Bell’s palsy is a temporary facial paralysis of one, rarely both, facial nerves. These nerves control stuff like blinking, facial expressions, tearing, saliva and taste sensations.
Bell’s palsy is not a stroke. Your facial paralysis happened via a swollen, inflamed or compressed nerve. Exact cause is unknown, however viral infections, such as viral meningitis or herpes simplex, are strong suspects.
Symptoms of Bell’s palsy may include:
- drooling
- dry eyes
- twitching
- weakness
- droopy eyelid
- mouth dryness
- taste impairment
- excessive tearing
- mouth corner droop
Oftentimes, these twitching, droopy, drooling symptoms hit suddenly and max out within a couple of days.
You might experience other symptoms with your eyelid and facial paralysis, like:
- jaw pain
- dizziness
- headache
- ear ringing
- impaired speech
- sound hypersensitivity
- eating/drinking difficulties
Bells palsy facial paralysis has been linked to:
- tumors
- diabetes
- influenza
- headaches
- sarcoidosis
- Lyme disease
- high blood pressure
- chronic middle ear infection
It disproportionately strikes pregnant women,diabetics and upper respiratory sufferers.
There is no cure nor standard treatment for Bell’s palsy. Routinely, mild cases resolve on their own without any nerve treatment help.
Antiviral drugs combined with an anti-inflammatory drug (prednisone) have been shown to reduce facial nerve damage.
Because Bell’s palsy may interfere with your eyelid’s natural blinking, keeping your affected eye moist is important. Some eye moistening measures are:
- eye patch
- artificial tears
- eye ointments/gels
Physical therapy and other therapy treatment help stimulate your facial nerve and maintain muscles, such as:
- moist heat
- acupuncture
- face exercises
- facial massage
- biofeedback training
- electrical stimulation
- relaxation techniques
- vitamin therapy ~ B12, B6, zinc
Recovering from Bell’s palsy twitching, drooling and droopy eyelid and facial problems is exceptionally favorable. Returning to healthy facial function within 6 months is the norm.