Bell palsy how do you get it

One uniformly recommended treatment for Bell's palsy is protecting the eye from drying at night or while working at a computer. Eye care may include eye drops during the day, ointment at bedtime, or a moisture chamber at night. This helps protect the cornea from being scratched, which is crucial to the management of Bell's palsy. Your healthcare provider will prescribe other treatment for your condition based on the severity of your symptoms and your health history.

Other treatment options include:. Some people may choose to use alternative therapies in the treatment of Bell's palsy, but there is no proof they make a difference in recovery. Such treatment may include:. It is, therefore, important to protect the eye from drying at night or while working at a computer. This helps protect the cornea from being scratched. It is important, however, to take medicines as directed. It is also crucial that you protect the affected eye from drying.

Use of eye drops during the day and ointment at bedtime can protect the cornea from scratching. If there is no improvement or if any symptoms worsen, it is important to tell your healthcare provider. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. What causes Bell's palsy? These are the most common symptoms of Bell's palsy: Disordered movement of the muscles that control facial expressions, such as smiling, squinting, blinking, or closing the eyelid Loss of feeling in the face Headache Tearing Drooling Loss of the sense of taste on the front two-thirds of the tongue Hypersensitivity to sound in the affected ear hyperacusis Inability to close the eye on the affected side of the face The symptoms of Bell's palsy may look like other conditions or medical problems.

How is Bell's palsy diagnosed? These tests may include: Electromyography EMG to determine the extent of the nerve involvement Blood tests to determine if another condition such as diabetes or Lyme disease is present Magnetic resonance imaging MRI or computed tomography CT to determine if there is a structural cause for your symptoms.

How is Bell's palsy treated? The facial nerves control blinking, opening and closing of the eyes, smiling, salivation, lacrimation production of tears , and frowning. They also connect with the muscles of the stapes, a bone in the ear involved in hearing. The American Medical Association AMA say that treatment is most effective when administered early, so patients should see their doctor as soon as they experience symptoms. The doctor will look for evidence of other conditions that may be causing the facial paralysis, such as a tumor , Lyme disease , or stroke.

They will also assess the facial muscles to determine whether any other nerves apart from the facial nerve are affected. If the diagnosis is still unsure, the patient may be referred to an ear, nose, and throat ENT specialist, or otolaryngologist. The specialist will examine the patient and may also order the following tests:.

Most patients make a full recovery within 9 months. Mime therapy : This is a type of physical therapy. The patient is taught a series of exercises which strengthen the facial muscles. This usually results in better coordination and a wider range of movement.

Plastic surgery : This can improve the appearance and symmetry of the face. Some patients experience enormous benefit if they are able to smile again. It does not cure the nerve problem. Botox : Botox injections in the affected side of the face can relax tight facial muscles and reduce any unwanted muscle contractions.

However, if damage to the facial nerve is severe, some complications are possible, including:. Misdirected re-growth of nerve fibers : Nerve fibers re-grow in an irregular way. This can result in involuntary contractions of some muscles.

A patient may involuntarily close one eye when trying to smile. The problem might be the other way round — when the person closes one eye, the side of the mouth lifts involuntarily. Gustatolacrimal reflex : Also known as crocodile tear syndrome. While the patient is eating, their eye will shed tears. It eventually goes away. In some rare cases, the problem can be longer lasting. Corneal ulceration : When eyelids cannot completely shut, the protective and lubricating tear film of the eye may become ineffective.

This can result in corneal drying. Corneal ulceration can result in infection of the cornea, which can lead to severe loss of vision. For the first time, scientists have managed to translate into text the brain activity of a person with paralysis who is unable to speak. Facial paralysis occurs when something interrupts the signals between the brain and the facial muscles.

The pinched and swollen nerve becomes inflamed, which interferes with the nerve's proper functioning. The reason for the swelling is unknown, although infection or autoimmune responses are suspected. Bell's palsy usually resolves by itself within a few months. Early treatment with corticosteroids may reduce severity.

It is important to rule out these other potential causes. Bell's palsy is diagnosed in a number of different ways, including clinical examination. The person is typically asked to raise their eyebrows, close their eyes and smile.

If the person has Bell's palsy, their eyebrows will rise asymmetrically, they won't be able to close the affected eye and one side of the mouth will droop. However, the remaining 10 per cent will experience some degree of permanent paralysis. Older people with pre-existing high blood pressure are at greater risk of this complication. Treatment options can include: artificial tears to keep the affected eye lubricated a patch to protect the affected eye using tape to close the affected eyelid at night medications such as corticosteroids to help reduce the swelling of the facial nerve pain-relieving medications massage facial exercises botox injections may be useful if, during nerve recovery, unexpected involuntary movements of the face occur surgery, although this is an unusual form of treatment and rarely effective.

This produces unusual neurologic pathways. When voluntary movements are initiated, they are accompanied by involuntary movements such as eye closure, with lip pursing or mouth grimacing that occurs during blinking of the eye.

Where to get help Your doctor Things to remember Bell's palsy is a paralysis or weakness of the muscles on one side of the face. The cause is unknown, although infection or autoimmune responses are suspected. The majority of people with Bell's palsy, around 90 per cent, will recover completely with time. More information here.