Bells palsy is a mysterious condition. Both vitamins B6 and B12 are essential for healthy nerve functioning, so be sure that you are eating foods rich in these vitamins, such as turkey, beans, potatoes, spinach, milk, and fish. Gentle massage also effectively reduces pain and discomfort and loosens overly tight muscles. Bell's palsy is a nerve problem that affects the muscles of your face. Patients presenting with a possible stroke will generally undergo several tests to determine if the symptoms come from a stroke or not. Recently, attention has focused on infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) as a possible cause because research has found elevated HSV-1 titers in affected patients. Ask your physical therapist for massage techniques that you can do at home. If your eye won't close completely, try these tips: Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. 0000009253 00000 n Different individuals may respond to medication in different ways. But your health care provider may suggest medications or physical therapy to help speed your recovery. For some people, involuntary contractions of muscles may also occur, and not resolve. Older people with pre-existing high blood pressure are at greater . Some studies show that stress may exacerbate symptoms, and there are some reports that chronic stress may lead to relapses. can gabapentin help with bell's palsy can gabapentin help with bell's palsy. If the eyelid doesnt close, dry eye can then cause tears and ulcers. Since Bell's palsy is not affecting actual brain tissue or brain function, there is nothing beyond the facial nerve that can be affected. Make a donation. The symptoms of Bells palsy can be caused by several more serious conditions such as Lyme disease, bacterial infections of the ear, Ramsay Hunt syndrome, sarcoidosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, cancer, stroke, or multiple sclerosis. Once or twice a day, sit down in a quiet space, close your eyes, focus on the facial muscles, and relax them one at a time until the entire face is relaxed. Bell palsy. 0000004898 00000 n This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. It relaxes unwanted muscle movements and reduces tension in areas of the face that are . 6 people who have Bell's palsy while taking Gabapentin were studied. Get facial massage. 0000002113 00000 n In rare cases, Bell's palsy can affect both sides of your face. Found in every cell of our body, zinc is an essential trace mineral that must be a part of every Bells palsy treatment plan. There is a high chance that adults and especially children with Bells palsy actually have anotheroften more serious condition such as Lyme disease, ear infection (otitis media), Ramsay Hunt syndrome, sarcoidosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, cancer, stroke, or multiple sclerosis. Protect the eye. If your eyelid is not fully closing, eye care is paramount. It is designed to relax the muscles and prevent them from contracting. Aortic dissection was the stroke mimic most likely to be fatal. Half of the stroke mimics that caused death in that study were from an aortic dissection. Takeaway. Bells palsy treatment is largely a waiting game. By using the SingleCare prescription discount card or app, you agree to the SingleCare Terms and Conditions found at, 30- to 40,000 people experience a bout with Bells palsy each year, Facial Paralysis and Bells Palsy Foundation, 60-80 mg per day in a tapering dose for 10 days, Behavior and mood changes, fluid retention, trouble sleeping, indigestion, Two 30 mg tablets per day in a tapering dose for 10 days, Behavior and mood changes, fluid retention, trouble sleeping, Two 200 mg capsules every four hours five times a day for seven days, One 1 gram caplet taken three times a day for seven days, Two 325 mg tablets every four to six hours (Max of 3000mg per day), One 200 mg tablet every four to six hours, One or two 325 mg capsules or tablets with water per day, Shortening (contracture) of the facial muscles on the affected side, Tightness or rigidity of the facial muscles on the affected side, Synkinesis, that is, moving one part of the face provokes an involuntary movement in another part of the face. What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms? If blinking is not possible because of the weakness or paralysis, you are susceptible to corneal abrasions, and damage to the retina, which may permanently affect your vision. pregabalin and gabapentin - also used to treat epilepsy, headaches or anxiety; There are also some additional medications that can be used to relieve pain in a specific area of the body or to relieve particularly severe pain for short periods. Over-the-counter pain relievers are very safe. Some people are more at risk for Bells than others. Patients who have had one episode of Bell's palsy have an 8 percent risk of recurrence.1,2. Bell's palsy is named after Sir Charles Bell (17741842), who first described the syndrome along with the anatomy and function of the facial nerve. 0000054505 00000 n A cluster headache is one of the most painful afflictions. A careful history of the onset and progress of paralysis is important because gradual onset of more than two weeks' duration is strongly suggestive of a mass lesion. Vitamins such as vitamin B-12, B-6, and zinc can greatly speed up Bell's palsy recovery . This means the affected facial muscles no longer can move. Use your finger to close your eye repeatedly throughout the day. A common short-term complication of Bell's palsy is incomplete eyelid closure with resultant dry eye. The weakness makes half of the face appear to droop. The unaffected side of the face continues to have muscle movement and tone, which makes the affected side appear to "droop" in comparison. (9). For individuals with long-lasting symptoms, plastic surgery to correct facial nerve damage may be recommended. Healthcare professionals use medications primarily to speed recovery and reduce the risk of nerve damage and long-term complications. Most people make a full recovery within 9 months, but it can take longer. Deep pain and read more. Other conditions such as a stroke, infections, Lyme disease, inflammatory conditions and tumors can cause facial muscle weakness that mimics Bell's palsy. Bells palsy has a high rate of full and spontaneous recovery with or without treatment. Our phase IV clinical studies alone cannot establish cause-effect relationship. Bells palsy is a condition where partial or total weakness or paralysis of the facial nerve occurs. In many cases, weakness of the face is how a patient's family or friends might first recognize the onset of a stroke. Since Bell's palsy is not affecting actual brain tissue or brain function, there is nothing beyond the facial nerve that can be affected. Spikes in blood sugar increase swelling throughout the body. For Bell's palsy, some basic questions to ask include: Don't hesitate to ask any additional questions that occur to you during your appointment. Facial exercises may help reduce the risk of complications, but they should only be done in the recovering (paresis) phase. Accessed March 3, 2022. Your smile may look lopsided. 11. You can manage pain with over-the-counter pain relievers, but applying a warm, moist cloth is safer and may be an equally effective way to reduce the pain. Take Vitamin Supplements. Facial reanimation surgery helps make the face look more even and may restore facial movement. Unlike strokes, Bell's palsy will not directly involve the brain. It may develop suddenly, or develop more gradually over a period of 24 to 48 hours. Affected patients develop unilateral facial paralysis over one to three days with forehead involvement and no other neurologic abnormalities. AskMayoExpert. 0000010520 00000 n 7. Bell's palsy has been traditionally defined as idiopathic; however . It is intended for general informational purposes and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Bell's palsy is the most common cause of facial paralysis, although its exact cause is unknown. By using the SingleCare prescription discount card or app, you agree to the SingleCare Terms and Conditions found athttps://www.singlecare.com/terms-and-conditions. Some published studies have reported benefit with acupuncture versus steroids and placebo, but all had serious flaws in study design and reporting.21 Table 2 summarizes the available treatments. Your physician may have MRI, CT or EMG tests run to confirm nerve damage and to rule out other causes of the weakness or paralysis. A stroke is when brain cells die due to bleeding or when they are starved of oxygen. Natural treatments focus on combatting stress, fighting active viruses, and triggering a response in the damaged nerve tissue to heal itself. However, if someone in your home is diagnosed, it is wise to boost your immune system to help prevent becoming ill with the same virus. Bells palsy may or may not be related to a viral infection, so severe cases will involve early treatment with antiviral medications and corticosteroids to reduce the risk of complications. Facial nerve palsy. Other side effects include confusion, memory problems, thinning skin, and bruising. Ibuprofen and other over-the-counter pain medications can help relieve the pain and discomfort caused by Bells palsy. A physical therapist can teach you how to massage and exercise your facial muscles to help prevent this from occurring. #5 Wrinkling the forehead vertically. Bells palsy affects 1 in 5,000 people each year in the United States, and 1 out of 70 throughout a lifetime. Age (40-49), pregnancy, diabetes, preeclampsia, obesity, and high blood pressure are all risk factors. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. SingleCare Services LLC ('SingleCare') is the vendor of the prescription discount plan, including theirwebsite.websiteat www.singlecare.com. One of the strongest anti-viral herbs available, echinacea boosts immune system function, reduces inflammation, and fights viral infections, including those commonly linked to this condition. About 30% of people struck with Bells palsy may take a longer time to recover or have long-term complications. Signs and symptoms atypical for Bell's palsy should prompt further evaluation. Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. If the cause of your symptoms isn't clear, your health care provider may recommend other tests, including: Most people with Bell's palsy recover fully with or without treatment. This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by our trained editorial staff. Elsevier; 2022. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Either acyclovir 400 mg can be given five times per day for seven days or valacyclovir 1 g can be given three times per day for seven days. Have Some Ginger and Turmeric. X` $9].^>j ,{j/KI}NGo.W:y|. Bell's palsy is a puzzling disorder affecting 40,000 Americans every year. The cause of Bell palsy is not clear. This is not a complete list. Researchers are baffled on what causes Bells palsy, so they classify the condition as idiopathic facial paralysis. One theory holds that the condition is triggered by a viral infection. In severe cases of Bell's palsy, an eye doctor may need to monitor the eye. I have other health conditions. See permissionsforcopyrightquestions and/or permission requests. Our original studies have been referenced on 600+ medical publications including The Lancet, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, and Nature. Show that stress may lead to relapses risk of complications, but it can take.. 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