Bell's Palsy: Stricken Without Warning, Saving Face, The Significance of the Human Smile

Trauma out of the blue, it can affect anyone, at any time. Imagine waking up one day unable to move one side of your face, it is drooping to one side. More than anything, it is nerve-racking, literally!

For a long time the origin of Bell’s Palsy (BP) was unknown, however scientists believe that BP results from a viral infection that inflames the facial nerve.

The condition was termed as an idiopathic facial paralysis.

Pathologists use the term ‘idiopathic’ to describe an ailment whose cause is not well understood, and which is treated by addressing the symptoms rather than the underlying problems.

The term ‘idiopathic’ also refers to any condition that is personal and distinct.

BP is thought to be caused by a viral infection of the facial nerve (7th cranial nerve).

However, BP has many other ‘possible’ causes such as trauma, nervous system disease, metabolic, tumors, or toxins.

BP is a non-progressive, non-contagious, neurological condition that presents the severe, yet temporary, onset of weakness on one side of the face.

When the muscles are paralyzed, you cannot smile, you drool slightly, you sometimes bite your cheek when you chew, you cannot close your eye, and quite possibly slurring of your words.

There is often numbness or pain in the ear, face, neck, or tongue in 50% of the patients.

This rare disorder afflicts about 40,000 Americans each year.

Approximately half of all newly diagnosed BP patients recover in a short period of time, the remaining recover within a year.

The recurrence rate is between 10-20%.

Signs and symptoms-preceded by fever, pain behind the ear, stiff neck, weakness, numbness or stiffness of the affected side.

Causes

Diagnosis

Possible complications

Probable outcome

Treatment, medications, acupuncture, e-stim,

Cure rate