A lot of individuals fully regain their health from Bell’s palsy without the need for treatment. If you are seeking for faster resolution from Bell’s palsy there are many ways to do this with minimal risk for complications.
Drugs
Prednisolone
Recent research has found that prednisolone, a steroid, is one of the most potent medicines for treating Bell’s palsy. If you have been prescribed with prednisolone, it needs to be given within 3 days when the symptoms manifest. Antivirals have been said to quicken facial muscle rehabilitation but there is scant evidence for this claim.
Prednisolone acts by treating swelling and inflammation helping to hasten recovery from Bell’s palsy. More often than not, prednisolone is prescribed to individuals suffering from Bell’s palsy by their doctors that need to be taken two times a day for a duration of 10 days.
Like all types of pharmaceutical medication prednisolone has certain side effects. These side effects include:
Dizziness
Oral thrush
Sleeping problem
Increased appetite
Indigestion
Increased sweating
Headache
Nausea
There are some who may experience depression or anxiety or other mood changes after taking prednisolone within minutes. You may need to see your doctor as soon as you experience bothersome side effects or start to be aware of any mood changes.
Breastfeeding and pregnant women should consult their physician prior to using prednisolone.
Eye care
The eyes are protected by tears which are very important for keeping the eyes m free from pathogens and dirt that can destroy the health and function of the eyes. Sufferers of Bell’s palsy usually have problems completely shutting their affected eye. This problem can cause the tears to dry up and leave the eye very susceptible to issues. The eye needs constant lubrication which tears provide.
Your doctor usually recommends eye drops with some type of ‘artificial tears’ that should be applied during the day. At night eyedrops and ointment should be applied to the affected eye. For people who cannot close their eye at night, doctors usually will provide surgical tape to close their patient’s affected eye.
You may need to consult with an ophthalmologist if your eye condition worsens.
Botox injections
Botox or Botulinum toxin injections are also applied to address the face of people stricken with long-term Bell’s palsy. This medication is administered into the affected part of the face. Botox helps relax the taut facial muscles or helps lessen any uncomfortable or painful muscle movements. Sometimes the facial muscles unaffected by Bell’s palsy can become dominant or hyperactive, Botox can be applied on these facial muscles to balance the movement of the face and sedate muscle activity.
Botox injections can also address complications that have emanated from Bell’s palsy. These complications can involve:
Eye-mouth synkinesias
“Crocodile tears” or tearing when eating
These types of injections are usually may need to be given every four months.
Most Bell’s palsy patients usually experience complete healing within nine months. For some though, recovery may take a lot longer and besides that, there is a danger of wider nerve damage which may require then further treatment.
If this is the case, physiotherapy can be an effective way for resolving this problem. To tone the facial muscles to enhance their range of movement and coordination, your physiotherapist may instruct you to perform a number of facial exercises.
A great number of Bell’s palsy patients have benefits a lot from physiotherapy though It may not be effective for all Bell’s palsy sufferers.
One other option for Bell’s palsy is plastic surgery. Even if the cosmetic surgeon is unable to repair nerve function, he may greatly improve the symmetry and appearance of your face.
Some patients have tried acupuncture and biofeedback to help quicken the healing process of Bell’s palsy and regain the function of the facial nerve with a great degree of success.
Acupuncture
Facial palsy is the term traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) gives for Bell’s Palsy. TCM practitioners think that Facial palsy is due to internal organ weakness and other external factors. They believe that facial palsy has three main causes. These include:
Wind wreaks havoc on the internal organs
Phlegm and dampness blocks the meridians
Blood and Qi (Chi) deficiency
Acupuncture treatment is used based on observation-based diagnosis and on the patient’s symptoms. Various forms of TCM such as acupressure massage, moxibustion, Guasha therapy or Fire Cupping therapy among others can be given along with acupuncture to get a much better result.
Acupuncture works by enhancing the flow of Chi and blood and helping remove toxins from internal organs.
Patients with facial palsy show symptoms such s cold, depression, nervousness, anxiety or fatigue.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback today is mostly computerized and is one of the most effective ways of improving your facial symmetry and control if you suffer from Bell’s palsy.
Electromyography (EMG) biofeedback is an ideal way of addressing facial droop. It works by relaxing the muscles on the normal part of your of your face while at the same time contracting the muscles on the affected part of your face.
During a session of biofeedback, a computer monitor shows your facial muscle activity, enabling you to actively participate in your facial muscle exercises. You will know how to relax your normal facial muscles and at the same time causing your problematic facial muscles to be taut.
While balancing your facial muscles, a speech specialist may help you regain proper speech. You can observe your facial muscle activity on a computer monitor enabling you to properly control activity.
EMG biofeedback sensors that are safe and painless to use are placed over the facial muscles involved in smiling.
The entire treatment course to attain complete restoration of facial muscle control is usually attained after a dozen 12 sessions. This implies that you are exercising and practicing at home as taught by your neurologist, speech pathologist or other health care professional.
There are speech pathologists that recommend exercising twice or thrice a day. Success depends on how much you want to attain facial symmetry once again.
Health Source Acupuncture
401 New Rd #211
Linwood, NJ 08221
Phone: (609) 248-6922
www.healthsourceacupuncture.com