What is Bell’s Palsy? Understanding the Condition and Its Recovery Process

Bell’s palsy causes temporary weakness or paralysis of facial muscles. This paralysis, or palsy, is caused by a pinched facial nerve. People with this form of facial nerve palsy get a drooping look on one or both sides of their faces. The ailment isn’t dangerous and usually goes away after a few months.

Bell’s palsy causes one or both sides of your face to sag. You can have a crooked smile or an eyelid that won’t close. These side effects usually persist for many months and disappear on their own. Sir Charles Bell, a Scottish surgeon who initially characterized the illness in the nineteenth century, gave it its name.

Risk Factors

Men and women are equally affected by Bell’s palsy. It usually affects people aged between 15 and 60. If you are pregnant or have one of the following conditions, you may be more susceptible to Bell’s palsy:

• Autoimmune disease
• Diabetes
• Upper respiratory ailments
• Preeclampsia
• Sleep deprivation
• Damage to the myelin sheath
• Family history of Bell’s palsy
• Cold sores (herpes simplex virus)
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr virus)
• Shingles (herpes zoster virus)

Can One Person Get Bell’s Palsy More Than Once?

It is uncommon to experience Bell’s palsy more than once in one’s life. However, a repeat event is probable within a few years of the first. Facial nerve palsy can affect the face’s same or opposite side. If there is a family history of this condition, you are more likely to have a recurrence.

Causes

A variety of viruses can cause Bell’s palsy. The condition arises when inflammation or swelling exerts pressure on a nerve that controls the facial muscles. This pressure inhibits nerve function, making it harder to regulate facial muscles or expressions. The nerve begins to function again when the inflammation decreases. However, symptoms may not disappear for several months.

Many scientists believe something might awaken a latent viral infection, causing Bell’s palsy. If you’re worried or have just been ill, these might be potential causes. A prior physical trauma or even sleep deprivation might also play a role. Finally, an autoimmune disorder might potentially be a trigger.

The facial nerve is hypothesized to respond to infection by swelling, which produces pressure in the bone tube (known as the Fallopian canal) via which the facial nerve travels to the side of the face.

Symptoms and Signs

Bell’s palsy symptoms often appear rapidly and peak in severity within 48 to 72 hours. Some folks have only minor signs. Others are completely paralyzed.

Symptoms begin to improve gradually in three weeks. Within three months, up to 80% of patients entirely recover and exhibit no evidence of Bell’s palsy.

Bell’s palsy symptoms include, in addition to face drooping:

• Difficulty speaking, eating, or drinking
• Drooling
• Dry eyes
• Discomfort around the jaw or in the ear, including behind it, on the affected side
• Headache
• Loss of taste
• Ringing in ears (tinnitus)
• Variations in tear and saliva production
• Sensitivity to sounds

The symptoms generally develop suddenly, and you could experience them as you wake up or try to drink or eat.

Bell’s palsy is distinguished by a drooping look on the side of the face and the inability to open or close the afflicted eye. Bell’s palsy can damage your entire face in rare situations.

Diagnosis

Your surgeon will first undertake a medical examination to establish the extent of your facial muscle weakness. They’ll also ask you about your symptoms, such as when they started and when you initially noticed them.

While there is no single lab test that your doctor uses to confirm that you have Bell’s palsy, your doctor can utilize a range of tests to aid in diagnosing Bell’s palsy.

These tests can also help rule out other potential causes of facial paralysis, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome or Lyme disease.

Among these tests are:

• Blood tests to see if you have a bacterial or viral illness. Diabetes and other diseases are also detected by blood testing.
• An MRI or CT scan can be used to examine the facial nerves and rule out the potential of a stroke or brain tumor.
• An electromyography (EMG) test, in which a doctor inserts fine wire electrodes into a muscle to establish whether or not the nerves that control the facial muscles have been damaged. This test can also identify the extent of the damage.
• If Lyme disease is suspected, a lumbar puncture may be performed.

Treatment

Bell’s palsy symptoms usually improve on their own. However, your facial muscles may take weeks or months to restore their enduring power. Nevertheless, the remedies listed below may aid in your recovery.

Medication

• Doctors will prescribe corticosteroid medications to reduce inflammation.
• If a virus or bacterium causes your Bell’s palsy, you may be offered antiviral or antibacterial medicine.
• OTC pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can help reduce minor discomfort.
• To keep your afflicted eye moist, use eye drops.

Home Remedies

• An eye patch (for your dry eye)
• A warm, moist towel over your face to relieve pain
• Facial massage
• Physical therapy exercises stimulate your facial muscles.s

When to See a Neurologist

Bell’s Palsy is generally diagnosed by clinical observation. If feasible, consult a neurologist within 72 hours of the onset of symptoms because they can arise quickly. The appearance of a deformed face and the inability to move the facial muscles on one side are two of the first symptoms to check for.

Frequently Asked Questions