Bell’s Palsy

Have you ever experienced the feeling of being numb anywhere throughout your body?  Weird feeling, isn’t it?  If you or your loved one has ever been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, you should be very familiar with the numb sensation…unfortunately.  Bell’s palsy results in a paralysis or weakness of the muscles on one side of your face.  You may be able to move them some or none at all.  The scary thing is about this condition is that it comes on abruptly without warning, usually during the overnight hours.  Thankfully though, Bell’s palsy usually resolves on its own within a few weeks to a couple of months.

The culprit of Bell’s palsy is damage to the facial nerve that controls the muscles on one side of your face.  This nerve damage that occurs essentially causes your face to droop.  If you were to look into a mirror and smile with Bell’s palsy, only half of your facial muscles would work to only squeeze out only half of a smile.  The damage that is done to your facial nerve may also affect your sense of taste and how well you produce tears and saliva. 

Immediately, if you or your loved one wakes up in the morning to notice one-sided drooping of your face you will think you have possibly had a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA).  However, this is NOT the case!  The good news is that Bell’s palsy is its own condition and does not go hand in hand with a stroke or TIA.  You are thinking correctly though because a stroke and TIA can indeed cause paralysis of your face, but there is no link in these two conditions.  On any accounts though of sudden weakness that occurs on one side of your face, you should seek medical attention immediately in order to rule out the more serious causes and/or further complications.

            What Causes Bell’s Palsy?

·         Cause is not completely clear.

·         Majority of cases are thought to occur due to the herpes virus that causes cold sores (fever blisters).

·         The nerve that controls the muscles on one side of the face is damaged by inflammation.

·         Keep an open mind that many health problems can cause weakness or paralysis of the face.

·         If no specific medical condition is found that is causes the facial drooping, you will be diagnosed with Bell’s palsy.

            What Are The Symptoms?

·         Weakness or paralysis on only one side of your face that causes drooping.

·         You may find it hard to close your eye on the side of your face that is affected.

·         Excess salivation (drooling).

·         Excessive tearing or a dry eye.

·         Decrease or loss in your ability to taste.

·         Numbness on the side of your face that is affected.

·         Increase in your sensitivity to sound.

Keep in mind that everyone is different and what you experience with Bell’s palsy may be very different than what your neighbor experienced.  Upon seeking medical treatment your provider may diagnose Bell’s palsy simply by asking you questions about how your symptoms came about.  Plus, you will endure a physical examination and also a neurological examination to assess the functioning level of your facial nerve.  If then the cause of your symptoms still remain unclear or your provider wants more definitive results to rule out more serious conditions, other diagnostic tests may be carried out such as blood tests, an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), or a CT scan (computed tomography). 

If you are diagnosed with Bell’s palsy your treatment plan will be individualized according to the extent to which you have been affected.  Total Home Health understands how much of a nuisance this condition can be and what areas of your daily routine can be greatly affected.  Our professional staff will work hand in hand with your provider to ensure that your treatment regimen is carried out strictly in order to make your recovery time go by as quickly and as efficiently as possible so that you can resume your daily routine unscathed. 

            How Is Bell’s Palsy Treated?

·         Most individuals will recover completely without treatment generally in 1 to 2 months, especially if your facial muscles have just been weakened…instead of paralyzed.

·         A small number of those who acquire this condition may end up with permanent muscle weakness or other problems on the side of the face that was affected.

·         The medication prednisone, a corticosteroid, may be prescribed to you in hopes of increasing your chance of regaining all of your facial movement.

·         Prednisone will work its best if it is started within 3 days of the time your symptoms begin.

·         Prednisone will only be prescribed though if your health history allows.  It will not be prescribed, for instance, if your immune system is already compromised such as in diabetes, or if you have cancer.

·         Antiviral medications may also be prescribed to you in addition to the prednisone as treatment due to a high probability that Bell’s palsy was caused by a virus.

Total Home Health is ready to join you in your journey to combat Bell’s palsy.  Our staff will always treat you like you’re one of our own and clue you in on ways to get well quicker!  We will introduce to you ways to work out your facial muscles in order to maintain, regain and restore your strength.  Plus, we will provide you with both eye care and mouth care in the event these areas have become compromised.  Total Home Health is prepared for whatever is thrown at us and we will provide you with care that is the best of the best!  Do not wait any longer…enroll today to see for yourself.