Synkinesis 4 months: Hi all, I’ve had... - Facial Palsy UK

Facial Palsy UK

1,154 members345 posts

Synkinesis 4 months

Karenthehair profile image
7 Replies

Hi all, I’ve had synkenisis now since November, had Bells in June, to be honest it seems to be not as bad now as it was in December (maybe stress at Christmas) I try to massage my face every day but my eye still waters when I eat and still slightly screws up while chewing, but all the symptoms are there, squidgy cheek, dimple in the chin, twitches, sore face, smaller eye on affected side, Doc referred me to the local hospital but alas they basically said there was no one there to help and to go back to my GP and I may have to go private??? Seriously! I pay my N.I ? I got an appointment tomorrow with GP and I know il break down if I have to go private! The whole thing is getting me down now! Any advice is greatly appreciated ☺️

Written by
Karenthehair profile image
Karenthehair
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
7 Replies

Your symptoms sound exactly like mine. My Bells also started last June and have resulted in Synkinesis as you describe. At my request, my GP referred me to the specialist Facial Palsy clinic in East Grinstead last August. It was a long wait for my first appointment in January but well worth it. The condition is taken seriously , investigated carefully and specialist facial physio provided.

It is not local to me and many patients travel many miles but I am off there again today - even tried to get to an appointment in the snowstorm !

Please investigate online as GPS meet the condition only rarely and mine did not know about any clinics until I told him (it is an NHS provision ).

Karenthehair profile image
Karenthehair in reply to

Thanks so much, my first G.P had never heard of synkinesis! I didn’t know it was so rare, think my nearest place is Manchester, fingers crossed will mention it today, good luck also to you today.

lorraine-t profile image
lorraine-t in reply to Karenthehair

Hi. Facial Palsy UK can give you a list of your nearest specialists if your GP is unsure where they are.

Karenthehair profile image
Karenthehair in reply to lorraine-t

Mmm I will take a look, thanks Lorraine ☺️

Indygirl25 profile image
Indygirl25 in reply to Karenthehair

Hi there,

I’m from the US, and treatment for Bell’s Palsy is steroids and anti viral drugs. Once given those things, if your Bell’s Palsy doesn’t go away after 3 months, nobody seems to know what to do.

I’ve had Bell’s Palsy for 2.5 years, and have researched the heck out of it. Thankfully, I’ve found some competent people who have helped me along the way. Here’s my question: what do your people in the UK generally do to help with synkinesis? Every specialist here says, “No way” to electrostim, but I’ve read some research that says it’s helpful for those with chronic Bell’s Palsy.

Can you tell me what your general protocol is for synkinesis?

Thanks so much!

in reply to Indygirl25

The approach here is physio from a trained specialist in facial physio. This may be accompanied by Botox into the relevant muscles for your particular difficulties.

Indygirl25 profile image
Indygirl25 in reply to

Thanks, Arty. Getting someone who specializes in facial physio is very difficult to find. They all mean well, but really do nothing to help me at this point in my recovery.

You may also like...

Synkinesis

months of facing bell's palsy when I stared to recover from it , I realized now I'm facing...

My long-standing synkinesis

palsy is gone now but its effects are still obvious on my face, and if I was not wrong, it’s called...

Facial plasy and synkinesis

or talking my right eye is closing, i have got this synkinesis because of bells palsy disease that...

Bell's palsy - synkinesis - live in Norway, need advice and treatments in the UK

her left eye, the lip-area on the left side of her face is mooving upwards etc. Her left eye got...

Is there a resource for clinics that do botox injections for synkinesis?

maybe being a bit vain, but i dont want my left eye to half close when i smile. Which i hope to be...