Eyelid Twitching

[Kald]

I have been experiencing eyelid twitches for almost 4 yrs now. It started in one eye and now i get them in multiple spots in all 4 lids. All day long, mostly, in the lower bottom where the eyelashes are. 24/7 they twitch It looks like a the twitch is pulling from the corners inward to the middle of the eyelid. I have had a MRI,but only a cyst in my sinuses was found. I am not under much stress and get plenty of sleep. I have been getting botox since getting these spasms and now am not able to because I am pregnant. I have tried vitamins,acupuncture,and chiropractor care with no luck. The twitches are just getting worse. I am at a lost on what to do next and what this could be. I do not get them anywhere else in my body. Does this sound like an issue with my facial nerve? Some type of nerve damage? I was only 27 when this started and do not recall anything around the time that might have set this off. Most people I know, including my husband get them, however they go away within a few days. What sets them off for me is anytime pressure is applied to my eyelids. So, anytime i sneeze, blink, or squint from the sun. Sometimes,it seems like they set off with me just laying around. I do not have any issues with my eyelids closing, and i do not blink that often. One eye dr scared me and told me that I would develop Blepharospasm where my eyes will start to close on me. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Forum-OD-MP]

"Does this sound like an issue with my facial nerve? Some type of nerve damage? I was only 27 when this started and do not recall anything around the time that might have set this off."

yes, sounds like some facial nerve problem.  nerve "irritation" or damage from an old virus or something.  its going to be really, really hard to figure out what is causing this.  maybe impossible.  this sort of thing usually doesnt show up on an MRI, so i'm not surprised there.

i feel abd for you, but i doubt me or anyone is going to be able to help you solve it.  we're all going to say the same thing: BOTOX, which you cannot have while you're pregnant.

yes, it is technically possible that your twitching is from some progressive nerve damage, in which case blepharospasm is certainly a possibility.  not much you're going to be able to do to prevent something like that.  keep getting BOTOX after your delivery.  see a neurologist if you have no already.  not much other advice...

[Kald]

Just saw your response below to someone else:
2) BLEPHAROSPASM: constant facial muscle spasm caused by facial cranial nerve damage. differentiated from benign myokymia b/c it "twitches" ALL THE TIME. literally 24/7 twitching that never stops, not even for a few minutes. the facial cranial nerve damage can have many causes...virus, neurological disorders like myasthenia gravis, trauma and others. it usually is not limited to "just an eyelid"...it usually involves other facial muscles like cheek and "eyebrow" muscles (orbicularis oculi). it is not solvable with any topical or oral treatment...it usually requires BOTOX injections 4-5 times a year to keep it under control

Is this something that will go away one day?  It has been a long 4 years and I do not like getting the botox injections.

[Ag-i-doc]

no, it will probably not go away.  true blepharospasm is usually a permanent condition.