Bell's palsy can lead to a stroke in rare cases as your risk of a stroke is increased when you have or had Bell's palsy but Bell's palsy is not the same as a stroke although the symptoms are similar.
Bell's palsy can sometimes be mistaken for a stroke as well.
If Bell's palsy is left untreated it will most often go away within a few months or so without any harm although in more severe cases the untreated Bell's palsy may cause permanent facial weakness.
Bell's palsy can go away and most cases of Bell's palsy go away and are not permanent.
Although in rare cases Bell's palsy can be permanent and not go away and there is no known cure for Bell's palsy although recovery begins most often within 2 weeks to 6 weeks from the onset of the symptoms of Bell's palsy.
You don't always need to go to the ER for Bell's palsy but if you have any facial weakness or drooping you should go to the ER immediately.
Most cases of Bell's palsy go away on their own within a few months but the symptoms of Bell's palsy are similar to a serious medical issue like a stroke so you should seek medical attention if you notice muscle weakness in your face.
Treatment for Bell's palsy include antiviral medicine or oral steroids which can be taken in the first couple of days from the onset of Bell's palsy.
These medications can improve your chance of a full recovery from Bell's palsy and your doctor may also prescribe some lubricating eye drops or eye ointment to protect the affected eye.
Face massage or physiotherapy may also be recommended.
There are warning signs before Bell's palsy which include discomfort behind your ear before weakness is noticed.
Your face will usually feel stiff or pulled to one side and may look different and other signs of Bell's palsy are the difficulty in closing of one eye.
Symptoms of Bell's palsy come on suddenly and can include mild weakness to total paralysis on one side of the face occurring within hours to days.
Facial droop and trouble making facial expressions, such as closing an eye or smiling and drooling.
Bell's palsy is not a mini stroke and Bell's palsy is not caused by a stroke or mini stroke although the symptoms of a stroke and Bell's palsy are similar.
Strokes and mini strokes can also cause numbness on one side of the body or face and weakness in the arms and legs on one side.
But Bell's palsy never presents with weakness of the arms or legs or difficulty moving the tongue or the eyes.
Regardless of which symptoms are seen, medical attention is needed quickly for Bell's palsy or a stroke.
Bell palsy is an unexplained episode of facial muscle weakness or paralysis.
Bell palsy begins suddenly and can get worse over 48 hours.
This condition results from damage to the facial nerve (the 7th cranial nerve).
Pain and discomfort usually occur on one side of the face or head.
Synkinesis in Bell's palsy is involuntary and undesirable facial movements (aka “simultaneous movement”) associated with voluntary facial movements.
An example of Synkinesis in Bell's palsy is when one of your eyes closes when you smile.
The Synkinesis in Bell's palsy often develops in people who have had or has Bell's Palsy.
Synkinesis will not go away completely.
However, with continued therapy that may include facial retraining, chemodenervation, and other treatments such as mindfulness, the severity of synkinesis can be reduced.
People dealing with synkinesis can experience facial muscle spasms and other unwanted movements that impact their quality of life.
Selective neurolysis is the best surgical treatment for most people with partial facial paralysis and synkinesis.
Facial re-education” is sometimes used to help minimize the effects of synkinesis after Bell's palsy.
It involves teaching a person how to perform various facial exercises, such as keeping the face up when speaking and chewing food with the eyes open.
Synkinesis can cause pain, but neuromuscular retraining is used to help people reduce or eliminate this issue.
Thanks to physical therapy, a person can use exercises to strengthen facial muscles affected by synkinesis.
As a person performs these exercises, pain may decline accordingly.
Post-paralytic facial synkinesis after facial nerve injury produces functional disabilities and mimetic deficits, but also cosmetic and non-motor psychosocial impairments for the patients.