Symptoms
Bell's palsy is a weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles. It occurs when the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) is damaged, resulting in a droopy appearance to one side of the face. Most cases of Bell's palsy are temporary, and the symptoms may resolve as early as 2 weeks.
Causes
Facial exercises and physical therapy for Bell’s palsy help to increase muscle strength and to regain facial coordination from this temporary facial paralysis. Most exercises should be done three or four times a day in short sessions, with up to 30 repetitions per exercise. Facial Stimulation
Prevention
Bell's palsy causes sudden, temporary weakness in your facial muscles. This makes half of your face appear to droop. Your smile is one-sided, and your eye on that side resists closing.
Complications
In many cases people who have facial palsy are able to work. Key factors that help to overcome barriers at work include: reasonable adjustments, flexibility in working arrangements, knowledgeable support and team working.
What is Bell's palsy and how is it treated?
What are the best exercises for Bell’s palsy?
How does Bell's palsy affect the face?
Can I work with facial palsy?
Can you work while having Bells Palsy?
Bell's palsy usually resolves in time and causes no long-term complications. However, during the illness most people with Bell's palsy are unable to close their eye on the affected side of their face. It is, therefore, important to protect the eye from drying at night or while working at a computer.
How long should I be off work with Bells Palsy?
In the majority of cases, facial paralysis from Bell's palsy is temporary. You're likely to notice gradual improvement after about two weeks. Within three months, most people have recovered full motion and function of their face. A delay in recovery is often accompanied by some form of abnormal facial function.
Does Bell's palsy qualify for disability?
Bell's Palsy generally heals within weeks,. In some cases, the effects of Bell's Palsy are permanent. If you are suffering from a permanent Bell's Palsy, you may be eligible for long term disability insurance benefits. The Law Firm of J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo, P.A.
Can you drive with Bells Palsy?
It's not advisable to drive when your Bell's palsy symptoms are severe. This is a time to rest and give yourself time to recover. As your symptoms ease you can talk to the doctor about whether it's safe to return to driving.
Is Bell's Palsy considered a short term disability?
If you have filed a disability insurance claim because of a Bell's Palsy diagnosis, be prepared for the disability insurance company to insist on paying the claim for a short period of time, citing Bell's Palsy as a short term condition.
What should you avoid if you have Bell's palsy?
Avoid stringy, chewy foods and those with pips, skins, shells, or husks, (e.g. raw tomatoes, lettuce, chewy meats, sweet corn, peas, baked beans). You may find rice and dry, crumbly foods difficult and they can cause coughing.
How does Bell's palsy affect daily life?
Facial paralysis Signs and symptoms of Bell's palsy come on suddenly and may include: Rapid onset of mild weakness to total paralysis on one side of your face — occurring within hours to days. Facial droop and difficulty making facial expressions, such as closing your eye or smiling. Drooling.
Does Bell's palsy make you tired?
People who test negative could still have the Bell's palsy, the fatigue, the excruciating pain in their feet. I used to get out of bed in the morning and scream and I would have to walk on the sides of my feet because it was like glass going through your foot.
Is Bell's palsy caused by stress?
Bell's Palsy is a neurological condition in which the seventh facial nerve is not working properly, causing paralysis of one side of your face. Most people don't know that Bell's Palsy is most often brought on by stress and over use of your brain.
Can Bells Palsy get worse?
Bell palsy is an unexplained episode of facial muscle weakness or paralysis. It begins suddenly and can get worse over 48 hours. This condition results from damage to the facial nerve (the 7th cranial nerve).
Is Bell's Palsy serious?
Bell's palsy temporarily weakens or paralyzes facial muscles. A pinched facial nerve causes this paralysis, or palsy. People with this type of facial nerve palsy develop a droopy appearance on one — or sometimes both — sides of the face. The condition isn't serious and often resolves in a few months without treatment.
Is Bell's palsy painful?
Signs & Symptoms The early symptoms of Bell's palsy may include a slight fever, pain behind the ear and weakness on one side of the face. The symptoms may begin suddenly and progress rapidly over several hours and sometimes follow a period of stress or reduced immunity. The whole side of the face is affected.
Do you need to rest when you have Bell's palsy?
Although no certain cause has been established, people newly diagnosed with Bell's palsy should understand that they are unwell. It is important to get plenty of rest even if they have no other symptoms and to maintain a healthy diet. If you are at work or school, it may be necessary to take some time to recover.
Does Bell's palsy make you tired?
People who test negative could still have the Bell's palsy, the fatigue, the excruciating pain in their feet. I used to get out of bed in the morning and scream and I would have to walk on the sides of my feet because it was like glass going through your foot.
Does stress affect Bell's palsy?
Bell's Palsy has been linked to viral infections that upset the facial nerve, such as herpes simplex virus and the chicken pox virus. Stress has been shown to increase the impact of the Bell's Palsy making it worse, its persistence by preventing it from going away, and the likelihood of recurrence.
Does Bell's palsy hurt your face when it is healing?
For those who have prolonged recovery from Bell's palsy, pain may be due to the facial muscles being stiff or tight, and help from a physiotherapist or speech and language therapist who specialises in facial palsy may be beneficial.
What is the best way to treat Bell's palsy?
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.
What is Bell's palsy?
Bell's palsy is an unexplained episode of facial muscle weakness or paralysis. It begins suddenly and worsens over 48 hours. This condition results from damage to the facial nerve (the 7th cranial nerve). Pain and discomfort usually occur on one side of the face or head.
How is Bell's palsy diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider can usually diagnose Bell’s palsy by looking at your symptoms. There are no specific tests used to diagnose Bell’s palsy. However, your healthcare provider may order tests to rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms and to determine the extent of nerve involvement or damage. These tests may include:
What are the complications of Bell's palsy?
It is, therefore, important to protect 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.
How long does it take for Bell's Palsy to go away?
Currently, there is no known cure for Bell's palsy; however, recovery usually begins 2 weeks to 6 months from the onset of the symptoms. Most people with Bell's palsy recover full facial strength and expression.
Why does my face get palsy?
It is thought that it may be due to inflammation that is directed by the body's immune system against the nerve controlling movement of the face . Bell's palsy is sometimes associated with the following: Diabetes. High blood pressure.
How do you know if you have 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.
How long does it take to recover from Bell's Palsy?
You should notice a gradual lessening of symptoms within a few weeks. Depending on the extent of nerve damage, full recovery can take two to six months. Some symptoms last longer, and some people never fully recover.
How long does Bell's palsy last?
You may have a lopsided smile, or an eyelid that won’t close. These effects typically last several months and go away without treatment. The condition gets its name from Sir Charles Bell, a Scottish surgeon who first described it during the 19th century.
What happens when your facial muscles are inflamed?
The condition occurs when swelling or inflammation temporarily puts pressure on the nerve that controls facial muscles. This pressure impairs the function of the nerve making it difficult for you to control facial muscles or expressions. As the inflammation subsides, the nerve starts to function again.
Why is decompression surgery rarely performed?
Decompression surgery eases pressure on the nerve is rarely performed because it can cause hearing loss and permanent facial nerve damage.
How long does it take for Bell's Palsy to go away?
Symptoms start to gradually improve in three weeks. Up to 80% of people fully recover and show no signs of Bell’s palsy within three months.
Why do pregnant women get Bell's Palsy?
You may be more likely to develop Bell’s palsy while pregnant if you have preeclampsia (high blood pressure) or gestational diabetes.
Can Bell's palsy be repeated?
It’s unusual to get Bell’s palsy more than once in a lifetime, but it can happen. A recurrence is most likely within two years of the first incident. The facial nerve palsy may affect the same side of your face or the opposite side. You’re more at risk for a recurrence if you have a family history of the disease.
How does Bell's Palsy affect you?
It affects self-image and confidence and can be difficult to adjust to and accept initially. Do not let anyone tell you that it’s superficial and shallow, its not a matter of looks, it’s a matter of actual illness, chronic pain, not being able to smile or frown or cry normally, spilling when drinking or dropping food while eating, it is your face and body and there is nothing superficial about the illness.
Is it hard to go back to work with chronic pain?
It is not easy dealing with illness and pain, it is even more difficult when you need to go back to work with that illness, and it’s an absolute nightmare to go back to work with a chronic pain that-just-wont-go-away.
What are the causes of Bell's palsy?
Viruses that have been linked to Bell's palsy include viruses that cause: Cold sores and genital herpes (herpes simplex) Chickenpox and shingles (herpes zoster) Infectious mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr) Cytomegalovirus infections.
How long does it take for Bell's Palsy to go away?
For most people, Bell's palsy is temporary. Symptoms usually start to improve within a few weeks, with complete recovery in about six months. A small number of people continue to have some Bell's palsy symptoms for life. Rarely, Bell's palsy can recur.
How long does it take for facial paralysis to occur?
Rapid onset of mild weakness to total paralysis on one side of your face — occurring within hours to days. Facial droop and difficulty making facial expressions, such as closing your eye or smiling. Drooling. Pain around the jaw or in or behind your ear on the affected side.
Can Bell's palsy be genetic?
Recurrent attacks of Bell's palsy are rare. But in some of these cases, there's a family history of recurrent attacks — suggesting a possible genetic predisposition to Bell's palsy.
Can Bell's palsy be caused by stroke?
Bell's palsy is not caused by a stroke, but it can cause similar symptoms. See your doctor if you experience facial weakness or drooping to find out the underlying cause and severity of the illness.
What are the symptoms of Bell's palsy?
Symptoms experienced during this condition are as below. Eyes- They cannot blink one eye and there is dryness in the cornea leading to visual discomfort and damage. Advertisement.
What Vitamins Help With Bell’s Palsy?
When you are diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, doctors may suggest antiviral drugs along with steroids treatment to reduce swelling and inflammation and help recovery completely from this condition. You may also be advised for physical therapy such as massage and simple exercises to reduce the extent of weakness and severity of facial paralysis. 1
How long does it take for Bell's palsy to peak?
Sudden or spontaneous facial paralysis is the typical symptom of Bell’s palsy and it reaches a peak within 48 hours. It usually affects one side of the face, but it can affect both sides. The exact cause of the disease remains unknown but medical experts believe that it is caused due to the reactivation of the virus.
What is the best treatment for facial paralysis?
You may also be advised for physical therapy such as massage and simple exercises to reduce the extent of weakness and severity of facial paralysis. 1. In addition to the existing medications, alternative medicines such as vitamin therapy (B-12, B-6, and zinc) and supplements have been proven successful to help improve symptoms in several patients. ...
What happens if you don't treat a condition properly?
Condition not properly treated may result in permanent drooping and weakness. These cases are given a massive dose of vitamins. 1
Does Bell's Palsy require rest?
Advertisement. Plenty of rest is required when diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy, so the doctor advises the patients to take off at work. 3. Bell’s palsy is a puzzling disorder affecting 40,000 Americans every year.
Can Bell's Palsy be intermittent?
Because most of these patients require regular hospital visits during the treatment so work life cannot be regular and will be intermittent. Plenty of rest is required when diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy, so the doctor advises the patients to take off at work.
How to get Bell's palsy to work?
Facial exercises and physical therapy for Bell’s palsy help to increase muscle strength and to regain facial coordination from this temporary facial paralysis. Most exercises should be done three or four times a day in short sessions, with up to 30 repetitions per exercise. Facial Stimulation. Before you begin the facial exercises, it’s important ...
What is the best treatment for Bell's palsy?
During Bell’s palsy, one side of the face becomes weak or paralyzed. To help speed up the recovery process, many people choose to do physical therapy or exercises for Bell’s palsy.
How long does it take for Bell's palsy to go away?
There is no cure, but most people regain their facial strength and expression between 2 weeks and 6 months after symptoms begin.
How many times can you do Bell's Palsy exercises?
These exercises for Bell’s palsy can help you to regain better control of your mouth. You can repeat them 30 times each, up to 4 times a day.
How many people get Bell's palsy?
While there’s not a known cause for Bell’s palsy, it affects between 30,000 and 40,000 Americans every year. It can affect anyone, but most people with Bell’s palsy fall between the ages of 20 and 40. Researchers think that it might be caused by a virus, and it is associated with a variety of pre-existing conditions.
Is it safe to do exercises for Bell's palsy?
Exercises for Bell’s palsy are considered to be quite safe to do at home, unsupervised. However, you shouldn’t overexert yourself or your muscles. Don’t worry about completing all of the exercises if your muscles are telling you to stop. Also, you don’t want to force the two sides of your face to work against each other.
Can Bell's palsy be controlled?
Some also find that they dribble or aren’t able to control their saliva, which can be stressful.
See if it is advisable for people with Bells Palsy to practice sports and which ones are the most recommended if you have Bells Palsy
Of course exercise depends on how the Bells is effecting you. I get my exercise doing stretches at home. The muscle beneath my eye is affected so I cannot look in any direction other than straight forward or I get dizzy. Doing stretches at home assures my safety.
Bells Palsy forum
Hello everone, I would like to open a new discussion about what are the best treatments for the bells palsy. When it came to me, I took corticoids more or less, during 3 weeks. Being honest, I am not sure if that was the reason of my impro...
What Is Bell's Palsy?
What Are The Symptoms?
What Causes Bell's Palsy?
Who Is at Risk?
How Is It Diagnosed?
How Is It Treated?
What Is The Prognosis?
What Research Is Being done?
Where Can I Get More Information?