Facial paralysis, also known as facial palsy, is the loss of movement on the face due to nerve damage. The inability to move your face muscles can happen on one or both sides. It can be a result of permanent or temporary injury.
Your face muscles will become weak or appear droopy. Losing movements on one or both parts of your face can be very devastating. Your talking may be disrupted, and you may also not be able to make some facial expressions.
Often it leads to depression and high levels of anxiety and stress. Regardless of how the facial palsy occurred, it’s essential to seek treatment. Consult an experienced doctor or reconstructive surgeon to get more credible advice.
The condition can happen gradually or suddenly, depending on the cause. The best way to handle such a condition is to learn all you can first to seek the proper treatment. Here is what you need to know about facial palsy.
Causes
As you know, facial palsy or paralysis occurs when the facial nerve is damaged. Some of the common causes are infection or inflammation of the facial nerve and head trauma. The rest of the causes include the following:
- Stroke
Stroke is one of the more common causes of facial palsy. It occurs during a stroke because the nerves that control muscles movements in the brain are damaged. It also depends on the kind of stroke, but it causes a lack of movement in the face most times. Brain cells can die within minutes when there is excess pressure or no oxygen on the brain. The lower part on one side of your face is usually the most affected in such cases. The forehead is spared in most cases. But the eyes may be involved if the stroke is severe.
- Bell’s Palsy
Bell’s palsy is another common cause of paralysis. Thousands of people experience sudden paralysis on the face as a result of Bell’s palsy every year. Bell’s palsy has been reported to occur more frequently with pregnant or diabetic people. It’s usually an episode of facial muscle weakness that sometimes can’t be explained. It’s not considered a permanent condition, but it may lead to facial palsy, which is more severe. It can also be a result of different infections. It happens suddenly and may worsen over 48 hours. Most people who suffer from Bell’s palsy make full recoveries.
- Tumors
Paralysis can also be caused by a head or neck tumor. The symptoms of tumor-caused paralysis vary depending on the kind of tumor. You may experience acute paralysis for months without improvement. It can also be a slowly progressive paralysis. It’s always best to seek a proper diagnosis when you start noticing the signs. The doctor will help you establish the extent of the tumors and advice on the best course of action. When the tumor is surrounding or close to the facial nerve, paralysis will occur. The nerve can also be damaged during the removal if it’s a cancerous tumor. Medical intervention sometimes can be the cause of paralysis. It can also involve other conditions aside from tumors like dental or cosmetic procedures like facelifts.
Other causes
- Lyme disease
- Skull fracture
- Middle ear infection
Some babies are born with facial palsy, and in most cases, the cause is unclear. Birth itself can cause temporary paralysis. But almost all babies that are born with this condition make full recoveries without any form of treatment.
Diagnosis
Early diagnosis is the best. So when you start noticing the signs like slurred speech, drooping of the mouth, drooling, sound hypersensitivity, and difficulty drinking or eating, visit your doctor.
Ensure you explain your symptoms correctly for the doctor to give a proper diagnosis. If you have any other medical conditions, ensure you share that information. The doctor is likely to ask you to move your facial muscles, smile, or lift your eyebrows. It will help determine the severity of the paralysis. You may also have to undergo blood tests and imaging scans to determine what caused the paralysis.
Treatment
The paralysis can either be permanent or temporary. Your doctor will determine the best treatment for your condition depending on how long you have been suffering. These are some of the treatments.
- Surgery
Facial reanimation surgery is one of the treatments. The rectifying procedure is better when performed by an experienced plastic surgeon. They may use nerves and muscles from other body parts to restore motion on the affected area. Facial expressions are crucial for communicating with others. That is why treating paralysis is more than a cosmetic concern.
- Nerve Transfer
There is a period where it’s still possible to restore function to the paralyzed part by transferring another nerve to the affected area. If too much time passes, the possibility to reinnervate the muscles will be lost. That is why it’s better to seek help as quickly as possible. If the paralysis is still in the early stages, a nerve transfer can save you from long-term suffering.
- Stroke Treatment
If your paralysis is caused by stroke, the treatment will be the same as that of stroke patients. There are special stroke therapies that help destroy the clot that causes the condition. When you treat the stroke, your paralysis may rectify itself. You may also get medicine from your doctor to prevent any further damages if the stroke has stayed for a long time.
- Bell’s Palsy Treatment
If Bell’s palsy causes it, then you should seek related treatment. However, most times, Bell’s palsy will clear on its own without any treatment. But some people take oral steroids to increase their chances of a full recovery. Physical therapy is also beneficial in such a situation.
Final Thoughts
The main danger of having this paralysis is possible eye damage. If you can blink normally, your cornea will slowly dry out, and external particles will enter and damage the eye. That is why if you have facial palsy or paralysis, you need to use artificial tears all through the day or wear something to protect the eye. Unfortunately, even with the current medical advancements, some cases of paralysis may never completely go away.