My recovery has been VERY gradual. Unfortunately, around the end of May/beginning of June (around my last update)I started noticing synkinesis which has made my smile worse than it was at 5 mo post.

At first I noticed my affected eye squinting in pictures. Then I realized my eye would narrow every time I drank, ate, talked, or moved my mouth certain ways. I also developed chin dimpling/tightness and movements around my nose. Basically, as more movement came back, some of the nerves seemed to reconnect to the wrong muscles.

I tried acupuncture with electrical stimulation in July, which personally seemed to trigger a LOT of twitching for me, so I stopped doing that. ESTIM is not recommended for synkinetic patients!!

At around 8–9 months I finally started working with a facial nerve physical therapist specifically for synkinesis. We’ve been focusing on retraining movements, relaxing the muscles, massage/stretching, and trying to separate movements that my face now wants to do together. Some of the muscles on my affected side can actually feel bruised or sore, especially around my chin, nose, cheekbone, and jaw.

I also recently saw 2 facial nerve surgeons (ENTs) they know a lot more than your average neurologist btw. who told me that what I’m experiencing is a pretty classic case of synkinesis after Bell’s palsy. He recommended continuing specialized PT and Botox as the first-line treatment. He was also the first doctor who really acknowledged how debilitating this condition is which honestly meant a lot after dealing with it for almost a year!! The doctor from The facial nerve center in Boston (studied at harvard) stated that surveys show synkinesis quality of life can actually be worse for most people than the flaccid paralysis stage. i truly couldn't agree more. the constant fish hook pulling, muscle tightness and twitching is worse for me than when i had no movement. 

My first Botox treatment is scheduled for October 1. I’m nervous but also really hopeful that it will help with the eye narrowing, tightness, and unwanted movements.  
At this point, my face has recovered a TON compared with the beginning, but I’ve learned that “movement coming back” and actually having normal facial movement are two very different things. The synkinesis has probably been the hardest part mentally because I thought I was almost through this before it started and I was told even with getting the selective neurectomy which i plan on doing anyways it may still not give the smile back but can help with the severe synkinesis

BP update 10 months post diagnosis