Bell’s palsy describes a paralysis condition where some of the muscles of the face become temporarily uncontrollable. This condition is often short-term, and the muscles often right themselves without the need for medical intervention. However, in some scenarios, Bell’s palsy can induce effects that require medical intervention to return the muscles of the face to normal. In these situations, it pays to entrust your treatment to the hands of a professional. If you are suffering from the effects of Bell’s palsy or would simply like to set forth on the journey of understanding and treating facial paralysis Bell’s palsy, take a look at this overview of the subject.
What is Bell’s Palsy?
Bell’s palsy is a medical condition that induces a sudden weakness in the muscles on one side of the face. This condition is also known as peripheral facial palsy of unknown origin. It has the potential to occur in people of any age, and the exact cause of the condition is still unknown.
Symptoms of Bell’s Palsy
There are several symptoms to be aware of regarding Bell’s palsy. Not every case will display all of these symptoms. The common symptoms include:
- Facial droop
- Difficulty moving facial muscles back to neutral positions
- Weakness and paralysis on one side of the face
- Pain in the jaw or behind the ears
- Hypersensitivity to sound
- Headache
- Loss of sensation
- Inability to taste
- Changes in the amount of saliva one produces
You should seek medical attention immediately if you start to experience any of the symptoms above. Immediate attention is required not only for the sake of treating Bell’s palsy but also because some of these symptoms are shared with more immediately concerning (and potentially life-threatening conditions, such as a stroke.
Causes of Bell’s Palsy
The exact cause of Bell’s palsy has yet to be irrefutably identified. However, several causes have been suspected to be associated with Bell’s palsy. One prominent theory is that Bell’s palsy is associated with viral infection, including the following types:
- Chickenpox
- Shingles
- Herpes simplex virus
- Mononucleosis
- Respiratory illnesses
- German measles, aka rubella
- Mumps
- Influenza
- Hand-foot-and-mouth disease
The primary nerve that controls the facial muscle passes through a narrow tunnel of bone as it heads toward the face. For individuals suffering from Bell’s palsy, this nerve becomes inflamed and swells up, which typically occurs in response to some viral infection.
In addition to the viral sources for Bell’s palsy, there are other potential causes for this condition. Doctors have speculated that the following may have something to do with the development of Bell’s palsy:
- Sleep deprivation
- Physical trauma to the face
- Autoimmune conditions
- Other illnesses
Risk Factors for Bell’s Palsy
Some trends indicate certain risk factors for Bell’s palsy, such as:
- Having diabetes
- Having high blood pressure
- Being obese
- Being pregnant
- Having an upper respiratory infection
It is somewhat rare for Bell’s palsy to return after an attack has subsided. However, some individuals do have repeated attacks. Such cases sometimes see a familial reoccurrence of the condition. This has led some medical professionals to believe that Bell’s palsy is associated with genetics.
Complications of Bell’s Palsy
Most individual’s experience with Bell’s palsy will be a mild one, with symptoms disappearing within one month of the initial attack. However, some complications can produce more serious medical situations. For example, more severe cases of Bell’s palsy can result in:
- Permanent damage to the facial nerve
- Partial or complete blindness of the eye affected by Bell’s palsy
- Synkinesis, which refers to irregular repair of the nerve fibers in the face, resulting in involuntary contractions and other irregularities.
Incurring any of the above conditions may mean that you will have to seek medical attention or surgery to rectify them.
Determining the Presence of Bell’s Palsy
As stated before, many cases of Bell’s palsy resolve themselves naturally, without the need for professional medical intervention. One of the primary concerns of your physician will be determining whether or not your conditions are caused by Bell’s palsy or by one of the many conditions that it shares symptoms with, including:
- Sarcoidosis
- Bacterial ear infections
- Multiple sclerosis
- Tumors near the facial nerve
- Lyme disease
- Stroke
To determine whether or not it is indeed Bell’s Palsy that is causing your symptoms, your physician can employ a number of tests to rule out other conditions. Such tests include:
- Electromyography: Also known as an EMG test, this type of test measures nerve activity and can observe damage to the nerves. This test allows a doctor to predict your projected recovery time from Bell’s palsy.
- Magnetic resonance imaging: MRI tests can help rule out stroke, tumor, MS, or other possible causes of nerve damage.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can check for the presence of conditions like Lyme disease or sarcoidosis.
- Lumbar puncture: This procedure can help a physician check for meningitis, Lyme disease, or sarcoidosis.
Understanding and Treating Bell’s Palsy
Most instances of Bell’s palsy will resolve themselves on their own. However, your physician may recommend some of the following treatments either during or after your experience with Bell’s palsy to facilitate recovery and improve your comfort levels:
- Oral corticosteroids: Oral corticosteroids can decrease nerve swelling and may help one regain facial movement at a quicker rate than they would without the treatment.
- Eye care: Eye drops have the potential to keep your eyes more moisturized if they have difficulty closing during your Bell’s palsy experience. Eye care is an essential step for preventing damage to the cornea when the eyelids have difficulty shutting.
- Antiviral medications: Based on the assumption that many cases of Bell’s palsy are related to a viral infection, antiviral drugs may help speed up one’s recovery from this condition. These types of medications pair well with oral corticosteroids.
- Electrical stimulation: Some providers may recommend electrical stimulation to prevent facial muscle loss following Bell’s palsy. This treatment remains controversial with much of the medical community.
If you have a severe case of Bell’s palsy that causes the facial muscles to freeze for more extended periods, you may have to receive plastic surgery of some kind to restore the normal appearance of your face. Surgery can help correct facial asymmetry and assist with eyelid closure.
When to Seek Treatment
You should begin treating Bell’s palsy as soon as you come to the understanding that you have begun to exhibit symptoms of the condition. You will not know, based on symptoms alone, whether you are facing Bell’s palsy or a more threatening medical condition, so you should visit a doctor for immediate care if any of the symptoms of Bell’s palsy appear.
If your doctor diagnoses your condition as Bell’s palsy, then they will likely decide to wait for some time before engaging in further medical care. This is because the condition will often resolve itself on its own, and you may not need to undergo medical intervention. That said, you should contact your healthcare provider if you begin to experience any of the following symptoms:
- Chronic eye irritation
- Eyelids that will not close
- Dehydration due to an inability to drink and swallow
- Hearing loss
- Vertigo
- A lack of resolution to your Bell’s palsy case within 3 months
In general, most cases of Bell’s palsy will last between a few weeks and up to six months. Most patients will see an improvement in their symptoms within three weeks. The vast majority of patients (80%) will see an improvement in their symptoms within three months.
Long-Lasting Cases
Having a case of Bell’s palsy that lasts for more than six months is a very rare occurrence. However, it can produce long-lasting symptoms that last beyond the duration of the initial disease, such as muscle weakness.
In general, doctors believe that the longer the duration of the initial Bell’s palsy experience, the higher the likelihood that one will experience long-lasting effects from it. Some risk factors that can exacerbate these tendencies include:
- Being over 60
- Enduring facial paralysis during your experience with Bell’s palsy
- Experiencing decreased salivation or taste
Surgery for Long-lasting Bell’s Palsy
Plastic surgery is the preferred method for treating patients whose Bell’s palsy does not subside within 6 months. In these cases, the paralysis of the facial muscles can lead to permanent changes in appearance, so you will need to undergo treatment to avoid these long-term effects.
Selecting the correct type of plastic surgeon is essential for one to have a successful surgery for repairing Bell’s palsy. One part of this is selecting a board-certified surgeon whom a jury of their peers has successfully vetted.
Board-certified surgeons have the skill and expertise required to execute the delicate procedures that can help return a patient’s appearance to normal after they experience Bell’s palsy. When you investigate which doctor you would like to have to perform your recovery surgeries following Bell’s palsy, make sure they have the proper certifications.
The Best Surgeon for Southern California
Dr. Christopher Zoumalan is a board-certified cosmetic eyelid surgeon operating out of Beverly Hills. With a greater understanding of Bell’s palsy and the methods of treating it, you should feel more equipped to tackle the condition. If you need professional treatment for Bell’s palsy, contact our office today to schedule an appointment and discuss your condition.
