I am starting to think I am losing it. I am a 27/f, with a history if anxiety/panic attacks. Well for several years, very sporadically, i would get this feeling on my face, (either side) that feels like someone is tightening a muscle in my cheek and won't let it go. Well this time I have had it for a month now (left side) and I am totally flipping out. It's not numb,no pain, I have no drooping, no slurred speech or blurry vision. It just feels like I am waiting for it to loosen and it doesn't. Every now and then I will feel very small spasms in it but nothing that noticable. I still have full function of my entire face, it's just this darn cheek that feels like it's tightened. I know it could very well be from stress/anxiety. Especially since I am a bit of a hypochondriac, I think I am going to die from it, and I also think I have had a stroke, (my husband thinks I am nuts) but it is very distressing to have something that you have no idea what it is. Has anyone EVER had anything like this? I also thought maybe it could be TMJ (I am able to repeatedly crack my jaw). Or maybe just a pulled muscle...but in my CHEEK?? I have 2 major cavities on that side on the bottom teeth, but they don't hurt yet. And when I bend over it's like I can feel pressure in that area of my cheek, like when youre on a roller coaster and the wind is pushing on your face, does that make any sense? I have posted this in 2 other forums, and they keep telling me to try different forums, this being one of them..lol...so I hope someone out there can help.Anyways, if anyone has some comforting words for this worrywart, please let me know!!

sometimes facial sensations are caused by disturbances in electrolytes.

Specifically calcium. If your Vit D is very low this could be a cause.
Calcium contracts muscles and magnesium relaxes them. So taking a
magnesium supplement may help.

About 70% of the American population is low in magnesium.
Here is a thread where I have gathered information to help people
restore themselves:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1138.html

You can get tested at the doctor's for Vit D. Estimates are about 50% in USA are low in it as well. Fixing that will stabilize calcium in the nervous system and
reduce spasms.

I would start with a magnesium supplement at about 1/2 the RDA daily (200mg elemental). See what happens within a month.

You may need correction to normal levels of Vit D. New research shows that at least 2000 IU of Vit D3 should be taken daily if no sun exposure is provided.
Some people need more...that is why a test is important.

Another issue would be low B12...so when you get the Vit D run ask for B12 as well. Anything below 500 should be supplemented. This is pretty common too.

Thanks, I will look into that...first thing though, I need to calm down about it..lol...but I will look into it for sure, have a good day!!

I really like what Mrs. d has to say,what is the harm in giving it a try.Now do
that first and I do not want to add yo your anxiity,but could be syart of
S Syndrome,my pain is not all the time,either up the cheek are up the cheek
behind the ear. But try what Mrs. d has to say,why smart lady and beyond.
Hugs to all. Sue

Hi complikati,

Your husband may think you are nuts, but you're not!! Spasms in the facial muscles are fairly common and they can linger for quite some time. There are many reasons why they occur and most of the time, the only way to determine what is causing your own is through a process of elimination.

Sometimes people get a "twitch" in the cheek muscle which is the same thing as when you would get a "twitch" in your arm, leg or eyelid. This type of spasm is thought to be anxiety related, but it could also be from a traumatized nerve. A muscle can become very spastic (tight) or fatigued if the twitching goes on for a long period of time. The fact that you stated you can repeatedly crack your jaw may indicate that you have an ongoing TMJ problem and now the facial nerves are irritated and the masseter muscle is twitching or spasming. It is not good to deliberately crack your jaw as this weakens the TMJ joint by causing damage to the ligaments as well as an abnormal wear pattern of the disk. Keep in mind, this may or may not be your case........

You mentioned that you have two cavities on that side of your mouth. I know you worry alot and this is not to alarm you........ just to inform you that cavities are infections. If those teeth don't hurt and they are not sensitive to temperature then that could be because the nerve has died in the teeth. This is not a healthy thing to let go because the infection will spread to the surrounding teeth and/or bone. So it really is best if you have those teeth taken care of asap. They may or may not be contributing to your other facial muscle concerns.

Clenching or grinding your teeth can also cause your masseter muscles to spasm. Frequently when people have a bad tooth, they unconsciously clench down on it throughout the day. Not sure of the reason behind that other than there may be some inflammation which causes the clenching reaction, I just know that it's a common thing for patients to tell me.

The pressure that you mention in your cheek when you bend over can indicate inflammation and/or a sinus issue. Do you have any teeth on top that are decayed or that have root canals or large fillings? Any of those things could contribute to sinus irritation/infections. Do you have any type of chronic sinus problems?

Bryanna

Well, I don't think I have any sinus problems...I had a pretty bad cold a few weeks ago, but that was after this face thing started. Funny thing though, the couple of days I was sick, I didn't feel anything weird in my face at all! My husband was like, that's because you weren't thinking about it..lol...which makes me think it may be anxiety related. But any ongoing anxiety symptom I have ever had usually clears itself up before this long. IDK, I fall asleep every night praying that it will be gone when I wake up and it is still there!! I know I need to get to the dentist whether or not it is related to this. I have done research after research and I can't find anything except the wonderful advice you all have given me here, and it is nice to know that I am not crazy...lol.

Vitamin D deficiencies have grown to epidemic proportions according to the latest research performed by various reputable sources. Integrative physicians and naturopathic physicians routinely check their patients for this common deficiency, but the idea is only slowly creeping into mainstream conventional medicine. It is amazing how many bodily functions, both physical and mental, are affected by vitamin D. I urge everyone reading this post to please take a minute and read about this most important nutrient.

Here is a link with oodles of information.
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

Bryanna

Im an 19 year old female who just recently started feeling the SAME EXACT FEELING in my face. I have HORRIBLE anxiety. It is always one feeling or another i am worried about.... i have convinced myself i have had everything under the sun and that im going to die. Anyways i can crack my jaw as well it happens every time i yawn ..... i try not to do it but i still do. The right side of my face ... also the side my jaw usually cracks on, has been getting numb/ tingling feeling. The feeling is always in a different spot and has moved to the other side of my face once or twice. Sometimes it is on my eye brow then moves to my cheek .... sometimes its high on cheek bone towards my ear or on the corner of my mouth/lips, i still have full function of my face and it is not different from the other side ( of course im standing in front of the mirror in the bathrrom looking at my face winking and smiling at my self ..... even i think im nuts when my face starts tingling) .... thats what people with anxiety do. I love it outside it does make me feel better and i live in florida so there is LOTS of sun, which does help me with the whole anxiety thing. I have also started taking multi vitamins and i drink lots of milk so i know its not a vitiamin def. of any kind. I have looked up anything and everything on this tingling feeling and cant find a thing on it ... besides it is all and my head and has to do with anxiety. I have noticed that when i dont think about it, it does go away and i dont feel it anymore. I guess its just my mind play tricks on me ... i dont know but it does bother me. I have not actually went to the doctor for anxiety. I AM NOT being put on some prescription that will screw me up more than i already am ... so i have been trying passion flower and bachs rescue remedy .... they help, but only for alittle bit. I can actually laught when i use them and i feel good for a few hours but it does fade and i go back to worring about what ever i am worried about ....
My advice is to keep your mind off of it

Well I just wanted you to know I have the same tightening of the face as you do. I have gone through allot of testing including a cat scan of my brain and so forth. My doctor says I am healthy I know I do have anxiety and I make my muscles tighten. If i'm not thinking about it its not there. Also I was told by a ENT I have TMJ so I put warm compresses on my cheeks it helps believe it or not. I am 56 years old but everyone says I look 40 so I'm telling you relax and you will see a difference. Try the warm or hot compresses and hang in there.

I have the exact same thing I'm 15 and it's driving me up the wall.
I wanna kill myself just because It's so annoying.
What do you do for it?
Does it go away what medication or therapy do you take for it?