What Is Bell’s Palsy & How Can It Be Treated?

Bell’s palsy is simply an unexplained episode of facial muscle weakness or paralysis. It begins suddenly and worsens over 48 hours. 

This condition results from damage to the facial nerve (the 7th cranial nerve). Pain and discomfort usually occur on one side of the face or head.

Growing up as a kid, there was this woman, let’s call her Mrs Brown.

Mrs Brown had a weird looking face, one side of her face was moved to the left.

I once asked my mom why Mrs. Brown’s face was like that, she didn’t know but gave me that “you should mind your business” answer.

None of the neighbourhood kids knew why Mrs. Brown’s face had a permanent disfigurement. Whether she was born like that or it happened after birth, we have no clue. Inquisitive minds, we decided to mind our business.

But, I finally met clients who developed sudden facial paralysis at the early start of my physiotherapist career. 

One of them, the paralysis happened to him in less than 48 hours before he was brought to our clinic for physical therapy rehabilitation. 

He was terrified; perhaps the gods had slapped him in the face with the appropriate spiritual slap. He ultimately went to his doctor after several days/weeks of spiritual kabashing and was later referred to our Physiotherapy facility to activate facial nerves.

The client had Bell’s palsy.

Symptoms 

~Disordered movement of the muscles that control facial expressions 

~Loss of feeling in the face

~Headache

~Tearing

~Drooling

~Loss of the sense of taste on the front two-thirds of the tongue

~Hypersensitivity to sound in the affected ear

~Inability to close the eye on the affected side of the face

How to prevent Bell’s palsy

It may be possible to prevent Bell’s palsy by avoiding or treating infections like Lyme disease, herpes simplex, and chickenpox.

There is no known cure for Bell’s palsy, so most treatments focus on relieving symptoms in order to speed up recovery. Medications often used are steroid drugs (like prednisone) and antiviral medications (like acyclovir).

In some cases, patients are given a combination of medication and physical therapy.

It can strike anyone at any age. It occurs most often in pregnant women, and people who have diabetes, influenza, a cold, or another upper respiratory ailment. 

Most people with Bell’s palsy recover full facial strength and expression within 2 weeks to 6 months from the onset of the symptoms. 

A small number of people suffer permanent facial disfigurement. 

The client made full recovery after his Physiotherapy facial exercises at unique physiotherapy clinic and fitness ltd.

Bell’s palsy is not stoke

The biggest difference between Bell’s palsy and stroke has to do with the involvement of the brain.

Since Bell’s palsy is not affecting actual brain tissue or brain function, there is nothing beyond the facial nerve that can be affected. If anything beyond the facial nerve is involved, it’s not Bell’s palsy.

While Bell’s palsy does not involve brain function, it is totally possible for a stroke to occur involving only facial muscles or nerve function.

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You can also book an appointment with our physiotherapists at any of our rehabilitation centres here.

visit our physiotherapy clinic in Abuja: 124, Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II 900288, Abuja, Nigeria.