Question
A 6-month-old baby cannot lift her head, can roll over, and has a normal appetite. There are no significant abnormalities, but she occasionally shakes. Is facial paralysis the same as myofascial spasm?
Answer
Facial paralysis and myofascial spasm are two different conditions. Facial paralysis refers to weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles, usually resulting in the loss of facial expressions. On the other hand, myofascial spasm is characterized by involuntary twitching or contraction of the facial muscles. The main symptom of myofascial spasm is spasmodic twitching of the unilateral facial muscles, while the symptoms of facial paralysis include drooping corners of the mouth, inability to fully close eyelids, loss of forehead wrinkles, and ptosis of the eyes.