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[MrOogieBoogie]

I've been enduring this ongoing condition for more than a year now. Anytime I smile, or half-smile, or talk too much, the sides of my mouth begin to twitch uncontrollably. I've gone to multiple doctors and even a neurologist; however, my health is perfectly fine. No nerve damage anywhere, no brain damage, my lab tests results are 100% okay. You can just imagine how frustrating it is to not know the answer to a perpetual issue like this. I thought it might be anxiety, so I took some b-complex vitamins. Nothing. Thought it might be alcohol, so I stopped drinking for a month. Nothing. I've never had this issue before, and it seemed to happen around the time I moved back home after college. Don't know if that's related. But I wouldn't consider myself depressed or anxious; I exercise every day and eat well, and those are great stress relievers. Don't know what else I can do. Hell, the second I wake up in the morning I can feel the corners of my mouth "pulsating," so even after a long rest I can still feel it.

I've become very self-conscious of myself. Whenever I talk I have to make sure that my mouth isn't twitching. And sometimes it extends to the rest of the parts of my face. If I squint, my checks and area around my eyes will twitch with my mouth.

What the fuck could the issue be?

 

[beast786]

Is it spontaneous or can be provoked.

 

[AceBandage]

Lupus.

Spoiler

Pinched nerve.

 

[MaddenNFL64]

You're a ticking time bomb, about to explode with raw anger!

I dunno, sounds shitty dude.

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

Is it spontaneous or can be provoked.

Both. Some days I can talk without really feeling it there. Other days, like if I'm laughing really hard at something, I can feel my mouth become sore and I can feel the corners of it start "pulsating." And if I try to hold that smile, my mouth will just start twitching.

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

Lupus.

Spoiler

Pinched nerve.

See, I thought that was it, but like I said I've gone to a neurologist who conducted various tests and found nothing wrong with me.

 

[beast786]

It is actually pretty common in young adults. Mostly due to stress but the real cause is still unknown. In rare occasions it could be related to certain medication or calcium imbalance, magnesium loss due to severe diarrhea..

It usually just disappears as you get older. Facial spasm can also be based on neurological disorder but I assume you already seen a neurologist just in case.

Edit: Also what the guy below said about Potassium.

 

[SRG01]

Muscle spasticity can be caused by a lack of potassium/other essential salts, lack of sleep, anxiety, etc. I'd say the first is probably the most likely cause... eat some bananas and you'll be okay!

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

It is actually pretty common in young adults. Mostly due to stress but the real cause is still unknown. In rare occasions it could be related to certain medication or calcium imbalance.

It usually just disappears as you get older. Facial spasm can also be based on neurological disorder but I assume you already seen a neurologist just in case.

I just don't understand how I can be so stressed out that it happens all the time in any situation. I'm relaxing on the beach? Yeah, it's there. I'm riding my bike through a beautiful countryside? Yeah, I can still feel it. I just don't get it.

 

[Meadows]

Hmm, if the docs can't find anything then I'd give acupuncture a go, couldn't hurt I guess and you sometimes hear good things from people. Heck, even if it's just the placebo effect it's probably worth it.

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

Muscle spasticity can be caused by a lack of potassium/other essential salts, lack of sleep, anxiety, etc. I'd say the first is probably the most likely cause... eat some bananas and you'll be okay!

I eat a banana every other day. My potassium levels fall in the normal range. Literally every lab test result you can think of came back perfectly fine.

 

[TheSeks]

Hmm, if the docs can't find anything then I'd give acupuncture a go, couldn't hurt I guess and you sometimes hear good things from people. Heck, even if it's just the placebo effect it's probably worth it.

Only if you like needles. D:

Maybe it's psychological? Do you have massive mood swings when these happen, OP?

 

[PSYGN]

This happens to me when I do a big smile for the camera for 5 seconds only to be told that the camera isn't working. The next time I smile I feel it's not genuine and it kinda twitches as I hold it in that position, but not all the time, and only during this time really. But I don't twitch by just giving a friendly smile or anything.

Now here's something that I don't understand, but I like the feeling. My head occasionally tingles and gets goosebumps. That kind of feeling when you're tired and you step slowly into a hot bath and get goosebumps all over, but only around the dome of my head and at random times since I was a kid.

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

Only if you like needles. D:

Maybe it's psychological? Do you have massive mood swings when these happen, OP?

Not particularly. Like I said, I only become more self-conscious and I try to inhibit my emotions because I'm afraid to be too ecstatic or happy less I suffer from the twitching. I used to be far more expressive in conversation among friends and others, but lately I've noticed myself more reserved due to this issue.

 

[low-G]

When I was an angsty teenager playing tons of Doom I developed this for a while. It's your bloodlust.

 

[SRG01]

I eat a banana every other day. My potassium levels fall in the normal range. Literally every lab test result you can think of came back perfectly fine.

Hm, in that case, just chalk it up to muscle weakness in certain groups. Muscles can also be spastic when they're weak and trying to work.

Maybe face muscle exercises?

 

[h3ro]

Chvostek's sign!

Could be from low calcium.

The Chvostek sign (also Weiss sign) is one of the signs of tetany seen in hypocalcemia. It refers to an abnormal reaction to the stimulation of the facial nerve. When the facial nerve is tapped at the angle of the jaw (i.e. masseter muscle), the facial muscles on the same side of the face will contract momentarily (typically a twitch of the nose or lips) because of hypocalcemia (ie from hypoparathyroidism, pseudohypoparathyroidism, hypovitaminosis D) with resultant hyperexcitability of nerves. Though classically described in hypocalcemia, this sign may also be encountered in respiratory alkalosis, such as that seen in hyperventilation, which actually causes decreased serum Ca2+ with a normal calcium level due to a shift of Ca2+ from the blood to albumin which has become more negative in the alkalotic state.

 

[Raiden]

Would it be weird to ask if you could make a video of this twitching?

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

Chvostek's sign!

Could be from low calcium.

Is eating cereal with milk every morning not enough?

 

[ikkemenx]

If I smile weakly my mouth twitches, mostly on one side. Or if I have to hold a smile for a long time, like for a photo. Doesn't always happen luckily, though even when it does I'm not quite bothered. I tend to kinda twitch everywhere it seems.

 

[beast786]

Is eating cereal with milk every morning not enough?

You can actually trigger it by tapping the muscle which can lead to spasm. It may be elicited by tapping the face just anterior to the ear and below the zygomatic bone.

Like I have said it my earlier post. Most probably causes are stress imbalance with Magnisium/calcium or Potassium. If stress more than likely it will pass away.

http://www.turner-white.com/pdf/hp_mar00_hypocal.pdf

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

If I smile weakly my mouth twitches, mostly on one side. Or if I have to hold a smile for a long time, like for a photo. Doesn't always happen luckily, though even when it does I'm not quite bothered. I tend to kinda twitch everywhere it seems.

Yes, this is it exactly.

How long have you had this? If I grew up with this condition I don't think it would bother me now, but because it's only occurred over the last year it's really frustrating .

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

You can actually trigger it by tapping the muscle which can lead to spasm. It may be elicited by tapping the face just anterior to the ear and below the zygomatic bone.

Like I have said it my earlier post. Most probably causes are stress imbalance with Magnisium/calcium or Potassium. If stress more than likely it will pass away.

http://www.turner-white.com/pdf/hp_mar00_hypocal.pdf

Damn, can't trigger anything using that. But I hope you're right about it going away on its own.

 

[Pterion]

Lupus or partial simple seizures from convexity meningioma.

 

[Aesius]

If I smile weakly my mouth twitches, mostly on one side. Or if I have to hold a smile for a long time, like for a photo. Doesn't always happen luckily, though even when it does I'm not quite bothered. I tend to kinda twitch everywhere it seems.

WTF. I have this too. I honestly thought I was the only one. It doesn't happen in large group photographs, but if it's just me or a couple other people, my cheeks/lips twitch like crazy. Usually makes for some pretty horrible pictures. The only time it doesn't happen is if the picture is taken quickly or if I'm really drunk.

 

[Escape Goat]

Probably strained it with too much oral sex.

 

[DonMigs85]

My eyelid sometimes twitches too but it hasn't happened as much.
Taking vitamin B supplements seems to have helped a bit.

 

[Dead Prince]

WTF. I have this too. I honestly thought I was the only one. It doesn't happen in large group photographs, but if it's just me or a couple other people, my cheeks/lips twitch like crazy. Usually makes for some pretty horrible pictures. The only time it doesn't happen is if the picture is taken quickly or if I'm really drunk.

i was just testing it out and mine twitches too lol.

 

[WorriedCitizen]

When i have nerve twitching in the face magnesium is what helps.

 

[xelios]

You aren't/haven't been on antipsychotics/neuroleptics I'm guessing? Hope you figure out what's going on.

 

[Phoenix]

GAF-MD needs a t-shirt for the t-shirt contest.

 

[BakedPigeon]

You don't take adderall or extacy do you?

 

[RevDM]

What made you believe b-complex would solve your anxiety problems?

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

What made you believe b-complex would solve your anxiety problems?

Stress relievers.

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

You don't take adderall or extacy do you?

Nope. Never taken any drugs. Even when I'm sick I try not to take any pills.

The guy who said magnesium helped him... To what extent?

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

Just wondering if anyone else had any further insight into this issue before letting the thread forever fall to the wasteland.

 

[Nix]

I had the same problem a couple years back OP, except for me it was my eye that was twitching. I'd most likely attribute it to stress, but it could be because of deficiencies in your diet. (My case was irritation)

I'd say relax for awhile, and just chill.

 

[ikkemenx]

Yes, this is it exactly.

How long have you had this? If I grew up with this condition I don't think it would bother me now, but because it's only occurred over the last year it's really frustrating .

Not sure when I started noticing, haha!

 

[Agent Cooper]

I went to a doctor about something similar to this and they told me that I was having 'mini-seizures.'
I never went back.

 

[powersurge]

Maybe Bell's Palsy? My mother had a mouth twitch/thing that ended up causing her smile to be sort of crooked. Doc's said it was Bell's Palsy but unless it got worse there wasn't anything they could do about it and that it would most likely go away with time. After several years it just sort of slowly faded and went back to normal.

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

I had the same problem a couple years back OP, except for me it was my eye that was twitching. I'd most likely attribute it to stress, but it could be because of deficiencies in your diet. (My case was irritation)

I'd say relax for awhile, and just chill.

But it's been ongoing for more than a year now, at all hours of the day (while exercising, right after waking up, when going to sleep, when super happy and smiling, but especially half-smiling, etc.).



*sigh* I just wish I had the answer.

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

Maybe Bell's Palsy? My mother had a mouth twitch/thing that ended up causing her smile to be sort of crooked. Doc's said it was Bell's Palsy but unless it got worse there wasn't anything they could do about it and that it would most likely go away with time. After several years it just sort of slowly faded and went back to normal.

Wouldn't the tests conducted by the neurologist and general practitioner uncover any serious conditions like that?

 

[HylianTom]

Wouldn't the tests conducted by the neurologist and general practitioner uncover any serious conditions like that?

Has an MRI been done? Bell's Palsy was the first thing I thought of. We can do imaging of the internal auditory canals that can look at the nerves running to the face. It's a pretty boring exam.

 

[1-D_FTW]

Google zinc taste test.

My zinc levels were so crappy I had almost lost my sense of smell. When I took that test, it tasted like water no mater how long I swigged it. After months of zinc supplements, a swig of that and I'm like, "Damn, that's nasty. Metal water seeping in my tongue. YUCK!" Not only did it regain my sense of smell to perfection, but also played a massive role in eliminating my twitching.

Don't blind supplement without ordering some of the liquid zinc, though, because if you're not deficient, you'll run the risk of depleting copper and bringing a whole host of new problems.

EDIT: And no, there's no medical test you can run for zinc. Doctors have basically come to the conclusion the zinc taste test is the best method out there and there have been medical studies explaining the science behind it.

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

Has an MRI been done? Bell's Palsy was the first thing I thought of. We can do imaging of the internal auditory canals that can look at the nerves running to the face. It's a pretty boring exam.

No. I've had an MRI done once before, but that was a fear years ago before this condition developed.

 

[Grimm Fandango]

Probably stress or lack of sleep. One of my eyes does it occasionally but it's nothing to be worried about.

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

Probably stress or lack of sleep. One of my eyes does it occasionally but it's nothing to be worried about.

It sucks so much that you can't accurately measure stress. If it's stress, then I have no fucking clue why. I don't know what I could possibly be stressed about. And for a year straight?

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

Found a video showcasing a condition similar to the one I'm experiencing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvOBThVDmy8&feature=related

Hemifacial spasms? Hmmm...