Bell's palsy is a condition that causes sudden weakness in the muscles on one side of the face. Often the weakness is short-term and improves over weeks. The weakness makes half of the face appear to droop. Smiles are one-sided, and the eye on the affected side is hard to close.
The cause of Bell palsy is unknown. But it's thought to be caused by inflammation affecting the body's immune system. It's linked to other conditions, such as diabetes. Symptoms of facial weakness or paralysis get worse over the first few days and start to improve in about 2 weeks.
Most people with Bell's palsy recover fully — with or without treatment. There's no one-size-fits-all treatment for Bell's palsy. But your healthcare professional may suggest medicines or physical therapy to help speed your recovery. Surgery is rarely an option for Bell's palsy.
It is believed that stress can be a contributing factor to Bell's Palsy, as it can cause damage to the facial nerve and lead to facial weakness. The severity of the nerve damage depends on how long and how intense the stress has been.
Avoid stringy, chewy foods and those with pips, skins, shells, or husks, (e.g. raw tomatoes, lettuce, chewy meats, sweet corn, peas, baked beans). You may find rice and dry, crumbly foods difficult and they can cause coughing.
Bell's palsy is not caused by a stroke, but the symptoms of both conditions are similar. If you have facial weakness or drooping, see your healthcare professional to find out the cause and the severity of the illness.
Oral steroids, or an antiviral medicine can be taken in the first few days from the onset of Bell's palsy. This can improve your chance of a full recovery. They may also prescribe you lubricating eye drops or an eye ointment to protect your affected eye. Your doctor may also recommend physiotherapy or face massage.
Bell palsy is thought to be due to swelling (inflammation) of the facial nerve in the area where it travels through the bones of the skull. This nerve controls movement of the muscles of the face. The cause is often not clear. A type of herpes infection called herpes simplex or herpes zoster might be involved.
Our case signifies that vitamin C deficiency is a risk factor/triggering factor of Bell's palsy. On the other hand, Bell's palsy also may induce vitamin C deficiency. Serum vitamin C levels should be checked in every patient with Bell's palsy.
Jolie reported turning to acupuncture for relief from Bell's palsy and noted that she has since made a full recovery. Here's what you need to know about the rare neurologic disease.
Early symptoms of Bell's palsy — or warning signs — may include a slight fever and pain behind your ear. However, there's nothing you can do to stop Bell's palsy from developing once it begins. In addition, you could have these symptoms for another reason and not develop Bell's palsy.
The common symptoms of Bell's Palsy and Ramsay Hunt Syndrome are similar in that they both involve facial paralysis. However, there are some differences between the two conditions. Bell's Palsy is caused by damage to the seventh cranial nerve, while Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is caused by the varicella-zoster virus.
There is some evidence that the virus is often herpes simplex virus (HSV), the same virus that causes cold sores and genital herpes. Other viruses may also cause the condition, including herpes zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus.
Bell's palsy may be an autoimmune demyelinating cranial neuritis, and in most cases, it is a mononeuritic variant of Guillain–Barré syndrome, a neurologic disorder with recognised cell-mediated immunity against peripheral nerve myelin antigens.
Seek emergency medical care if you notice facial weakness or drooping. Although Bell's palsy can be alarming, most symptoms resolve in 2 to 3 month. Possible complications are corneal dryness leading to vision problems, and permanent damage to the facial nerve. It's important to be evaluated as soon as possible.
Additionally, foods rich in B vitamins may help speed up Bell's palsy treatment recovery. These foods include whole grains, eggs and fruits and may help repair facial nerve damage caused by Bell's palsy.
Possible triggers of Bell's palsy may include: An existing (dormant) viral infection, such as herpes simplex or varicella (chickenpox) Impaired immunity due to stress, sleep deprivation, physical trauma, minor illness, or autoimmune syndromes.
A randomized trial suggested that patients treated with vitamin B12, alone or combined with steroids, recovered faster than those treated with steroids alone (Jalaludin, 1995). Furthermore, vitamin B12 used by acupoint injection is better than other methods in Bell's palsy (Luo et al., 2009).
Shingles, or reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, can lead to facial paralysis. The virus can cause Bell's palsy and Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which cause similar paralysis symptoms. A person who experiences facial paralysis should work with a doctor to determine the underlying cause.
When first diagnosed with Bell's palsy you should understand that you are unwell. It is important to get plenty of rest even if you have no other symptoms. You should also maintain a healthy diet. If you are at work or school, it may be necessary to take some time to recover.
Yes, you can receive disability benefits due to Bell's palsy if you can prove your condition prevents you from working for more than a year.
Treating Bell's Palsy at Home
Using moist heat like MediBeads or even a warm washcloth several times a day can relieve pain and improve circulation. You can also prevent muscle waste, ease pain and maintain your facial tone by using electrical stimulation at home with a TENS unit.
In general, it does not matter whether you sleep on the side affected by Bell's palsy or on the healthy side. In most cases, there is no special need to prefer one side over the other.