Bells Palsy Begins with Numbness in Face

Bells Palsy is a facial nerve disorder that causes weakness or numbness in face caused by paralysis of muscles on one side of the face. Although facial paralysis is not followed by paralysis of other bodies, such as circulatory disorders of the brain in general, but this condition can be worrying because it usually occurs without symptoms early and cause his face looks crooked. First, patients initially experienced numbness in face.

The term bells palsy was taken from the name of a doctor from 19th century, Sir Charles Bell. He was the doctor who first described this condition and relate to abnormalities in facial nerve.

Who is vulnerable to Bells palsy?

Bells palsy is closely related to cold weather and can attack people who work in a room with AC directly. A cold wind makes nerves around the face swollen and enlarged. Fascialis nervous nerve swelling was caused to stopped nerve blood supply. Bells palsy occurs suddenly but not contagious. It is risky to attack youth 20 years, pregnant women, and people after 60 years. With diabetes mellitus and post-cold condition also did not escape the risk of this disease.

The cause of the disease is not known for certain, but is thought to occur in the facial nerve swelling in response to viral infection. As a result the blood supply to a nerve stopped and cause cell death that brings function impulse be disrupted and brains command to move the facial muscles can not be forwarded. Referred to a viral infection that is kind of herpes simplex virus, where the virus can "sleep" for several years and will be active if the person is exposed to physical or psychological stress.

Symptoms :
•Pain behind the ear, just before facial muscle weakness occurs.
•Patients experience numbness in face.
•facial numbness had looked flat, without expression.
•Eyelids can not be closed so that the ball will watery eyes continuously, but will be dry at night when sleeping.
•Difficulty speaking, especially when uttered consonants because of the mouth or lips drawn to one side.
•The ability to taste / feel annoyed and voices were louder in the affected side.

Treatment :

--There are no checks and specific treatment for Bells palsy. To distinguish between Bells palsy with other diseases, should be X-ray examination, CT scan or MRI and see a history of disease.

--Some experts believe that giving corticoteroid such as prednisone and the antiviral acyclovir in 2 ¬ 3 days and continued until the first 1-2 weeks, may improve the prognosis up to 20%. However, whether this treatment can reduce pain and improve the chance for recovery, still not proven.

--For numbness in face that caused eyelids can not close, the eyes should be protected from drought by using lubricating eye drops every few hours.

--Severe numbness in face, massage in weak muscle and nerve stimulation can help prevent occurrence of facial muscle rigidity.

--If numbness in face lasted 6-12 months or more, surgery for nerve transplantation into the paralyzed facial muscles, can be done. Usually taken from the tongue transplant.