Hemifacial Spasm - Mayo Clinic

Michael Link, M.D., a Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon, describes symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options for hemifacial spasm. For more information, see http://www.mayoclinic.org/hemifacial-spasm/.

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Science & Technology

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• Mayo Clinic
• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Hemifacial Spasm
• Link

[karmannghiagirl69]

I think i have hemifacial spasm. i have a brain avm on the right temp lobe how would i talk to my doc about running some test. they put me on keppra a month ago and its not helping and it happens when i smile alot or laugh alot.

[mayoclinic]

@karmannghiagirl69 Please talk to your physician about your symptoms.

[jcksnguitars]

is there any locations in North Western WI that do this surgical procedure? i'v taken 3 different medications...the exact ones he listed, but all made me extremely drowsy and I drive for a living. Botox just seems like a waste of time...especially if it doesn't do anything long term. My spasm has been getting worse...to the point where its spreading down my neck. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[mayoclinic]

@jcksnguitars Dr. Link says: I don't know who does the procedure outside Mayo Clinic Rochester or what their experience might be.

[dancervictory]

@xxChocolateChocoboxx I saw on another site that the surgery has high risks and you might get a STROKE. I hope I am wrong but to fix this facial twitching IT's acutally brain surgery. and they do shave all of your hair. I saw it here on you tube. Continue to pray, my daughter needs surgery too, she will be entering high school in the fall, but after looking at the videos, I dont think surgery is an option for us.

[1962rosalinda]

I have the sickness from 12 years already I tried all medications nothing work for the last 8 years I'm with botox is true only works for 3-4 months but is better than nothing I watched the videos from a doctor en India, but what can I do here in America...surgery is not the solution for me a least that's what my dr. said...

[jcksnguitars]

@mayoclinic any idea on how i could find out who does procedures such as this? or should i just ask when i see a doc?

[1962rosalinda]

@SwellGalMary how I can have more information about the surgery.?

[SwellGalMary]

Dr. Link did my HFS surgery and I woke up free of twitching. He, and the staff at Mayo are the best and if I had to do it all over again, I would not hesitate to do so.

[fit4jenice]

@iNZoW UCSD, Dr. Alksne had an EMG test done to prove it was hemifacial. The MRI is not a good tool in locating the offending artery, not enough detail, it is used to rule out tumors. They used this during surgery as well to monitor the spasm to help in identifying location and when they successfully found the area and decompressed it.