It can be scary and surprising to look into the mirror and see that one of the sides of your face is not moving. That can be a potential sign that you have Bell's palsy, which is a sudden paralysis or weakness of your facial muscles. However, don't worry. It is temporary most of the time.
Bell’s palsy is thought to be caused by a viral infection that results in swelling and inflammation of the facial nerves which serve the affected muscles. It is a condition that anyone can get, although Bell's palsy tends to be seen more in individuals who have an upper respiratory infection like the flu or cold, pregnant women or those who have given birth recently, and diabetics. What these people have in common is a weakened immune system.
The condition can develop very quickly - within a couple to 48 hours. The symptoms and severity can range from a mild weakness all the way up to complete paralysis of one side of a person's face. You can experience difficulty blinking, difficulties with making facial expressions, dropping at the corner of your mouth or eyelid, or facial muscle twitching. Some people might have decreased tear production, changing taste perception, or dizziness. You will often notice facial distortions that are quite significant on the side of your face that is affected.
The first thing you should do is visit your primary care physician to rule out any other possible causes of your facial muscle weakness. That could lead to being evaluated by a Otolaryngologist.
There is evidence that using oral steroids and antiviral medications early on, such as prednisone, might shorten the duration of the treatment process and improve your outcome. Speech pathologists or physical therapists may recommend that certain facial exercises be done to help speed up your recovery process.
It is critical to take outstanding care of your affected eye, and to begin doing this right away. Use artificial tear drops every hour to keep your eye well hydrated and at night use an eye ointment. This should be continued until your eye can close by itself.
Most people completely recover either without or with treatment. Improvement is a gradual process and your recovery could take several weeks up to six months, depending on the severity of your nerve damage.
Patients that do not recover can be candidates for facial reanimation procedures offered at the Clinique ORL de Montréal. If you think you may have Bell's palsy, consult with your doctor once you have symptoms in order to rule other illnesses out, and to help manage its effects.
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