Bell’s Palsy is a medical condition characterized by sudden, unilateral facial muscle weakness or paralysis. It is caused by inflammation of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) which results in the inability to control the muscles on one side of the face. Bell’s Palsy can affect people of all ages, but it is most commonly seen in people between the ages of 15 and 60.
Symptoms: The symptoms of Bell’s Palsy can vary from person to person, but typically include sudden weakness or paralysis of the muscles on one side of the face, drooping of the mouth or eyelid, difficulty closing the eye, drooling, and loss of taste on the front two-thirds of the tongue. In some cases, there may also be pain behind the ear or around the jaw. Symptoms usually appear suddenly, within a few hours to a few days.
Causes: The exact cause of Bell’s Palsy is not known, but it is believed to be related to inflammation of the facial nerve. Some potential causes include viral infections such as herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which can cause inflammation of the facial nerve. Other potential causes include trauma, tumors, and certain medical conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Diagnosis: Bell’s Palsy is typically diagnosed based on the patient’s symptoms and physical examination. There is no specific test to diagnose Bell’s Palsy, but imaging tests such as an MRI or CT scan may be done to rule out other potential causes of facial weakness. The diagnosis is usually made by a neurologist or an otolaryngologist.
Treatment: Treatment for Bell’s Palsy typically includes a combination of medications and physical therapy. Medications such as corticosteroids, antivirals, and pain relievers may be prescribed to reduce inflammation and pain. Physical therapy can help to improve muscle strength and function, and may include exercises to improve range of motion and muscle tone. In some cases, electric stimulation, specifically Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) may also be used to improve muscle strength and function.
Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids are a class of anti-inflammatory drugs that are used to reduce inflammation and swelling. They are often prescribed to reduce inflammation of the facial nerve in patients with Bell’s Palsy. Corticosteroids have been shown to be effective in reducing the severity of symptoms and improving recovery time in patients with Bell’s Palsy.
Antivirals: Antiviral medications such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir, may be prescribed to patients with Bell’s Palsy who have a history of herpes simplex or varicella-zoster virus infection. These medications can help to reduce the risk of complications and improve recovery time.
Physical Therapy: Physical therapy plays an important role in the treatment of Bell’s Palsy. It can help to improve muscle strength and function, and may include exercises to improve range of motion and muscle tone. Physical therapy may also include the use of electric stimulation, specifically Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES), which can be effective in improving muscle strength and function in patients with Bell’s Palsy.
Prognosis: The majority of people with Bell’s Palsy recover fully, typically within 3 to 6 months. However, some people may experience long-term complications such as facial muscle weakness, synkinesis (involuntary movement of the face). The treatment of Bell’s Palsy may be an issue since it depends on the patient’s situation. For instance, if the patient has incomplete facial palsy then treatment may not be necessary. But if the patient has complete paralysis that is characterized by the inability to close the affected eyes and mouth, then the treatment would most likely include anti-inflammatory corticosteroids. However, the effectiveness of this kind of treatment has not been truly demonstrated.
Ever since Bell’s Palsy has been associated with the herpes virus, American neurologists became inclined to prescribe an anti-viral medication to all the patients that have unexplained facial palsy. The most common anti-viral medication prescribed is acyclovir. There were also surgical procedures that were used to try and decompress the facial nerve but have not been beneficial to the condition. An alternative treatment is acupuncture, but this has only turned up inconclusive results.
Those who think that they might have Bell’s Palsy should immediately consult a doctor who will be able to find out whether all the parts of the facial nerve are involved and if the muscles in the forehead are spared. Since the forehead muscles receive innervation from the both sides of the brain, the forehead could still be wrinkled as long as the Bell’s Palsy is caused by a brain problem and not a facial nerve. The Bell’s Palsy results from the inability to manipulate facial muscle movement since the muscles become paralyzed or weak.
It is possible for this condition to subside within about two to three weeks, and it could also be treated with certain medication. But the medications would only be effective if these were administered at a time that is not too late after the onset of Bell’s Palsy. But a lot of patients completely recover from Bell’s Palsy within just several weeks, while some may require about several months, and the others may unfortunately be left with some deficits that have varying degrees.
Bell’s Palsy symptoms that might scare you, but are usually harmless
Sudden symptoms can include complete paralysis of one side of the face, which is often scary because it may look like a stroke or other more serious conditions. For this reason, it is necessary to see a doctor immediately to rule out other medical conditions with similar symptoms. While it may feel scary to the person first experiencing symptoms, this is not a serious or life threatening condition. Bell’s palsy goes away on its own in a few weeks or months. Unfortunately this also means there are no medications or treatments to make Bell’s palsy go away. Symptoms, mild or severe, can be uncomfortable, so typically there is an attempt to relieve symptoms in order to make the person with Bell’s palsy feel more comfortable.
Common symptoms include twitching or weakness or sensations of stiffness and pulling in the face, or complete paralysis on one side of the face. There may be changing facial expression, a drooping eyelid, drooping at one corner of the mouth, dry eye or mouth, drooling, and difficulty eating and drinking. Usually all of these symptoms go away. Sometimes, however, there are both short term and long-term complications. In the short term, there may be eye damage such as ulcers and infection. Long-term there may be changes to the face, problems tasting food and drinks, or face and eyelid spasms.
Bell’s Palsy: Do medications help?
Corticosteroid medication, when taken in the first 24 hours after symptoms first start, may help lessen the symptoms by lowering any swelling or pressure on the nerve. Antiviral medications may also be given in an attempt to lessen symptoms, but there is no research showing that these medications actually impact the length of time it takes to recover from Bell’s palsy. Eye discomfort is often a side effect of Bell’s palsy symptoms. Drops and an eye patch can help when the eye does not close completely or if blinking is a problem.
Other conditions and cause for concern
Bell’s palsy may be connected to diabetes, lyme disease, sarcoidosis or head injury. Blood tests, nerve testing and imaging exams of the skull and brain can be helpful in determining if there is another, more serious health condition causing Bell’s palsy, or if it is not Bell’s palsy at all but another medical problem, such as a stroke, that caused the symptoms.
How to Cure Bell’s Palsy
Bell’s palsy can be painful, but there are answers. There may be no definitive cure, but bell’s palsy can eventually fade away or unfortunately remain with you for quite some time, depending on your situation. You don’t need to feel alone or helpless. There are natural ways to help ease Bell’s Palsy and perhaps even heal from it. With bell’s palsy there are multiple reasons you may be having such problems. You may have inflammation in your nerves or you may have a weakened immune system. Or you may have another disease that is affecting your nerves and causing you to have Bell’s Palsy. Regardless of the cause, Bell’s palsy is obviously not fun, and we want to get rid of it as soon as possible. It is embarrassing, painful, and just plain old dreadful.
There’s no point in suffering another day, let me tell you a few options to help alleviate the disease that holds you down. First, there are many solutions, there is no right solution. Everyone’s body responds differently, but I’m sure there is a solution out there for you, I will provide 2 options.
One option, simple as you might guess, is diet. Your diet is incredibly important and can mean the difference between getting sick, getting better, and staying healthy. So please stop eating processed food, stop eating sugar, no more soda, pizza, or anymore horrible food. You may feel bad changing diets, but in a week or two you will notice a great change.
Over time food can help heal you and make you better, so please give it a shot you won’t regret it. Your next option is to use herbs, spices, and other nutrient supplements to help heal yourself. To be specific, there are various herbal remedies such as ginger, cinnamon, circumin, and more. They actually can help heal the body and contribute to preventing certain diseases. These remedies can be found in food, or creating your own healthy salads incorporating these helpful substances, or you can take supplements. Certain supplements may be worth taking over food as they can hold a much higher concentration of the ingredient you want and need. This is because it can be extracted in higher quantities and thus be taken in higher quantities. A higher quantity of these healing substances can only do you good when trying to recover from a disease or improving your health.