Understanding Bell's Palsy

What is Bell's palsy?

Bell's palsy is a temporary paralysis of the facial muscles caused by trauma to one of the two facial nerves on either side of the face. Bell's palsy normally affects one side of the face, but paralysis can extend to both sides of the face if the nerves on both sides of the face are affected.

The signs and symptoms of Bell's palsy range from weakness to twitching to total paralysis of the facial muscles. The patient will have a drooping eyelid, and the corners of the mouth will sag. Since there is no feeling in the mouth, the patient does not feel when to swallow the saliva in his/her mouth, and this causes drooling. The patient cannot blink so the eye may be dry and irritated. An eye patch may be worn for comfort.

I once had Bell's palsy, and I did not have an easy time of it. The right side of my face didn't work, and my right eye was constantly sore and dry from not being able to blink. I had to wear an eye patch to keep the eye from staying open. My doctor prescribed an eye drop to keep the eye moist. Eating was a chore, and very scary at times. I couldn't feel the food in my mouth on one side, so when I swallowed I had to always be mindful of the possibility of choking.

Treatment

It is believed that Bell's palsy is caused by the cold sore virus-Herpes Simplex-which causes inflammation and swelling of the facial nerves. There is no cure for Bell's palsy; most cases subside within 2 to 3 weeks. An antiviral medication, as well as a steroid medication may be given to reduce inflammation and the resultant pressure on the nerve. Most symptoms disappear in time, but in a few people the drooping eyelid or tuned down mouth remains a tell-tale mark of the continued nerve compression.

Approximately 40,000 Americans get Bell's palsy each year. The disorder manifests in males and females between the ages of 15 and 60 years of age. The physician makes a diagnosis by examining the patient. The distortion to the facial features is very prominent. The doctor may perform an electromyography (EMG) to confirm nerve damage and also the extent of nerve impairment.