# Anybody Suffering with HFS? (Hemifacial Spasm) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 22, 2013, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-suffering-with-hfs-hemifacial-spasm/653622 "2013-03-22T08:54:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-suffering-with-hfs-hemifacial-spasm/653622/1 "2013-03-22T08:54:05Z")
From [Wikipedia’s page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemifacial_spasm), > [@](#): > > Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a rare neuromuscular disease characterized by irregular, involuntary muscle contractions (spasms) on one side of the face. [Here’s a 10 second YouTube video of a guy with HFS.](http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RejdFpEw5yw) It is often caused by a blood vessel pressing against the seventh cranial nerve (CN-VII). When blood flows it excites the nerve and causes the spasm. If you or someone you know has this, look for a surgical solution called MVD, Microvascular Decompression ([Wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microvascular_decompression)). MVD consists of placing a teflon felt “spongy” material between the offending blood vessel and CN-VII to act as a shock absorber and spacer between the two. There are other treatments for the symptoms, such as medications, and Botox injections every 12 weeks to deaden some facial muscles, but the MVD treats the cause. I suffered from HFS for 8 years. I tried many meds unsuccessfully, and did Botox injections for 5 years. I also tried acupuncture and acupressure. I finally went for the MVD surgery last June and it worked - I am now 100% spasm free! I am now a big fan of the MVD solution. Hindsight being 20-20, I wish I’d done it sooner. As always, YMMV, and please do your own research, and consult neurologists. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-suffering-with-hfs-hemifacial-spasm/653622/2 "2013-03-22T09:12:00Z")
Here are three previous SDMB threads about HFS. Apr 2003: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-178550.html](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-178550.html) Nov 2003: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-225150.html](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-225150.html) Dec 2006: ['It's not a tumah'- no wait, it is - Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=400811) Google search results: [site:boards.straightdope.com - Google Search](http://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Aboards.straightdope.com#sclient=tablet-gws&hl=en&q=site:boards.straightdope.com+hemifacial+spasm&oq=site:boards.straightdope.com+hemifacial+spasm&gs_l=tablet-gws.3...2898.15205.0.17044.17.17.0.0.0.0.219.2322.0j16j1.17.0...0.0...1c.1.7.tablet-gws.bsDShlhDgfI&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.&bvm=bv.44158598,d.aWM&fp=de25775008cbef57&biw=1024&bih=644) ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-suffering-with-hfs-hemifacial-spasm/653622/4 "2013-03-22T21:58:51Z")
reported ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-suffering-with-hfs-hemifacial-spasm/653622/5 "2013-03-27T06:07:51Z")
Gee, I guess not. (And, just one bump before this dies off…)