Ever heard of a health disorder called Bell's Palsy? In fact, Bell's Palsy is a neurological disorder that disrupts muscle control on one side of the face. As a result, people with Bell's Palsy will experience muscle weakness or paralysis that makes one side of their face look sloppy. Although health experts often associate Bell's Palsy with viral infections, the exact cause is still unknown. As a result, there is no method of treatment that is absolutely sure to cure the disease. Fortunately, people with Bell's Palsy will often get better on their own within a few weeks or months. If you are currently experiencing these disturbances, understand that there are several ways you can do to speed up your recovery process. In addition to taking the medicines prescribed by the doctor, you also need to do additional treatments at home and apply various alternative methods that can relieve the symptoms of Bell's Palsy.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Drugs
Step 1. Call a doctor immediately
In fact, treating Bell's Palsy is not as difficult as moving mountains as long as you immediately take the right treatment steps. When your face starts to feel weird, or when you find it difficult to control your facial muscles, call your doctor immediately. Your doctor can give you the right diagnosis and determine whether you really have Bell's Palsy or some other health problem. In addition, the doctor will also recommend the most appropriate treatment method. In general, some of the symptoms of Bell's Palsy are:
- Difficulty closing or blinking one or both eyes
- Difficulty controlling facial expressions
- Twitching muscles
- Eyes that are heavy and look sleepy
- Constantly dripping drool
- Difficulty tasting food
- Dry mouth or eyes
- Tears that keep coming out
Step 2. Take prednisone
Generally, these corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed by doctors for Bell's Palsy patients. Most likely, your doctor will ask you to take it at a certain dose for one full week, then reduce the dose the following week.
- As an anti-inflammatory drug, prednisone can help reduce swelling of the facial nerve that triggers Bell's Palsy. In addition, consuming it is also effective in relieving pain that arises due to tension in the facial muscles.
- Before taking prednisone, talk to your doctor about the possible negative effects of drug interactions. This step is mandatory if you are also taking birth control pills, blood thinners, or have other medical conditions such as diabetes, HIV, or heart disease. Women who are pregnant and breastfeeding are also required to do so.
Step 3. Take antiviral medication
Acyclovir is one type of antiviral drug that is often used to fight the herpes simplex virus, which can cause infection. But actually, the drug can also be used to treat Bell's Palsy. Because the use of acyclovir alone has not been proven to be able to cure Bell's Palsy, doctors generally will prescribe other drugs that must be taken together with acyclovir such as prednisone.
The combination of acyclovir and prednisone is generally able to work very effectively to treat Bell's Palsy caused by the herpes simplex virus
Step 4. Take over-the-counter pain relievers
Bell's Palsy can cause pain due to loss of muscle control and other symptoms. Therefore, try taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen to make the facial area a little more comfortable.
To prevent the negative effects of drug interactions, make sure you always consult over-the-counter drugs that will be consumed and convey other drugs that are being consumed to your doctor
Method 2 of 3: Performing Additional Treatment
Step 1. Protect your eyes
Because Bell's Palsy can make it difficult for sufferers to close their eyes, the affected eye area will automatically feel dry and irritated. To maintain moisture, try lubricating the eyeball using an eye mask or special eye drops. In addition, you can also wear sunglasses during the day and an eye mask at night to protect your eyes from dust and other pollutants.
Limit computer time so that your eyes don't dry out too much
Step 2. Compress the face with a warm pad
If you don't have a warm pad, try soaking a piece of cloth or a soft towel in water and wringing it out. After that, place a cloth or towel on the area affected by Bell's Palsy for a few minutes. Repeat the process several times to relieve the pain.
Step 3. Perform therapy using vitamins
Several types of vitamins and minerals (including B12, B6, and zinc) can affect the body's nerve growth. As a result, consuming it is also effective in reducing the symptoms of Bell's Palsy related to nerve damage.
- Some types of foods that are rich in vitamin B6 are avocados, bananas, nuts, and whole grains.
- Some types of foods that are rich in vitamin B12 are beef liver, shellfish, meat, eggs, milk, and some cereals that are not through the process of fortification (addition of micronutrients).
- Some types of foods that are rich in zinc are high-protein meats such as beef, lamb, and chicken, as well as nuts and whole grains.
- Consult the possibility of taking supplements to meet your body's needs for vitamins B12, B6, and zinc with your doctor.
Step 4. Be patient
Your recovery time will depend largely on the extent of the nerve damage and the medical treatment you received. Although the duration of recovery varies from person to person, the common symptoms of Bell's Palsy should subside within two weeks (with or without treatment). However, your body will generally take three to six months to fully recover.
Understand that the symptoms of Bell's Palsy can recur even if your condition has completely recovered. Make sure you consult this possibility with your doctor
Method 3 of 3: Trying Alternative Treatments
Step 1. Perform biofeedback therapy
Biofeedback therapy is done to train the mind to be able to understand and control your body. Through this therapy, your mind will be led consciously to control the facial muscles and be aware of the sensations that arise in the area affected by Bell's Palsy. As a result, afterward, your facial function will improve. The biofeedback technique used will depend on your case. Therefore, make sure you ask your doctor for recommendations on the right treatment method.
Step 2. Do physical therapy with exercise
In fact, some facial functions can be improved by doing certain sports to train the muscles in the face. In addition, exercise is also able to relieve some of the symptoms of Bell's Palsy while reducing the pain that accompanies it. Ask your doctor for recommendations for a physical therapist with experience in treating Bell's Palsy patients.
Step 3. Do massage on the face area
Like physical therapy, facial massage is also able to restore the function of the facial area affected by Bell's Palsy, as well as relieve the discomfort that accompanies it. Try asking your doctor for a recommendation for a therapist with experience in massaging Bell's Palsy patients.
Step 4. Do acupuncture
This technique uses small needles that are inserted into specific points on your skin. The purpose of its application is to stimulate nerves and muscles, as well as relieve pain and reduce other symptoms of Bell's Palsy. If necessary, ask your doctor for a recommendation for a trusted acupuncturist in your area.
Step 5. Consider the possibility of electrical stimulation therapy
In some cases, doctors will recommend their patients to undergo electrical stimulation therapy. In fact, the therapy is done to restore the function of the facial nerve and encourage its development so that the recovery process can take place more quickly. Remember, these therapeutic actions must be carried out with assistance and based on the advice of medical experts.
Step 6. Practice relaxation techniques
Meditation, yoga, and doing deep breathing exercises can release tension and relieve muscle pain. Although its effectiveness for curing Bell's Palsy has not been proven, in fact these relaxation techniques can reduce the discomfort that accompanies the disease.
Bell's Palsy can trigger stress and physical discomfort in the sufferer. Therefore, try to do various relaxation techniques that can also function as an emotional therapy process
Tips
- Bell's palsy occurs when the facial nerve is under pressure. Although the exact cause is unknown, it is most likely caused by a viral infection such as meningitis or herpes simplex. Bell's Palsy is also often associated with other diseases such as influenza, Lyme, and diabetes.
- Bell's Palsy is different from facial paralysis due to a stroke.
- Bell's Palsy will not affect the ocular nerve or the nerves that control eye movement.
