People who suffer from Bell’s Palsy usually have a very limited list of treatment options. This condition can affect each person differently, so there is not a treatment that’s good for everyone. Steroid prednisone is often prescribed to treat this condition, however, there are many dangerous side effects. Some massage and physical therapy can also be used to treat it but the results are not permanent. Chiropractic care on the other hand is a non-invasive, and medication-free treatment to treat Bell’s Palsy that can have long-lasting results.
What is Bell’s Palsy?
Bell’s Palsy is a condition that is characterized by temporary facial paralysis caused by trauma or damage to the nerves located in the face. This is nerve is called the 7th cranial nerve resides in the skull and travels through the Fallopian canal and extended from under each ear to the muscles on the sides of the face.
The 7th cranial nerve is in a hard and bony shell that has small portions exposed, which allow it to move the muscles on each side of the ace. This facial nerve is in charge of controlling the mouth for smiling and talking, closing eyelids, and frowning. It also sends nerve impulses to the saliva and tears glands.
What Bell’s Palsy affects is the facial nerve, it disrupts its function so the brain’s messages can’t reach the associated muscles. This causes facial paralysis.
It is important to note that this condition is not related to stroke, some people tend to mistake it for a symptom of it. Usually, Bell’s Palsy only affects either one side of the face. It rarely affects both sides.
Symptoms of Bell’s Palsy
This condition’s symptoms can widely vary from patient to patient. The most common symptoms include:
- Paralysis on one side of the face
- Mild to severe weakness on one side of the face
- Face muscles twitching
- Drooping of one corner of the mouth
- Drooping on the eyelid on one eye
- Drooling
- Dry eye
- Dry mouth
- Excessive tearing in only one eye
- Impaired sense of taste
- Discomfort or pain behind the ear and around the jaw
- Ringing in the ears
- Sound hypersensitivity
- Headache
- Impaired or slurred speech
- Difficulty drinking or eating
- Dizziness
These symptoms normally appear out of nowhere and progress rapidly, reaching their full capacity in 48 hours. They can leave the face distorted during the patient experiences the symptoms.
Bell’s Palsy Treatment
There are cases of Bell’s Palsy that are mild and don’t need treatment since the symptoms will go away on their own from 10 to 14 days. However, more serious cases can require medical intervention from medications like steroid prednisone to ibuprofen.
When the eye is affected in move severe cases, the patient sometimes is not able to close the eyelid. So, it’s very important to protect the eye to keep it from drying out. A facial massage or physical therapy can also be used. Surgery is very rare.
What Causes Bell’s Palsy?
What causes Bell’s Palsy is unknown. Yes, we know its the result of inflamed, swollen, or compressed nerves, but we still don’t know why this happens.
There have been researches that speculate that a viral infection could be behind it. It is likely that a common cold sore virus or viral meningitis can cause the nerve to inflame and swell in the Fallopian canal. This occasionates pressure on the nerve and cuts off oxygen and blood supply to the cells.
The most common conditions associated with Bell’s Palsy are:
- Chronic middle ear infection
- Sarcoidosis
- Lyme disease
- The flu
- High blood pressure
- Tumors
- Headaches
- Diabetes
- Facial injury
- Skull fracture
Chiropractic Treatment
Chiropractic treatment for Bell’s Palsy is very effective. Patients see results almost immediately in most cases. The way a chiropractor may heal it is by delivering a chiropractic adjustment to the cervical spine. This adjustment will help relieve the pressure on the cranial nerve where it exits the spine. Cold laser therapy can also help to heal the nerve tissue around the facial area affected. The key factor for Bell’s Palsy recovery is chiropractic treatment in conjunction with cold laser therapy.
Chiropractic Treatment In the Orlando Area
There are many chiropractic methods and techniques that can help remove what’s in the way of your body’s natural healing abilities. If you’re interested in a more natural and safer way to treat your Bell’s Palsy, chiropractic is the best option. Schedule your appointment at one of our 9 Mauricio Chiropractic locations today!
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We provide advanced spinal correction utilizing “state of the art” chiropractic techniques. Never in the history of chiropractic have we been able to provide the level of help and expertise that now exists. These newer correction methods are even safer, more comfortable and more effective than ever before. As Doctors of Chiropractic,Our Team has years of training and experience in spinal adjustment.