch and the spasm.
Being a big ‘natural approach’ advocate, I was very sceptical about it first. I talked to many different people and asked for opinions. In the meantime, my right eye was getting smaller and smaller, which started to affect my vision and was generally uncomfortable.
So, after doing some research and battling the sceptic in me, I decided to give it a try. I have been very lucky because my neuro-physio nurse at Queen Elizabeth Hospital is amazing. I had my first Botox in March 2017. We started on a very low dose, being wary about any side effects or complications.
Even just 3 days after the first injection, I could see a massive difference. The twitch in my chin stopped completely and my eye opened up.
Since then, I have been having Botox every 3 months while I also continue with my physio.
I’m so surprised with the results. It’s been a huge confidence boost, among others.
Look at the pictures below just so that you can see the difference.
Prior Botox in January and February 2017.
After the first injection in March 2017.
And latest one from November 2017.
Botox has a bit of a reputation and can cause a lot of mess when overdoing or using wrongly.
Nowadays, Botox has many different medical uses, such as for chronic migraines. Read more.
Although, it helped me a lot the sceptic in me is still pretty loud. I’m always looking for alternatives and less invasive treatments but that can be difficult in my situation as it is chronic and quite complex. I try not to rely on Botox solely because it is not a long-term solution to my problem. But it offered a relief to some of my symptoms and made me feel better about myself.
If you have any questions or experience with other treatments, drop me a line.
Anna's Brainstorm 
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Hi there,
I also have these annoying spasms and I came across this page when googling CBD oil for hemifacial spasms. My sister recently gave me a small bottle and I am excited to try it! But I’m not sure, if to apply it directly to the affected area or consume it… what do you suggest?
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I have been suffering with blephaspasm for about 10 years now. Sometimes when it is bad, when driving I have to pull over and sit for a while because i can’t keep my eyes open. I had botox for about five years but then it ceased helping. I have tried hypnotherapy and various other relaxation therapies and will be starting with cannabis oil tomorrow. I notice several people on your blog have mentioned cannabis oil so I will be looking forward to reading their comments
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Hi
I tried the oil for 2 days. Someone was kind enough to share their oil with me.
The first day I was convinced that it had calmed the nerve down but I had also started my first day of holidays so I thought it could also have been that or a combination of the two.
The second day the twitch was back to normal, unfortunately.
While I would have like to continue experimenting I also did not want to take advantage of the person’s kindness, and to buy a bottle for an experiment is too expensive.
I am left to believe that the oil did not work in calming the nerve so I continue to wink inappropriately at strangers 😉
Regards
Hengie
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Hi
I suffer from a hemifacial spasm.
In April 2017 I had microvascular decompression of the 7th nerve and while it made for a slight change it didn’t cure it and this year it has started coming back with a vengeance.
I have been using botox for a few years now and have sadly become immune to it.
I have learned what triggers the twitch and while I can control it ocassionly and to a certain extent, it does seems to have its own personality, unfortunately, and can really fight me when I am tired or stressed.
It has knocked my confidence quite badly.
The neurosurgeon who did the operation said there is nothing more he can do. I am seeing another neurosurgeon at the end of January 2019 to get his opinion as to whether there is indeed nothing further that can be done but in the meantime I am going to see what CBD oil will do. I am going to try it tomorrow for the first time. I came across your blog after trying to find out if it would help.
I really hate this tick and hope I can find a way of getting rid of it or at the very least easing it off a little.
Here’s hoping.
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Hi Hengie,
thanks for your comment and for reading my blog. I can only empathise.
Let me know how it goes with the CBD for you. I look forward to hearing your updates.
Take care
Anna
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Hi Ana,
Maybe you can help me or advice me, my mother suffers of hemifacial spasms in the left side of her face with constantly eye twitching and lip paralysis. This began 4 years ago… so time, stress, and sleep problems (nightly job) has increased the spasms and affecting my mother psychologically. She tried botox, acupuncture, vitamins to reconstruct the damage nerve… but nothing really helps for a long period.
Doctor recommends MVD surgery (microvascular decompression) but seems risky and not very effective if they don’t find the correct nerve in the angiography so we are going to leave it as the last option.
Many people talks about CBD Oil so we are going to give it a chance, does it help you with this or you take it for other reasons? I don’t know what else to do to help my mother.
Thank you for your time and stay strong.
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Hi Diego,
First of all, thank you for reading my blog and your lovely comment.
Thank you for sharing your mother’s story. It means a lot to me. I’m not a clinician so I cannot give you any medical advice. But I really feel for your mum. To some extent I know what she is going through. Particularly the psychological impact can be quite difficult to deal with.
I think it depends on what is causing the damaged nerve. The surgery can be an answer but as you say this can be risky. I suppose that the nerve is close to the brain stem? Which makes it even riskier. I’m facing a similar dilemma so can empathise completely.
From my research, CBD oil is mainly for pain/tremor management (so particularly good for MS/Parkinson patients) but I also think everything is worth a try. Is your mother’s spasm painful? Cause then it could make some difference.. Also worth trying is pure primrose oil and massaging it in while doing some facial exercises.
Let me know how things go, please. I’ll be thinking about you and your mother. She is lucky to have you.
And if you come across anything worth trying (treatment, medication, exercise etc.), please, share it with me!
Sending positive thoughts
Anna
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