12-7 graft

[tichinose]

Has anyone had a 12-7 nerve graft?  How long is it? How they do it?
Thx terri

[leapyrtwins]

Lori (lori67) had a 7/12 jump.

I'll PM her the link to this thread and I'm sure she'll respond to your questions.

Jan

[Kathleen_Mc]

I had this done about 3 months after the resection. The 7th nerve is grafted to the 12th. Incision is in the crease of the neck. Easy surgery in terms of the recovery. The idea is that the 12th nerve now assists the 7th, I can move my face by moving my tongue. The orgianal idea was to possibly produce a smile by moving the tongue, I only get a grimace but it's better than nothing. This was my first of several facial animation surgeries so it's hard to remember how much of a difference this itself made to my facial appearance.
Kathleen

[lori67]

I had my 7/12 done at about 18 months post-op.  I was being optimistic, hoping the nerve would just start working on it's own, but no such luck!

I can't remember exactly how long the surgery was (I was asleep   ), but I think somewhere between 2-4 hours.  I stayed in the hospital overnight, but the doctor told me that if I'd had it done first thing in the morning instead of early afternoon, I would have been able to go home that night.  I was sore, but not in a lot of pain afterwards.  My speech was pretty garbled for a few days until I figured out how things were wired now, but it's fine now.

The scar is not bad at all.  It goes from the top of the front of my ear and then down to my neck, but you can't even see it.  They are very good at hiding it in natural skin creases.  I went home from the hospital with just steri-strips on it and was able to cover it with my hair so no one even noticed.

It takes a while to see results, but 2 years later, I'm still seeing some changes and my face looks a lot more symmetrical than it did prior to the surgery.  I'm definitely glad I did it.  I haven't had any problems as a result.

Hope this helps.  If you want to ask any specifics, PM me or I can send you my number and you can give me a call.


Good luck!
Lori

[moe]

Hi Terri,
I also had the "jump" about 18 months post AN surgery. Results vary, as you have read, depending the condition of the facial nerve and it's branches, and the time between the 2 surgeries.

Compared to AN, it really was amazingly simple. Mine was 6 hours long, went home the next morning, and just took it easy. Little to no pain.

I had "marginal" results (my facial nerve was cut and  directly re anastomosed during the original brain surgery), so last May had facial reanimation surgery.

How long ago was your original surgery?

Feel free to PM me also, if any questions!
Maureen

[tichinose]

does insurance cover?

[Kaybo]

I had a 12/7 when I was 1 year out (jan 1997) & the T3 in 2008 & insurance paid for both. I don't rememberwho my provider was the first time but for the T3, ihad Aetna...

K 

[KimLyle]

I just had this sugery with the cross facial nerve graft from my leg. It has only been a mouth and a half soo I havent gotten any movement but hope for some.. IF your concedering this surgery like they told me its goood to do it befor a year from your AN surgery. thats what they told me. I know most people wait a year but I really didnt think my nerve was gonna heal because It was sooo small and it lost blood supply...but I think it was a goood choose for me...goood luck

[sue789]

Hi, I'm new to this forum:-)

I had the 7-12 jump a few months ago.
How long does it take to see first movement? I was told  it takes up to 18-24 months.

[alabamajane]

Hi Sue789 and welcome to forum,

I had the 12/7 graft done last Oct 2011,, 4 days after my AN surgery while still in hospital.. the Dr told me it generally takes 12-18 months for the nerves to "complete" regeneration,, however at about 6 mo.s I should see some movement and I have. .. just last night I told my husband I was able to drink out of a straw with THAT side of my mouth!! Big accomplishment as I have not had enough closure of my lips on  that side to use the straw.. I still do not swallow on that side I think mostly due to lack of tongue movement on that side. Of course I have always used a straw since surgery, but not on that side of my mouth..I also do not chew on that side..and I have much more feeling in my lip and inside my mouth on that side.. but it is getting coming back .. patience has been a VERY big part of this journey for sure..

It definitely has taken some getting used to, however, I see movement each day or so..I can smile, a little, I try to make faces at myself to see how much I can do....move nose, try to open eye lid wide,, I also have eyelid weight on that side,, and "scrunch" my face ,, I also massage that cheek and forehead often to keep from getting muscle cramp feeling... if  that makes sense..
I am not using a facial reanimation "specialist" at this point.. I wanted to give nerve time to heal some before "working" it too hard,, for the most part, I am pretty pleased,, it has been hard to deal with no doubt,, but getting better..
Good luck to you and just give it some time to heal first and then work on making faces some,, I am not a Dr mind you,, just what I have found worked for me in this situation.. let me know if I can help answer any other questions.. Jane

[sue789]

Thank you very much Jane!