Can Bells Palsy Come Back Again
Overview
What is Bell's palsy?
Bong'south palsy causes temporary paralysis, or palsy, of facial muscles. It occurs when a condition, such every bit a viral infection, causes inflammation and swelling of the seventh cranial nerve (the nerve that controls facial muscles).
With Bong'south palsy, your face droops on one side or, rarely, both sides. You lot may have a lopsided smile, or an eyelid that won't close. These effects typically last several months and become away without handling. The condition gets its proper name from Sir Charles Bong, a Scottish surgeon who first described information technology during the 19th century.
How common is Bell'due south palsy?
Nigh 40,000 people in the U.S. develop Bell's palsy every year.
Who might have Bell's palsy?
Bell's palsy affects men and women every bit. It typically occurs in people betwixt the ages of 15 and 60. You may exist more than prone to Bell's palsy if you are pregnant or have:
- Autoimmune disease.
- Diabetes.
- Family history of Bong's palsy.
- Cold sores (herpes simplex virus).
- High blood pressure (hypertension).
- Mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr virus).
- Shingles (herpes zoster virus).
Can y'all become Bell'due south palsy more than than one time?
Information technology's unusual to get Bong's palsy more than than in one case in a lifetime, simply it can happen. A recurrence is virtually probable inside two years of the first incident. The facial nervus palsy may affect the aforementioned side of your face or the opposite side. You're more at run a risk for a recurrence if yous take a family history of the disease.
Symptoms and Causes
What causes Bong's palsy?
Diverse viruses may trigger Bell'southward palsy. The condition occurs when swelling or inflammation temporarily puts force per unit area on the nerve that controls facial muscles. This force per unit area impairs the function of the nerve making it difficult for you to control facial muscles or expressions. Every bit the inflammation subsides, the nerve starts to function again. It may accept several months for symptoms to get away.
What are the symptoms of Bell's palsy?
Symptoms of Bong's palsy tend to come up on suddenly and reach peak severity within 48 to 72 hours. Some people develop mild symptoms. Others experience full paralysis.
Symptoms offset to gradually improve in three weeks. Up to 80% of people fully recover and bear witness no signs of Bong'southward palsy within three months.
In improver to facial drooping, signs of Bell'due south palsy include:
- Difficulty speaking, eating or drinking.
- Drooling.
- Dry optics.
- Facial or ear pain.
- Headache.
- Loss of sense of taste.
- Ringing in ears (tinnitus).
- Sensitivity to sounds.
Diagnosis and Tests
How is Bell'south palsy diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider can make a diagnosis based on symptoms. Other weather, including stroke, sarcoidosis and Lyme illness, can also cause facial paralysis. To rule out those causes, y'all may accept i or more of these tests:
- Blood tests to check for conditions similar Lyme disease or sarcoidosis.
- Electromyography (EMG) to measure nerve activity and harm. This exam may aid your provider predict how quickly you lot'll recover.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans to rule out stroke or other causes of nerve damage.
Management and Handling
How is Bell'southward palsy managed or treated?
Bong'south palsy improves without treatment. All the same, your healthcare provider may recommend 1 or more than of these therapies for symptom relief and a faster recovery:
- Oral corticosteroids, such equally prednisone, decrease nerve swelling and may help you regain facial movement faster. This treatment is about effective when yous start it within 48 hours of noticing symptoms.
- Antiviral medications, such as acyclovir for herpes, may speed recovery, although it's unclear how much do good they provide. This treatment works all-time when combined with oral corticosteroids.
- Middle care is very important. Eyedrops, including artificial tears, soothe dry out, irritated eyes. If your eyelid won't shut, you may need to wear an eye patch to protect the eye from irritants and injuries.
- Decompression surgery eases pressure on the nerve is rarely performed because information technology can cause hearing loss and permanent facial nervus impairment.
- Functional facial plastic surgery procedures are options for people who don't recover to help correct facial disproportion and assist with eyelid closure.
What are the complications of Bell's palsy?
Eight out of 10 people with Bell's palsy recover fully without any lingering bug. Unfortunately, 20% of people have long-term facial paralysis and drooping. While uncommon, Bell's palsy tin can come up back, ordinarily within two years of the initial diagnosis. A recurrence may bear upon the aforementioned side of the face up or the opposite side.
How does Bell'south palsy impact pregnancy?
For unknown reasons, pregnant women are three times more likely to develop Bell's palsy than women who aren't expecting. The condition typically occurs during the 3rd trimester. You may be more likely to develop Bong'due south palsy while pregnant if you have preeclampsia (high claret pressure) or gestational diabetes.
If your symptoms are severe, your healthcare provider may recommend treatment. Certain treatments, such as oral corticosteroids, may increase your risk of giving birth prematurely before the 37th week of pregnancy. Your healthcare provider can discuss treatment risks and benefits with you.
Prevention
How tin I preclude Bong's palsy?
Currently, there isn't whatsoever known way to prevent Bell's palsy.
Outlook / Prognosis
What is the prognosis (outlook) for people who have Bell'south palsy?
The majority of people who develop Bell's palsy recover without handling. Yous should notice a gradual lessening of symptoms inside a few weeks. Depending on the extent of nerve damage, full recovery can take two to six months. Some symptoms last longer, and some people never fully recover.
Living With
When should I call the physician?
If you feel new Bong'due south palsy symptoms, such equally facial drooping or paralysis of your face, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Your provider may want to rule out other causes, such as stroke. Starting treatment early may help speed upwards and better your chance for recovery. You lot should also telephone call your healthcare provider if you lot experience:
- Symptoms that don't meliorate within three months.
- Chronic centre irritation.
- An eyelid that won't close.
- Dehydration due to difficulty drinking and swallowing.
- Hearing loss.
What questions should I ask my doctor?
If you have Bell's palsy, y'all may want to ask your healthcare provider:
- Why did I become Bong's palsy?
- What is the best treatment for Bong's palsy?
- Are there any treatment side furnishings?
- When will these symptoms get away?
- Can I get Bong'south palsy again?
- Tin can therapies like physical therapy or massage therapy speed recovery?
- Should I wait out for signs of complications?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
If you lot get Bell's palsy, you may be embarrassed by the mode your face up looks. Fortunately, these symptoms gradually improve with fourth dimension. See your healthcare provider when symptoms first announced. Corticosteroid treatments can speed recovery if you start them within 48 hours of noticing symptoms. Your provider tin also rule out other, more than serious conditions that cause facial paralysis.
Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5457-bells-palsy
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