If you have facial tics, then you might be suffering from a condition known as hemifacial spasm, a neurological condition that affects the seventh cranial nerve, known as the facial nerve. This nerve innervates the muscles in your face to make them move. When this facial nerve becomes irritated for any number of reasons, hemifacial spasm may be the outcome.
Symptoms of hemifacial spasm include:
- Repeated and persistent “tics” on one side of your face
- Forced closure of one eye at random times during the day
- Jaw muscle spasms
- Spasms in your cheek or near your ear on one side of your face
If you have any of these symptoms, you need to see your doctor to get a proper diagnosis. Your doctor can pinpoint the cause of your symptoms and help you determine the best course of treatment for your hemifacial spasm.
Hemifacial spasm is caused by irritation of your facial nerve. Sometimes this irritation comes from a serious underlying problem like a stroke or multiple sclerosis. More often, however, hemifacial spasm starts because your facial nerve is being pressed upon or pinched by an artery or vein. When this happens, neurotransmissions are altered in the nerve, causing facial spasm symptoms. Finding a top-rated NJ neurosurgeon for hemifacial spasm treatment is one of the most important steps in finding relief.
Hemifacial Spasm Treatments
Medication
When you are first diagnosed with hemifacial spasm, your doctor may prescribe medicine to treat your symptoms. Antispasmodic medication may be used, although this can have significant side effects like nausea, vomiting or blurred vision. Medication as a hemifacial spasm treatment has one other problem: it tends to lose its effectiveness over time. That means your doctor may need to adjust the dosage frequently, and the medicine may eventually stop working.
Botox Injections
Botox injections into the small muscles of the face are also frequently sought as a first line therapy. As with medication, Botox will often mask the effects of hemifacial spasm at first, but most people will require more frequent injections over time to maintain adequate results.
Surgery
Many patients with hemifacial spasm choose to have surgery for their condition. The surgery most often performed is called a microvascular decompression (MVD). MVD is the preferred surgical method if there is nerve impingement from an artery or vein. This operation requires a tiny incision to be made behind your ear, a small piece of bone to be removed and your facial nerve located. Then, a small Teflon pad is placed between your facial nerve and its neighboring artery or vein, acting as a cushion. This takes pressure off your facial nerve, relieving your symptoms – often permanently.
Microvascular decompression surgery for hemifacial spasm treatment requires the specialized expertise of a neurosurgeon. Your outcome can be maximized by working with a top-rated NJ neurosurgeon who specializes in hemifacial spasm treatment. Learning the top qualities of the best NJ neurosurgeons for hemifacial spasm treatment makes it much easier to find the right doctor for you.
Qualities of the Best NJ Neurosurgeons for Hemifacial Spasm Treatment
What are the qualities of the best NJ neurosurgeons for hemifacial spasm?
American Board of Neurological Surgery
First, your doctor should be board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. This proves that they are an expert in the field and have countless hours working in the operating room with patients just like you. They have also proven their expertise through rigorous testing and hands-on demonstration of their skills.
An Expert in the Field
Your neurosurgeon should be an expert in treating facial conditions. They should have prior experience in treating conditions such as hemifacial spasm and trigeminal neuralgia. Top-rated neurosurgeons also demonstrate their expertise through publication of scholarly articles in peer-reviewed neurosurgical journals.
Affiliated With the Top Hospitals
A top-rated NJ neurosurgeon should also work out of the best surgical facilities in the area. They should work in a modern facility with state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical equipment. Top neurosurgeons also surround themselves with caring and compassionate health care professionals and support staff.
Compassion and Care
Finally, the best NJ neurosurgeons for hemifacial spasm treatments show genuine care and compassion for their patients. They take the time to explain various procedures and offer alternatives. Your neurosurgeon should feel like a trusted ally, offering you the best hemifacial spasm treatment and surgery options available.
Working With the Best NJ Neurosurgeon for You
Finding the best neurosurgeon for your hemifacial spasm treatment may take some time. You may have to visit a few different surgeons to find the best one for you. Most importantly, your surgeon should take the time to answer your questions and concerns about surgery for hemifacial spasm. You should feel like you’re both working in a therapeutic alliance to achieve the best outcome with your hemifacial spasm treatment.
To find a top-rated neurosurgeon for your hemifacial spasm treatment, you can search in various ways, including:
- Asking friends and family about their experience with facial spasms and treatment.
- Getting a trusted referral from your family doctor.
- Searching the internet for top-rated neurosurgeons who treat hemifacial spasm.
You should also ask plenty of questions. These can include:
- Where did the surgeon gain their skills? Did they do any fellowships in neurosurgery?
- How long have they been performing your specific procedure?
- What is their success rate?
- Do they have references from past patients that they can share?
Never Hesitate to Seek a Second Opinion
Depending on where you start and what sort of surgical services you will need, you may decide to go with the first surgeon you interview. What happens, however, if it isn’t a good match? Many patients don’t advocate strongly enough for themselves and will go through with surgery under the care of a surgeon they don’t fully trust. This should never happen.
You should definitely seek a second opinion if:
- You feel like the prospective neurosurgeon isn’t listening. If they are dismissing your concerns as silly or unfounded, move on. A good neurosurgeon should listen to you and address your questions and concerns with helpful, real-world information. Yes, they might be experts in their field, but that doesn’t mean that you aren’t raising valid points about your health care.
- You don’t feel comfortable with them. If you are feeling uneasy with a surgeon, listen to your gut. You should feel completely comfortable and relaxed around your surgeon and they should go out of their way to help foster that feeling.
- You ask questions and get a runaround. If a neurosurgeon or their staff can’t answer a question and seems unwilling to seek the answer, or if they are evading your questions, this should be a red flag.
- They don’t seem to have experience performing the particular surgery or surgeries you’re considering. Neurosurgeons should have performed dozens of successful procedures for your condition before calling themselves “experts” in that particular surgery.
- They lack caring or compassion. If you feel like you’re just another number, keep looking.
Whichever neurosurgeon you choose, you should feel confident that they are working in your best interest to help you reach your goals from your treatment.
Managing hemifacial spasm can be a difficult thing to do. It is a rare condition and finding a neurosurgeon who can help you may take some time. By understanding the various hemifacial spasm treatments and finding the top neurosurgeons, you can be sure to have the best care possible for your hemifacial spasm.
