Facial droop
 

Its seems like when you think, things are getting better they take a turn for the worse. I started noticing a facial droop on my gf yesterday. Her smile is asymmetric now. This is happening after 21 days. I know she has been trying to do more the last few days. Is this a sign that I need to get her some immediate help or is it just her brain telling her that she is trying to do too much? Please share your experience with this.

I think you need to get her help ASAP to clear aneurism, stroke etc.I had same problem. I suggest getting her to a MD to get advice.My jaw dropped on one side and that was THE MOST painfully thing for me and that is when my speech got slurred. My jaw MD gave me a mouthguard called an Equalizer....Call a jaw MD to see if you could by one for $30 and have her wear it when she sleeps. The jaw MD will try to see her but insurance is VERY hard to approve and this is neurological so they wont be able to do anything.

Is she having muscle spasms on the jaw line? If so she will probably need some medication. I was on a soft food diet and sometimes ensure because my jaw MD said no chewing. Limit talking, so write back and forth.

Go to Pdoc get ref for testing, They will probably give her steroids for the inflammation ***After getting diagnostic testing from MD***MRI OF BRAIN ETC
I STRONGLY SUGGEST GETTING HER TO A COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURIST ASAP FOCUS ON THE TMJ and see a neurologist or Pdoc.:hug: Mia

Keep us posted

Take her to the ER. It may be a sign of a very serious life-threatening cause.

Agent,

How long is your girlfriend's face droopy? Constantly, intermittently, very briefly (like seconds at a time)?

About 27 days after my injury, I woke in the middle of the night with a thunderclap headache and a droopy face on the right side (the side I hit my head). It did not last long. However, we went to the ER and they were only able to do an EKG and bloodwork which came back normal. They ordered an MRI and an MRA which did not get approved by my insurance. The hospital did not have the MRI machine open at the time I was there (like 3:00 AM). They diagnosed me with migraines and prescribed me pain killers which I never took.

If you do chose to go to the ER, go to one that has the MRI machine available, otherwise you risk not getting them approved later on, and that will cause you worry in the meantime. Be smart about pain medicine they prescribe.

Keep in mind that concussions can cause nerve damage that can affect the whole body, including the face. One of the symptoms I have had ongoing is a droopy eyelid and at times slight speech impairment.

I did eventually get an MRI and an MRA and both came back okay. There could be an association of stroke and concussion, but I would not jump to that conclusion right away. Read this post: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread195643.html.

When I was in your girlfriend's situation, my husband and I decided to go to the ER because the symptoms were too close to a stroke. You will probably chose the same for peace of mind.

I also read in another post that your girlfriend is working hard on her online business. I think that is a mistake if she wants to heal sooner. Reducing stress and acceptance of a slower pace is a huge asset in this recovery process she is facing.

Best wishes to you guys tonight. Thinking of you.

VB

It actually lasted 2 days. Very scary, but I saw improvement as I came back from working nights SVD waited a second day. Her facial droop is gone. I really think she did too much and not rest enough to bring that on. We have an appointment with a primary care physician on December 2nd. Far away, but hopefully it helps. Sucks not having insurance and healthcare.gov is useless. I tried too many times to sign up with no luck.

Agent,

As you are finding out, ER Doc's, Neurologists, and many other practitioners are ignorant of the many facets of what goes on with concussion/pcs sufferers.

There are way too many possibilites that occur with us; our varied injuries; our varied accumulated past and present compiled troubles that tend to show with our current ongoing problems.

Any change tends to ramp up our anxiety levels, and those of our caregivers, close family members and loved ones. We have to be on top of things; and we are here for each other.

Explore any and all the links provided on these threads, and dig for your own information at the links you can find: the Military links are finally opening up information; the newer NIH studies are opening up more info to explore; etc.

And we have to bring that out to our practitioners and make them listen to whats going on - they see a picture thats not showing what they usually look for as a 'stroke' isn't saying something related to a stroke didn't occur, microscopically to us - the MRI in hospitals isn't related to what is occurring to us with our concussive injuries, and they fail to realize that; Hospitals need to upgrade their MRI's to more detailed machines for the numbers of patients with concussive injuries out there in the real world.... for more refined studies.

Sorry about your experience with the new world of insurance........


Just my 2cp.......