Bell’s Palsy at UVA: From Facial Paralysis to Recovery
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- Опубликовано: 25 июл 2021
- #uvahealth #facialparalysis #facialpalsy
Although Bell’s palsy is the most common cause of facial paralysis on one side of the face, its causes are still unclear. Any facial paralysis should be treated as an emergency. Treatment for Bell’s palsy is most effective in the first three days of its onset. Facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Sam Oyer, MD, explains Bell’s palsy, including the treatment options and recovery.
Find out more at: uvahealth.com/services/eye-ca...
Bell's palsy is the most common cause of facial paralysis that we see in adults. The cause of Bell's palsy is still a little bit unclear, but we think it's a reactivation of the herpes virus that causes cold sores. And it tends to cause complete paralysis on one side of the face, which, for most people, recovers. But a subset of people, maybe 25, even 30%, don't see full recovery after Bell's palsy.
If someone has paralysis on one side of the face, they should immediately seek medical care to rule out other causes. Bell's palsy is really a diagnosis of exclusion once all these other causes have been ruled out.
The treatment, early on, is medical, with antiviral medication and steroid medication to help reduce swelling and inflammation around the nerve. Some people recover very quickly and recover completely, and it's never a problem long term. Others, again, recover much more slowly and have trouble with incomplete eye closure, mouth droop, drooling when they're trying to eat or drink. And when they do recover, some get tightness or spasm in their facial muscles.
Others may get synkinesis during recovery, which means that their muscle movements are linked. So when they close their eyes, their mouth moves. Or when they do a big smile, their eye closes, or their neck tightens. In these cases, we can usually make some improvements.
The first step is usually to work with our specialized physical therapists, who will work to retrain your brain to work the muscles differently. And it's a special process where they really work on training the brain to control the face. That can be augmented sometimes with Botox injections. This helps cut down spasms in the muscles that we don't want to move, but leaves alone the muscles we do want to move.
So those two procedures together really can improve the spasm and synkinesis for a lot of people. For some, it doesn't get enough improvement. And so, there's a surgical procedure that we may consider offering in that case where the facial nerves are mapped out and electrically stimulated during surgery. With that stimulation, we can see what motion is produced and the nerves that are creating motion that we like to see, like eye closure and smile. Those nerves are saved. For the other nerves that are pulling the mouth down, tightening the neck, or creating too much pucker around the mouth, we cut a little segment of those nerves selectively. It’s called selective neurectomy. It is a good option for some people to be able to improve their smile and improve their facial function when the more conservative treatments may not be working well.
This is the most accurate description of Bell's Palsy I've ever heard. And the first encouraging information that there is medical treatment that can help! I'm seventeen years into this, and I am thankful for the movement I do have. Thank you!!
i was diagnosed around november of 2020, at the earliest stages of Bell’s, i was scared of my mind thinking i was literally about to have a stroke instead, thankfully the hospital where my brother in law worked at at kept me calm and diagnosed me probably
For everyone that is asking how long it takes to recover…
Every person is very different. I had Bells Palsy 3 years ago, I never fully recovered. Medication did absolutely nothing. I tried Accupuncture for the first time after I was told by three different doctors that I would not recover. Accupuncture literally was the ONLY THING that’s helped me recover! I had to go in twice a week for a full year, but it helped me recover. I am not fully back to normal but at least I could eat, drink, close my eyes and feel normal.
Now I am seeking a doctor like the one here. I feel the nerve pain, comes and going. My muscles weaken and sometimes it’s very noticeable. But I have hope that with the right specialist, I can improve.
Did you have any luck? I've had it two years and it has got 65-70% better, but I love to drink beer on the weekends and it gets really bad when I drink. Please let me know what has worked for you.
That’s very comforting. I was diagnosed yesterday and I’ve started acupuncture already. Had my first session today. My question is, is it always the thin needles or does your session include the thicker flathead needles? The acupuncturist had brought up its eventual and I’m worried it might be too extreme. Thanks kindly.
@@ChuChuKaboom
I did Accupuncture for a long time and it was worth it to me. Yes, my Acupuncturist did use different needles and even did a procedure where she inserted a needle into the nerve and followed it all through the paralysis then removed it out. I did not mind it at all, yes I felt it, but it helped! Everything she did on one side of my face she did to the other, she said it was essential that treatment is always evened out.
Bells Palsy alone causes severe stress that could only make our situation worse! So she also gave me natural herbs that I took for months to help reduce stress and calm the mind. My Acupuncturist is also a herbalist so it worked out perfect.
@@177mma Appreciate the fast reply, your feedback really helps. I’m feeling better about the different needles already.
I've had bell's palsy so far 4 times ...herpies I don't have or very hard ..I have recovered but my memory was affected
I’m going through it right now. Over the weekend I was taken to ER because I thought I might have had a stroke. They ruled the stroke out and prescribed steroids and anti viral meds for Bels Palsy. I’ve never had this and I’m a little scared because half my face is paralyzed. Three days ago I was my normal self and now I have an eyepatch, problems eating and drinking, slurred words, half my face paralyzed and waiting to see if I will get better. ❤️🩹 How long did it take for your face to be normal? I’m in a lot of pain from my neck to my forehead because of the muscles that tighten tremendously when I try to talk or eat.
I have having bell-patsy for 15yrs it has improved about 50 percent. I just starting doing Botox hoping it helps me 🙏
Does it get worse first it was painful for over a month the pain was less now at 3 months it’s worse one arm felt weak now my other one is burning is it normal. I got nerve damage at a spa from radio frequency microneedling settings too high damaged my eye
I just got Bells palsy anout 2wks ago for the 1st time just finished my 7 day medications 5 for 1st dose then 2 pills for 2 more doses 8hrs apart for 3 doses a day for 7days , went to work 3 days in a row with my dace paralyzed b4 going to er on the 4th. No difference at all :( im also 34
Doctor I developed Bell's palsy in December 2022 and it is almost 80% cured but my eye on the affected side is small and sunken in nature please give me a solution
Heyi doctor!! Your video is a motivation and gives hope for my daughter’s recovery. She is 5years old and suffering from Bell’s palsy, her right side of face has problem and there has never been any improvement in 5 years. I am currently living in Vancouver, Canada and seek your recommendation for a good doctor here, please suggest.
hello Malvica, I hope your daughter is much better now. Actually my little brother is similar to your daughter but maybe worse, he had an injury during birth which caused him bell’s palsy. He’s just 2 years old now and the doctors are saying he is going to have it for the rest of his life because his 7th cranial nerve is not generating. But I am not giving up on him. I want to help him to get better, even if it was a slight improvement, but I don’t know how. Can you suggest me ways that could help him or effective operations/surgeries that we could do. You seem to have been seeking ways for a long time, can you help me?😔
@@Thesalamanca nothing much that I could find just using eyedrops 5 times a day and eye gel at night to keep the eye moist. Moreover keeping her eye safe is the priority now as her eyesight got weak. If you find any good doctor pls do share with me.
I'm recovered but I still feel some weakness on my effected eye. Like the nerves are still not strong
How long it took you to recover
It’s been proven that antiviral meds do not work at all. Plus there is major doubt whether steroids help at all. Some studies say 10-20% but a meta analysis showed it does not help at all
Can you direct me to any of that evidence? Recently got bells palsy and missed the 3 day steroid window
From someone that has had it for at least a week, anti-viral meds & other meds ain't doing nothing.
@@ateez_stan777 hey man whats the update on your recovery so far
@@chipped79how was your recovery?
I missed my 3 day window , I worked 3 nights in a row with it paralyzed then the 4th went to er and was told it was.bells palsy just finished my 7day medication 5 in the morning then 2 more 8hrs later then another 2 for 7days but still no difference
OK. I have a serious question. I got it about 8 months back, mostly recovered. Sadly the corner of my left mouth and left nostril are still weak. How long does it take for the nerves to recover and what should I be doing to help? I do have some synkinesis. I didn't take any medication or steroids., only did acupuncture for several months
Thanks for contacting us. Recovery from Bell’s palsy can take up to a full year. If you haven't recovered in that time, we encourage you to see a specialist. If you'd like to set up an appointment with UVA, call 434.924.0000 or schedule online at forms.uvahealth.com/appointment/. You can read more about Bell's palsy at uvahealth.com/services/eye-care/bells-palsy.
@@uvahealth I live in Beijing. Sadly, i got no steroids etc when I got it. They only gave me B1 pills and acupuncture for some months along with electro stimulation therapy.
@@uvahealthI was diagnosed with bells palsy about 9 days ago ignored the facial paralysis for 3days before going to er on the 4th just finished my 7 day medication treatment (vol) (pred) and (mezclizine) I think lol still nothing , hearing ringing still , can't close right eye , pain on that side, can't really breath or move right nostril, difficult to eat , intolerance to noises still , vertigo! , left eye starting to hurt , left eyebrow and lines still raised , upper left lip up right drooped, off tasting everything
how are u now??
@@alonzosanchez9871how are u now?
Dealing with Bell's Palsy can be tough, but I found relief with Planet Ayurveda's treatment. Highly recommend