Bell's palsy is a disorder that causes sudden but temporary weakness in your facial muscles. It occurs generally when the nerve controlling your facial muscles becomes inflamed, swollen, or compressed. It often results in the smile becoming one-sided and the face appearing drooped. The condition is named after the Scottish anatomist Charles Bell, who was the first to describe it extensively. If you are facing bell's palsy disorder then take proper and effective physiotherapy for bell's palsy in Gurgaon from well experience and famous physiotherapy Dr. Rajesh Pal.
The exact cause of the disorder is yet unknown but is believed to be a result of swelling and inflammation of the nerve controlling the muscles on one side of your face. The patient may face severe difficulty while smiling or closing the eye on the affected side. In a majority of the cases, the disorder is temporary and the symptoms usually go away after a few weeks with complete recovery in about six months.
The disorder can attack the person at any age. However, it is more prominent among people between the age group of 16 and 60. In some rare cases, the patient continues to have some of the symptoms for life.
Although the exact cause of the disease is unknown, it is said to occur when the seventh cranial nerve becomes swollen or compressed, resulting in facial weakness or paralysis. Some texts and medical researchers also propose that the disorder is most likely triggered by a viral infection.
The viruses/bacteria generally speculated for Bell’s palsy are -
The most prominent symptom of Bell’s palsy is a one-sided facial droop appearing within 72 hours of the onset of the disorder. In some rare cases, it may affect both sides of the face resulting in a totally paralyzed face.
In addition to that, patients of the condition may also report loss of taste sensation in the anterior two-third of the tongue on the affected side.
People diagnosed with Bell’s palsy may also have myriad neurological symptoms such as -
The diagnosis of Bell’s palsy is often complicated as no specific test has been designed for the same and the symptoms may be a result of another condition like stroke or infections. The doctor may first perform a physical examination to determine the extent of the weakness in your facial muscles. You may also be enquired about your symptoms and asked to move your facial muscles by closing your eyes, lifting your brow, showing your teeth and frowning, among other movements. To diagnosis of Bell's Palsy you need to consult or hire a good physiotherapist for Bell's Palsy in Gurgaon, he/she will provide you a better treatment to cure your disorder.
Some other medical conditions of the likes of a stroke, infections, Lyme disease and tumors may also result in weakening of the facial muscles. Thus, if the cause of your symptoms is not clear, your doctor may recommend other tests like Electromyography (EMG) and Imaging Scans. EMG is performed to confirm the presence of nerve damage and examine the severity of the same. Further, imaging scans are required to eliminate the possibility of presence of other sources of pressure on the facial nerve.
These tests may also include blood tests to check for the presence of a bacterial or viral infection.
A majority of the patients of Bell's palsy recover fully with or without treatment. Moreover, there is no fixed treatment suitable for all patients of Bell's palsy. But Physiotherapy for Bell's Palsy will be effective treatment to cure this disorder.
Although a complete recovery occurs without any complications, a persistent facial weakness may be witnessed after 3 to 6 months. An appointment with a facial physiotherapist may be helpful in such cases. The physiotherapist can work with you to design a personalized treatment plan usually involving some facial exercises.
Physiotherapy has been found highly beneficial and effective beneficial for patients of Bell ’s palsy. It helps to maintain muscle tone of the affected facial muscles and stimulates the facial nerve, thus helping in restoration of the body to normalcy.
Heat can be applied to the affected side of the face to reduce pain, if any. Moreover, it is recommended that you implement some muscle re-education exercises along with some soft tissue techniques prior to the recovery. This will help prevent contractures of the paralyzed facial muscles, thus ruling out any future complications. There is strong evidence has been found to establish the role of Galvanic Electrical Stimulation in the Physiotherapy treatment of Bell's palsy in Gurgaon.
