How Do You Know When Bell's Palsy Is Getting Better

What is Bell's palsy?

Bong'southward palsy is 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 ordinarily occur on one side of the face or head.

Bell's palsy tin strike anyone at whatsoever age. It occurs virtually often in significant women, and people who accept diabetes, influenza, a cold, or some other upper respiratory ailment. Bell'due south palsy affects men and woman equally. Information technology is less common before age 15 or later age 60.

Bong'south palsy is not considered permanent, but in rare cases, information technology does not disappear. Currently, in that location is no known cure for Bell's palsy; however, recovery unremarkably begins 2 weeks to 6 months from the onset of the symptoms. Nearly people with Bell'southward palsy recover total facial strength and expression.

What causes Bong'south palsy?

The cause of Bell's palsy is non known. It is thought that it may be due to inflammation that is directed past the torso'south immune organization confronting the nerve controlling movement of the face. Bell'south palsy is sometimes associated with the following:

Diabetes
High blood force per unit area
Injury
Toxins
Lyme disease
Guillain-Barré syndrome
Sarcoidosis
Myasthenia gravis
Multiple sclerosis
Infection, particularly following a viral infection with Herpes simplex virus (a virus that is related to the cause of the common "cold sores" of the rima oris)

What are the symptoms of Bong's palsy?

These are the near common symptoms of Bell's palsy:

Disordered movement of the muscles that command facial expressions, such as smiling, squinting, blinking, or endmost the eyelid
Loss of feeling in the face
Headache
Tearing
Drooling
Loss of the sense of gustation on the front ii-thirds of the tongue
Hypersensitivity to audio in the affected ear (hyperacusis)
Inability to close the eye on the afflicted side of the face

The symptoms of Bell's palsy may look like other conditions or medical problems. Always meet your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

How is Bell's palsy diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider can usually diagnose Bell'due south palsy by looking at your symptoms. There are no specific tests used to diagnose Bong's palsy. Withal, your healthcare provider may order tests to rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms and to make up one's mind the extent of nerve involvement or damage. These tests may include:

Electromyography (EMG) to determine the extent of the nerve interest
Blood tests to make up one's mind if another condition such as diabetes or Lyme illness is present
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) to make up one's mind if there is a structural cause for your symptoms.

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It is important that your healthcare provider rule out the presence of a stroke or tumor that may cause symptoms similar to Bell's palsy.

How is Bell's palsy treated?

If a specific cause for Bell's palsy is identified, such as infection, that cause will exist treated. Otherwise, the symptoms are treated as needed.

1 uniformly recommended treatment for Bell's palsy is protecting the eye from drying at nighttime or while working at a computer. Eye intendance may include centre drops during the twenty-four hours, ointment at bedtime, or a moisture chamber at night. This helps protect the cornea from being scratched, which is crucial to the management of Bell's palsy.

Your healthcare provider will prescribe other treatment for your condition based on the severity of your symptoms and your health history. Other handling options include:

Steroids to reduce inflammation
Antiviral medicine, such as acyclovir
Analgesics or moist heat to relieve pain
Physical therapy to stimulate the facial nerve

Some people may choose to use alternative therapies in the treatment of Bell's palsy, but there is no proof they brand a divergence in recovery. Such handling may include:

Relaxation
Acupuncture
Electrical stimulation
Biofeedback grooming
Vitamin therapy, including B12, B6, and the mineral zinc

What are the complications of Bell's palsy?

Bell's palsy ordinarily resolves in time and causes no long-term complications. However, during the disease almost people with Bell'southward palsy are unable to close their eye on the affected side of their face up. It is, therefore, important to protect the eye from drying at nighttime or while working at a estimator. Eye intendance may include heart drops during the 24-hour interval, ointment at bedtime, or a moisture chamber at nighttime. This helps protect the cornea from being scratched.

Living with Bell's palsy

Bell'due south palsy usually resolves in fourth dimension and causes no long-term complications. It is important, however, to take medicines as directed. It is also crucial that you protect the afflicted eye from drying. Employ of center drops during the twenty-four hours and ointment at bedtime can protect the cornea from scratching.

When should I phone call my healthcare provider?

Bell'south palsy usually starts to improve in 2 weeks but may take 3 to 6 months to return to normal. If there is no improvement or if any symptoms worsen, it is important to tell your healthcare provider.

Key points almost Bell's palsy

Bell's palsy is an unexplained episode of facial musculus weakness or paralysis that usually resolves on its own and causes no complications.
The crusade of Bell's palsy is unknown but is thought to exist caused by inflammation affecting the body'south immune system. It is associated with other conditions such equally diabetes.
Symptoms of facial weakness or paralysis become worse over the first few days and start to improve in near 2 weeks.
It can take iii to six months to fully resolve.
Medicine and eye intendance are of import in treating Bell's palsy.

Next steps

Tips to assist you go the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:

Know the reason for your visit and what you desire to happen.
Earlier your visit, write down questions you lot want answered.
Bring someone with y'all to help you lot inquire questions and retrieve what your provider tells yous.
At the visit, write downward the name of a new diagnosis, and whatsoever new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives yous.
Know why a new medicine or handling is prescribed, and how information technology will help yous. Also know what the side effects are.
Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways.
Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.
Know what to expect if yous practise non take the medicine or take the test or procedure.
If you have a follow-up date, write down the appointment, time, and purpose for that visit.
Know how you can contact your provider if you have questions.