Bell’s Palsy

2 days ago

1 min read

Bell’s Palsy is a sudden, temporary paralysis or weakness of the muscles in your face. It is caused by inflammation of the facial nerve and only affects one side of the face.

What causes Bell’s Palsy?

The exact cause is unknown but is often linked to viral infections.

Signs of Bell’s Palsy

Sudden onset of one-sided facial weakness.
Drooping of the eyelid or inability to close the eye.
Drooling and difficulty eating or drinking.
Increased sound sensitivity.
Pain on the side of the face or back of the head.
Difficulty making facial expressions, e.g., smiling.

Treatment and management

Eye Care

Lubricating eye drops to prevent dryness.

An eye patch to keep the eye closed.

Medication

Steroids are often prescribed to reduce the nerve inflammation.

Analgesia for pain relief.

Vitamin B12 to promote nerve repair.

Rest

If there is an associated viral infection, a few days of rest might be appropriate.

Physiotherapy

Your physiotherapist can assist with pain management, muscle stimulation and exercises. Often modalities like laser and ultrasound are used to encourage blood flow, healing and decrease inflammation..

The good news: Most patients will make a full recovery, with improvement starting around 2 weeks. Reoccurrence, while possible, is rare.