Bell’s palsy

Bell’s palsy is temporary weakness or lack of movement that affects one side of the face.

The condition develops over a 72 hour period.  It is important to seek medical advice within this time, because treatment for Bell’s palsy is most effective when started early.

Most people make a full recovery from Bell’s palsy.  Improvement can occur within a few weeks; however, a full recovery can take from three to six months and beyond.

The symptoms of Bell’s palsy can be similar to those of a stroke. If you are in any doubt then call 999 immediately.

With Bell’s palsy, the entire half of the face is affected, whereas typically with a stroke, the forehead is unaffected.  Also, in Bell’s palsy there is no weakness of the limbs.

Bell’s palsy is the most common cause of facial paralysis – accounting for 60% of cases.  In the UK it affects between 12,400 and 24,800 people per year¹.  People between the ages of 15 and 60 years are most commonly affected².

Sources:

1. https://www.facialpalsy.org.uk/causesanddiagnoses/bells-palsy/
2. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries October 2012.

Causes of Bell’s palsy

Inflammation around the facial nerve, and the resulting pressure, causes paralysis on the affected side of the face.

Bell’s palsy is an ‘idiopathic’ condition – this means that no conclusive cause has been established.  Whilst it has not yet been possible to understand why the facial nerve becomes compressed, links have been made to certain viruses (these include herpes, influenza and respiratory tract infections) along with a depleted immune system.

Symptoms of Bell’s palsy

The onset of Bell’s palsy is usually sudden, peaking at 72 hours.

The main symptoms of the condition are:

• Partial or complete paralysis of one side of the face, including the inability to close the affected eye, and a ‘drooping’ of the face. (In rare cases, approximately 1%, both sides of the face are affected).
• Sharp pain in the ear during the onset of paralysis.
• Sensitivity to loud noise.
• Impaired or altered sense of taste.
• Dryness of the eye on the affected side (where it cannot be closed properly). To compensate, this can cause watering.
• Eating can be difficult due to the loss of control of lips and cheek on the affected side. This can result in drooling.
• The nostril on the affected side may stream due to loss of muscle control.
• Speaking clearly and pronouncing certain sounds and letters may be difficult.
• Unwanted facial movements, such as twitches, which is called ‘synkinesis’.

Diagnosis of Bell’s palsy is made by ruling out other possible causes.  A neurological examination is carried out – the doctor will ask the sufferer to carry out a range of facial movements.  A diagnosis of Bell’s palsy is likely if there has been rapid loss of the use of one side of the face and if there are no other symptoms.

Other tests may include blood tests, scans (MRI – magnetic resonance imaging or CT – computerised tomography), ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist checks or a nerve test (EMG – electromyography) to ascertain any facial nerve damage.

Your doctor might also consider:

Stroke – Bell’s palsy is the most common cause of sudden facial weakness, but a stroke should always be ruled out as a precaution.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome – If there is severe pain around the ear usually followed by a rash of blisters in or around the ear, scalp or hair line, or in the mouth or throat.

Lyme disease – If there is a history of tick exposure, or a rash (not always present). If there are flu like symptoms, joint pain or tiredness.

Treatments for Bell’s palsy

Following diagnosis of Bell’s palsy by a GP or medical practitioner, the best recovery occurs when the inflammation (and resulting nerve compression) is minimised.

The main treatment to help reduce this inflammation is oral steroids.  These need to be given within 72 hours of onset to have any beneficial effects.

Medication

Prednisolone is the steroid usually prescribed for the treatment of Bell’s palsy and has been shown to reduce the severity of an attack.  After 72 hours, there is no evidence that steroids are effective.  In some cases, despite early treatment with steroids, patients do not fully recover.

Eye care

This is extremely important in the initial stages of Bell’s palsy.  As it is likely that a sufferer will not be able to close their eye fully, it should be kept moist and protected with drops or ointment.  Surgical tape may also be used to keep the eye closed at night.

A friend strongly recommended CACI non-surgical facelift treatments when I developed Bell’s Palsy. I found a clinic nearby and met Dan who put me at ease as he explained the treatments, which, within a few weeks, gave amazing results. So, I now return regularly for CACI treatments by Dan who is very efficient, kind and caring. Thank you.

From CA who had CACI treatment with Dan at our Huntingdon clinic.