Signs of progress
It is often very difficult to measure when progress has happened because you see your face every day and possibly several times a day. People have often made progress without realising it because changes happen slowly. The following steps are a guide to help you track any changes in your face to establish whether or not progress has been made, what sort of progress or changes have taken place or in the less likely event whether no progress has been achieved at all.
The signs to watch for
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- Improved symmetry at rest (people often comment that you look better)
- The muscles regain their firmness and shape and your face will feel less heavy and look less droopy.
- Some people report a crawling sensation over the affected side of the face
- Flickers of spontaneous facial movements/expressions start to happen
- The range of facial movements/expression increases
- Eye closure and blinking start to improve
- Eating, drinking, and speaking start to improve
Use the stage assessment and Symptom Tracker regularly to track your progress in this app.
Keeping a visual record
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- Take a set of identical photographs of yourself each week and/a video. This should include photos of your face in a neutral or relaxed pose/looking surprised/smiling/whistling/closing your eyes/snarling (showing your top teeth and bottom teeth).
- It may work better if you ask a relative or friend to help.
- Each set of photographs/video should be compared with those taken the previous week.
Monitor improvements
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- Symmetry of your face at rest – are your eyes the same shape, your cheeks symmetrical, and the lips level.
- Symmetry of your face during each of the movements. Is the range of movement any better/staying the same/seem worse?
- Have you developed any involuntary or unwanted movements (synkinesis) in any of the expressions?
- You may notice other signs of progress, for example, the muscles are less tender to touch, your muscles feel more elastic or mobile and you have less facial pain. These are all important signs which indicate things are getting better.
- Keep a diary of any changes or improvements.
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