It relaxes unwanted muscle movements and reduces tension in areas of the face that are . Bell palsy can be permanent for some people. It is not contagious, although the underlying viral infection may be. Table 11,68 summarizes the differential diagnosis of Bell's palsy. Bell's palsy is a peripheral palsy of the facial nerve that results in muscle weakness on one side of the face. Another outstanding antiviral herb, elderberry has been proven to reduce the duration of colds, lessen flu symptoms, fight sinus infections and respiratory infections all conditions that are linked to common symptoms. However, the remaining 10 per cent will experience some degree of permanent paralysis. Bell palsy eye exercises. Vitamin B12, B6, and Zinc are all linked to speedy recovery. It occurs more commonly in patients with diabetes and in pregnant women. Wearing protective glasses during the day, an eye patch at night, and using hydrating eye drops can help prevent long-term damage. Plenty of rest is required when diagnosed with Bell's Palsy, so the doctor advises the patients to take off at work. The facial creases and nasolabial fold disappear, the forehead unfurrows, and the corner of the mouth droops. Bells palsy is diagnosed primarily from the symptoms. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on If you are experiencing facial droop (or any stroke symptoms), it is best to seek help immediately for appropriate diagnosis and treatment. After complete recovery, facial tone and function will be balanced between both sides of the face. Strokes occur when the blood supply to any region of the brain is interrupted or reduced. Corticosteroids do help speed up recovery. However, for severe facial paralysis, treatment does help reduce the risk of permanent nerve damage. There is a problem with Medically reviewed by Jeff Fortner, Pharm.D. Laboratory testing is not usually indicated. Even though tear production goes down, the drooping of the lower eyelid may result in a steady flow of tears, called crocodile tears. Home remedies, however, can help reduce pain and prevent complications. Bell's Palsy vs. Stroke: What Are the Differences? JEFFREY D. TIEMSTRA, MD, AND NANDINI KHATKHATE, MD. Prednisone is typically prescribed in a 10-day tapering course starting at 60 mg per day. While viruses are contagious, the resulting weakness and paralysis are not considered contagious. Wear eyeglasses during the day to protect your eye. The range of prescription discounts provided under this discount plan will vary depending on the prescription and pharmacy where the prescription is purchased and can be up to 80% off the cash price. Bells palsy is a mysterious condition. The phase IV clinical study analyzes which people take Gabapentin and have Bell's palsy. 0000047494 00000 n The study is based on gabapentin (the active ingredients of Gabapentin). Last reviewed August 28, 2020. Preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time with your provider. Although these conditions can present as isolated facial nerve palsies, they usually have additional features that distinguish them from Bell's palsy. Used for 1,000s of years to heal wounds, boost immune system response, and support healthy thyroid function, it is also a proven treatment for colds, certain respiratory illnesses, and viruses. The lack of blood oxygen and nutrients can cause sudden onset and ultimately lasting effects on muscle tone, speech, or cognitive ability. However, if someone in your home is diagnosed, it is wise to boost your immune system to help prevent becoming ill with the same virus. The cause of Bell's palsy is not yet known. NSAIDs reduce the bodys ability to form blood clots and protect the digestive system from stomach acid, so the most common side effects are stomach pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, bruising, and bleeding problems. Merck Manual Professional Version. Despite this, an antiviral drug, such as valacyclovir (Valtrex) or acyclovir (Zovirax), is sometimes given in combination with prednisone in people with severe facial palsy. It affects about 30,000 to 40,000 people in the United States each year. What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms? 0000001116 00000 n SingleCare Services LLC ('SingleCare') is the vendor of the prescription discount plan, including theirwebsite.websiteat www.singlecare.com. Bell's palsy has been traditionally defined as idiopathic; however . Have any of your relatives ever had Bell's palsy or problems with facial paralysis? Take care of yourself so that your body can take care of you. Do your exercises a couple of times a day for best results. While there's not a known cause for Bell's palsy, it affects between 30,000 and 40,000 Americans every year.It can affect anyone, but most people with Bell's palsy fall between the ages of . This nerve branches out to the nerves that control the facial muscles, saliva glands, tear glands, and the nerve that transmits taste sensations. This means the affected facial muscles no longer can move. Smiles are one-sided, and the eye on the affected side resists closing. A castor oil compress may help encourage healing by drawing blood flow to the affected area. 379 0 obj <> endobj Others include nausea, vomiting, insomnia and depression. can gabapentin help with bell's palsy . However, some motor neurons to the forehead cross sides at the level of the brainstem, so the fibers in the facial nerve going to the forehead come from both cerebral hemispheres (Figure 2). Of the 29 percent of patients with sequelae, 12 percent rated it slight, 13 percent rated it mild, and 4 percent rated it severe.3 Because of these findings, some persons have questioned whether treatment for Bell's palsy should be routinely indicated; however, patients who have incomplete recovery will have obvious cosmetic sequelae and will often be dissatisfied with their outcome.18, Given the safety profile of acyclovir, valacyclovir, and short-course oral corticosteroids, patients who present within three days of the onset of symptoms and who do not have specific contraindications to these medications should be offered combination therapy. The body must repair the nerve damage in its own time. If anything beyond the facial nerve is involved, it's not Bell's palsy. As always, the best diet for Bells palsy, as for any medical condition, is a healthy diet rich in nutrients. Bell's palsy is the most common cause of facial droop, a term that indicates the look of a patient's face that is slack on one side from loss of muscle tone. In most patients, Bells palsy goes away in less than three weeks. Bell's palsy is a nerve problem that affects the muscles of your face. brain fog. 0000005569 00000 n Supranuclear (central) lesions affecting the facial nerve will not paralyze the forehead on the affected side, resulting in a unilateral facial paralysis with forehead sparing. Previously, decompression surgery was recommended; however, this procedure may lead to permanent hearing loss and have other non-reversible side effects. In the past, decompression surgery was used to relieve the pressure on the facial nerve by opening the bony passage that the nerve passes through. Aortic dissection was the stroke mimic most likely to be fatal. Half of the stroke mimics that caused death in that study were from an aortic dissection. It occurs when the nerve that controls the muscles in your face becomes swollen or irritated. The weakness makes half of the face appear to droop. ; ; No one is certain why Bell's palsy occurs, but it may be due to a virus such as herpes simplex, the "cold sore" virus. Clinical features of stroke mimics in the emergency department. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Synkinesis is the bodys attempt to rewire the face to get muscles working again. You can discuss the study with your doctor, to ensure that all drug risks and benefits are fully discussed and understood. Patients with insidious onset or forehead sparing should undergo imaging of the head. Accessed March 7, 2022. All information is observation-only. privacy practices. Recognition and management of Bell's palsy relies on knowledge of the anatomy and function of the various motor and nonmotor components of the facial nerve. 0000011520 00000 n The seizure disorder epilepsy was the most common stroke mimic seen in one study of patients in the emergency department. Patients with epilepsy can have one-sided weakness following a seizure, called Todd's paralysis. Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) Cover with a warm damp washcloth, and leave it one for 2030 minutes. Patient information: See related handout on Bell's palsy, written by the authors of this article. What websites do you recommend? Classically, Bell's palsy has been defined as idiopathic, and the cause of the inflammatory process in the facial nerve remains uncertain. Complete recovery was significantly shorter in the vitamin B12 group with the mean recovery time of just two weeks, in comparison to nearly 10 weeks for those on just steroids. It begins suddenly and worsens over 48 hours. Called hemiplegia, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body is the quintessential stroke symptom. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. Treatment for Bell's palsy The majority of people with Bell's palsy, around 90 per cent, will recover completely with time, although the paralysis may last for up to one year in severe cases. Patients with Lyme disease often have a history of tick exposure, rash, or arthralgias. There's no specific test for Bell's palsy. Rod Brouhard is an emergency medical technician paramedic (EMT-P), journalist, educator, and advocate for emergency medical service providers and patients. Early treatment with corticosteroids and antiviral medications will help reduce complications. To maximize the bodys ability to heal the nerve damage, stay calm, keep rested, and dont fret. Researchers believe that electromyographic feedback improves motor function of facial muscles, helping patients return to normal. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. It can occur when the nerve that controls your facial muscles becomes inflamed, swollen, or . Function returned within three weeks in 85 percent of patients, with 71 percent of these patients recovering full function. Your physician may have MRI, CT or EMG tests run to confirm nerve damage and to rule out other causes of the weakness or paralysis. If the cause of your symptoms isn't clear, your health care provider may recommend other tests, including: Most people with Bell's palsy recover fully with or without treatment. If anything beyond the facial nerve is involved, it's not Bell's palsy. Spikes in blood sugar increase swelling throughout the body. #6 Dilating the nose. 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