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Bells Palsy |
Details
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Bell’s Palsy is a facial nerve abnormality that leads to paralysis or sudden weakness of the muscle on 1 side of the person’s face. The facial nerves are the cranial nerves which stimulate the facial muscle. The causes of Bell’s Palsy are not known, but they can involve swelling of facial nerves as a reaction to viral infection, deficiency of blood supply, or compression. The disease starts suddenly. A few hours before progression of the facial muscle weakness, the individual can have pain behind the ears. The facial weakness may range from very mild to complete, but such weakness occurs only on 1 side of the person’s face. The paralyzed section becomes expressionless and flat, but the individual frequently feels as though it is twisted. Most people experience heavy feeling or numbness in the face, although sensations usually remain normal. When the upper area of the face is affected, closing the eye on the affected part can be difficult. In rare, cases Bells Palsy interferes with the saliva production, producing tears ability, or the taste sensation. The disorder always involves only 1 side of the person’s face; the weakness starts suddenly and may affect both the lower and upper portion of the affected side. Although strokes may also result in sudden weakness of the face, it does only in the lower portion of the individual’s face. Additionally, the stroke results in leg and arm weakness. Other causes of Bell’s palsy are very rare and generally appear slowly. Such causes may include Ramsay Hunt’s Syndrome; brain or other tumors; bone fractures at the Skull base; lyme disease; mastoid sinuses or middle ear infection. A physician tries to eliminate such disorders by taking a patient’s history and performing such tests as x-rays, CT (computed tomography) scans, or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans. Blood tests for LYME disorder can be required. No specific tests are available for Bell’s Palsy. There are no specific treatment that exists for this condition. Some physicians suggest that corticosteroids such as Prednisone must be prescribed no later than 2 days after symptoms develop and such treatment should be continued for one or two weeks. Whether such treatment improves the chances of cure or reduces the pain has not been proofed completely. If paralyzed muscles of the face prevent the eyes to close fully, the person’s eye should be protected from dryness. Lubricating eye drops, used every several hours are frequently prescribed. An eye patch can be also required. In individuals with severe Bell’s palsy, stimulating the nerve and massaging the weak muscles can help prevent the muscles of the face from tightening. If paralysis occurs for six to twelve months or more, a neurosurgeon tries to graft healthy nerves (commonly obtained from the tongue) into the paralyzed muscle of the face. When paralysis is partial, full recovery within one or two months is likely. Although most people with total paralysis recover completely, the outcome varies, depending on severity of Bell’s palsy. To help define complete or likelihood recovery, the physician may test the facial nerves with electrical stimulation.
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| Category |
Disease Conditions > B
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| Related Searches |
bells palsy symptoms, bell palsy pregnancy |
| Date Submitted |
20-Nov-2005
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