Author:
John Stephens
Date Of Creation:
1 January 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
Bell's Palsy's is a facial nerve disorder in which the nerve that controls the muscles on one side of the face is damaged, resulting in weakness or paralysis, causing the affected side to sag. The exact cause of Bell's Palsy's disease has not been determined (it could be a virus), so there's no way to prevent or cure it. Fortunately, Bell's Palsy's usually go into remission within a few weeks or months and there are ways to help support your recovery. Your doctor can prescribe prescription medications and you should follow home care methods to increase recovery time. In addition, there are many alternatives that may not cure the illness but may help relieve symptoms.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Take medications
See your doctor right away. Bell's Palsy's disease is easily treated if you pay attention. If you feel unusual in one side of your face or can't control your facial muscles, see your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor can determine if it's a facial nerve palsy. Bell's Palsy's or something else. From there, the doctor can make the right treatment plan. Signs that you may have a condition. Bell's Palsy's include:- Difficulty closing or blinking in one or both eyes
- Facial expression is difficult to control
- Convulsions
- Eyelid collapse
- Salivate
- Taste problem
- Dry eyes or dry mouth
- Lots of tears
Take Prednisone. This corticosteroid is an anti-inflammatory drug that your doctor may prescribe for you. Your doctor will prescribe an oral dose for 1 week, then reduce the dose for the next week.- As an anti-inflammatory, Prednisone can help reduce facial nerve swelling caused by Bell's Palsy's disease. It also helps relieve pain caused by muscle tension.
- Before taking Prednisone, you should talk to your doctor about drug interactions, especially if you are taking birth control pills, anticoagulants, or have a medical condition such as diabetes, HIV, cardiovascular disease, or are pregnant and breastfeeding.
Take antiviral medication. Acyclovir is an antiviral used against the Herpes Simplex virus (which causes mouth sores) and may also help treat Bell's Palsy's disease. Acyclovir alone is not guaranteed to be effective, so it is often prescribed with Prednisone to treat this disorder.- The combination of Acyclovir and Prednisone in the treatment suggests that Bell's Palsy may be caused by Herpes Simplex virus.
Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Bell's Palsy's disease can cause pain along with loss of facial muscle control and other symptoms. Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever like aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen can help relieve discomfort.
- To prevent harmful drug interactions, talk to your doctor about over-the-counter medications if you are taking any prescription medications.
Method 2 of 3: Home care
Protect eyes. Because Bell's Palsy's disease can make it harder for you to close your eyelids, the affected eye can become dry and irritated. To keep your eyes moist, use eye drops or ointments and wear an eye patch. Wearing glasses or goggles during the day and eye shields at night can help prevent irritating debris from getting into the eyes.
- Limit use of computers while you are sick because too much use can cause dry eyes.
Apply a moisturizer. Soak a soft washcloth in warm water and wring it out. Place the towel on the affected face for a few minutes. Apply this compress several times a day to relieve pain caused by Bell's Palsy's.
Supplement vitamins. Several vitamins and minerals (including vitamins B12, B6 and zinc) can stimulate nerve growth. These vitamins and minerals help reduce symptoms. Bell's Palsy's disease is due to the occurrence of nerve damage.
- Excellent sources of vitamin B6 include avocados, bananas, legumes, meats, nuts and whole grains.
- Excellent sources of vitamin B12 include beef liver, shellfish, meat, eggs, milk and fortified cereals.
- Excellent sources of zinc include protein-rich meats such as beef, pork, lamb, and black chicken; legumes, nuts and whole grains.
- Also, ask your doctor about taking supplements to make sure you get enough vitamins B12, B6 and zinc.
Patience. Recovery time depends on the extent of nerve damage and whether you're treating the obvious cause of Bell's Palsy's disease. Although the recovery times vary from person to person, symptoms usually improve after 2 weeks (with or without combination). However, it will take about 3-6 months for the body to fully recover.
- Symptoms of Bell's Palsy's disease can return, even with full recovery. You should talk to your doctor to determine the cause of your illness.
Method 3 of 3: Try alternative treatments
Try biofeedback. This is a learning process to train the brain to understand and control the body. This method helps restore facial muscle function by allowing you to consciously think about controlling your facial muscles and perceive feelings in the affected area. Specific biofeedback techniques will vary depending on the situation, so you can ask another doctor to recommend a suitable program.
Receive physical therapy. Exercising your facial muscles through a variety of physical therapy exercises can help restore facial muscle function. These exercises also help relieve some of the symptoms of Bell's Palsy's disease, including pain. Ask your doctor for a referral to a physical therapist with experience in treating Bell's Palsy's.
Face massage. Similar to physical therapy, a facial massage can help restore the function of affected areas and ease the discomfort associated with Bell's Palsy's disease. You can ask your referring doctor to see a masseuse with experience treating Bell's Palsy's condition with a facial massage.
Try acupuncture. This technique is the process of inserting thin needles into specific points on the skin. Acupuncture stimulates nerves into muscles, helping to relieve pain and other symptoms of Bell's Palsy's disease. You can ask your referring doctor to see an acupuncturist licensed to practice in your area.
Consider electric excitation. In some cases, your doctor may recommend an electrical stimulation to restore facial muscle function and / or stimulate nerve growth to help support the recovery process. This should be performed by a trained medical professional and only if the doctor has determined it to be beneficial.
Try relaxation techniques. Meditation, yoga and breathing exercises can help relieve muscle tension and pain. Although there's no guarantee of a cure, relaxation techniques may help reduce general discomfort caused by Bell's Palsy's disease.
- Bell's Palsy's disease can cause stress and discomfort in people. Relaxation techniques can be used to reduce emotional stress.
Advice
- Bell's Palsy's disease occurs when facial muscles are pinched. The exact cause is unknown, but it could be from a virus like Meningitis or Herpes Simplex. Bell's Palsy's disease has also been linked to other illnesses like the flu, diabetes and Lyme disease.
- Bell's Palsy's disease is not the same as facial paralysis caused by a stroke.
- Bell's Palsy's disease doesn't affect the nerves that control eye movement.
Warning
- A surgical approach is rarely recommended in the case of Bell's Palsy's and is only used to treat serious injuries. Surgical surgery reduces pressure on the facial nerve by opening the path of bone that the nerve passes through. However, surgery can cause nerve injury, hearing loss, and other damage and is not recommended.
