Below are a few of our patients, who would like to share short insights about their recovery with us. You can read full recovery stories here.
In our clinic we have a ‘Wall of Honour’ – we put portraits of some of our patients (with their permission) who have successfully completed their rehabilitation programs.
Jamie (Canada)
My Bell’s palsy began on a Saturday in July, 2016. Earlier that week (Mon/Tues) at my office I lost my voice (it sounded as though I had a bad cold but my throat was not sore) by Wednesday I started to get an ear ache in my left ear. I thought it might be an ear infection and went to the pharmacy and got ear drops. When it didn’t get better I went to a Walk-In Clinic to see a doctor (Friday morning). The doctor said I had no infection and thought it might be stress related. He felt the lymph nodes on the front of my throat under my chin and they weren’t swollen so he didn’t think it was a virus. I was prescribed a strong version of ibuprofen to relax my muscles. When I left the doctor’s office I felt a large lump on the back of my neck where the doctor had not checked (I didn’t know at the time this was my lymph node that was very inflamed). I went sailing that day and that evening went to see my massage therapist. I woke up on Saturday morning with partial paralysis of my left side of my face (I awoke because my eye was dry and I wasn’t able to blink it… I also couldn’t furrow my eyebrows). I went to the hospital – the Palsy quickly advanced within a couple hours I had no movement. The doctor at the emergency diagnosed me and said based on my symptoms and swollen lymph nodes it was likely a reaction to a virus.
When Jamie just arrived to the clinic for the first time, these were her complications and residuals:
- When I frown or say words with the letter “W”, pucker my lips (anything where my upper lip moves on the left moves) my left eye partially closes.
- My affected eye area get painful and tired/strained and the eye “shrinks” towards the end of the day I also feel my blinking slows in the affected eye.
- When I smile a large smile my left eye partially closes
- I get painful neck cramps/contractors on the left side of my neck (when I blink/squeeze my eyes shut I feel my neck slightly contract) so I believe the muscle is overworked.
- Whenever I flare my nostrils (or move my ears) my left eye shrinks
Remarks: I give presentations in front of large audience at work (sometimes on stage with projector screens zoomed in on my face) and I am self conscious now of how lopsided my face appears especially with certain words or if my face is tired. I am socially more self conscious in general. The facial pain/fatigue can be extremely uncomfortable along with painful neck cramps and headaches that affect my ability to focus.
Already after the first visit Jamie started feeling some improvements:
- I have had no neck contractures since getting back from treatment! 🙂 My affected eye also remains more open as the day goes on (it previously used to get smaller as the day progressed).
- I am definitely more conscious of how my face feels throughout the day and much more aware when I tense up.
As you can see in her video testimonial, with persistent hard work, motivation and guidance, she managed to achieve her desired results, return her self-confidence and gain even more experience and knowledge for her personal health growth.
Marianne (The Netherlands)
“Dear Elena,
Reborn! That is the first word that comes in to my head.
The first weeks I needed to do the exercise with closing my eyes rubbing my hands and than put my hands for my eyes., two times a day. I felt really tired and had pain all over. But after a few days it was gone. Now I’m almost forgetting that I ever had Bell.
Sometimes when I feel a bit tired I do the exercises again. Take my rest. And sleep really relaxed.
I enjoy life. Feel free and let my pictures taken everywhere. I don’t bother anymore and I never lose the “control” of my face.
When I feel or see that my laugh is a bit out of center I relax immediately and start over again.
I bought new glasses. My left eye was extremely better than before. Even the cylinder was diminished. When I feel different in the morning I do my inner mouth massage. It helps directly. Strange enough I bother less about all things in live. Saying I listen and try to help my friends but after that I don’t let it get to much in to me. I’m not afraid to think the rest of the day is for me. It sounds probably a bit egoistic but that’s not what I mean. I mean I feel more and more I have the right to think of myself and be proud of myself.
Difficult to tell in English but I’m sure you understand as always.
Enjoy seeing you again on Wednesday.
Groetjes,
Marianne (The Netherlands)”
Sharon (Canada)
Sharon (Canada)
“My name is Sharon and I’m 62. I live on Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada. I am retired. I have Bell’s Palsy on my left side. It started shortly after a bike ride on a cool spring evening.
I heard of the clinic through the doctor who applied the Botox. He heard of the clinic at a conference and suggested I explore it. I made an inquiry directly to the clinic. This was 8 years after my Bell’s Palsy. It was important to me to try this approach because after all that time I was still self conscious and avoided photographs and speaking in public.
I was nervous for my first visit, and I thought I knew a lot about synkinesis from my reading but I learned that much of my information was incorrect. I was encouraged when the testing showed that I had nerve activity in all the weak muscles. My first treatment helped to relax the tight areas. I felt the difference after 1 treatment but it was not obvious in my expressions until 2 treatments. I have had 4 treatments over 6 months. I have a more balanced expression in a relaxed state, and I’m working on my smile. My eye movement has improved and it stays more open. My affected side has more movement and shows some wrinkles like my regular side. The tight muscles in my cheek are mostly relaxed and comfortable so I don’t feel the block that restricted the mouth. I am able to blow out, and close my lips better.
I would recommend the clinic and wish I had started earlier. After 8 years there is a lot of tightness to overcome and re-training of muscles.
– Sharon (Vancouver, Canada)”
Rainer (Finland)
“I am from Finland and I have very uncommon disease, called gelsoline amyloidosis, (a heritable, systemic disease). Main symptoms are dryness of eyes, dryness of mouth membranes, paralysis symptoms of forehead and cheek muscles on one facial side. No therapy has been found.
Via my friends I found Crystal Touch. Here they promised to evaluate my condition and try to help me. This happened 3 years ago.
Already after my first visit I knew, this treatment will help me and relieve my symptoms.
Because we know, this disease is beyond remedy, we decided to focus relieving the main symptoms of facial muscles.
Crystal Touch developed an innovative, really professionally simple, effective therapy program to my disease with clear instructions for home life.
I have visited now in this clinic regularly a few times per a year, my paralysis symptoms have almost totally disappeared after first year and these symptoms have stayed away during these years.
I can absolutely recommend this clinic for patients, who do not know, what to do their severe skin problems without medical well-known therapy.
– Rainer (Helsinki, Finland)”
Maciej (Poland)
“I’m 53 years old now. About 25 years ago I got the right side of my face paralized because of the facial nerves inflamation. That time I had been treated with steroids /encorton/ and electric stimulations with very poor results. I had a problem with opening my right eye, my right eye brew was almost unmovable. The same was with my mounth – its right side was very different comparing with the left. I went to Cristal Touch clinic in December 2012. After 5 visits/treatments the situation is very much different. Now I can open my right eye much more wide and lift my eyebrow without any problems. I can smile more symmeticaly as well .
Elena Pashova teached me a lot of everyday’s exercises that help improve my facial problems. She made me believe that even after 25 years it is still possible to do a lot with the results of my desease. It’s fantastic – very good job!
– Maciej (Warsaw, Poland)”
Vlada (Russia)
Vlada (16), Bell’s Palsy since 2010
Valada was hit by Bell’s palsy when she was 12. After the incomplete recovery she had developed oral-ocular synkinesis, tightness of facial muscles and painful spots on the affected side of the face.
Vlada was treated in Moscow by the specialists of Crystal Touch clinic, within the scope of our humanitarian project “Bring back your Smile!”. Already after 3 months of Crystal Touch rehabilitation program (2 treatments) Vlada had achieved a substantial progress. Synkinesis considerably reduced, tightness of facial muscles and facial pains disappeared. Vlada continued her rehabilitation program for another 6 months (4 treatments) and reached an aesthetically acceptable and lasting result.
Ronald
Ronald (47), Bell’s Palsy since 2005
Multiple synkinesis after a long-standing Bell’s palsy. Before Bell’s palsy hit him, Ronald used to work as a photo-model, but had to change his career due to the developed asymmetry of facial expressions.
Ronald was treated by the specialists of Crystal Touch clinic in Rotterdam, within the scope of our humanitarian project “Bring back your Smile!”. After 3 months of Crystal Touch rehabilitation program (2 treatments), Ronald had achieved a substantial progress. Synkinesis were considerably reduced, facial movements became symmetrical. Ronald had considered the result as aesthetically acceptable and concluded that further treatments for him were unnecessary.
A remarkable and lasting progress, that was achieved within a very short period of time.
Denis (Russia)
Denis, 3 years
Congenital ptosis of the left eyelid and of the left mouth corner
Denis was treated in Moscow by the specialists of Crystal Touch clinic, within the scope of our humanitarian project “Bring back your Smile!”. After 7 months of Crystal Touch rehabilitation program (4 treatments) Denis had achieved substantial improvements. Ptosis of the eyelid considerably reduced. Ptosis of mouth corner disappeared. Planned operation of the eyelid correction was cancelled as unnecessary. Visual acuity (sharpness of eyesight) improved from 0.4 to 0.8 (norm is 1.0). Denis continued his rehabilitation program for another 4 months (3 treatments), till an aesthetically acceptable and lasting result had been achieved.
Dasha (Russia)
Dasha, 13 years
Congenital myopathy, infantile cerebral palsy
Dasha had been treated in Moscow by the specialists of Crystal Touch clinic within the scope of our humanitarian project “Bring back your Smile!”. Already after 3 months of Crystal Touch rehabilitation program (2 treatments) Dasha had achieved visible increase of her facial muscles tonus. Her control over her facial expressions improved greatly. Dasha continued her Crystal Touch rehabilitation program for another 15 months (9 treatments). The quality of her facial movements is steadily improving.
Patient J. (The Netherlands)
Patient J. (48) Bell’s Palsy since 2003
Multiple synkinesis, noticeable asymmetry of facial movements
Treatments in Crystal Touch clinic (2012). After 4 Crystal Touch treatments a substantial progress had been achieved. Synkinesis and facial asymmetry were reduced.
This is his testimonial after 2 Crystal Touch treatments.
Katia (Russia)
Katia, 13 years
Congenital central facial paralysis on the right side
Since her birth Nadja could only smile with her left side of the face. The right side was almost motionless (see the picture). We have treated Nadja in Moscow within the scope of Crystal Touch humanitarian project “Bring back your Smile!”. Already after 4 months of Crystal Touch rehabilitation program (3 treatments) Nadja could perform substantial voluntary movements with her right mouth corner, and slight movements with her right eyebrow (see the video). Clarity of her speech has improved considerably. Nadja continued her rehabilitation program for another 5 months (3 treatments) until she had achieved an aesthetically acceptable result.
