Holistic care of facial paralysis management
Bell's palsy is believed to be related to nerve damage and can be treated with medication or alternative approaches. Its symptoms typically appear suddenly and reach their peak about 48 hours after they start. When it strikes, this relatively common neurological disorder causes one side of the face to become weakened, or paralyzed. (1) Common signs include drooping on one side of the face, drooling, impaired speech, and other symptoms that are also associated with stroke.
When you have symptoms of Bell’s palsy, your medical team will ask a variety of questions to help them with a definitive diagnosis. Many treatments and precautions are available for taking care of bell’s palsy. All treatment approaches hand in hand will give better outcome in recovery of bell’s palsy.
Treatments –
As you get diagnosed with bells palsy be patient. Don’t worry. Let your natural course of nerve takes it own time to recover.
1. Medicines - Once diagnosed, your doctor may prescribe corticosteroids, antiviral drugs. Don’t skip any medicines.
2. Physiotherapy – after physical therapist assessment he or she will prescribe you exercise programme to initiate muscle contraction, to prevent facial muscle contracture and to strengthen the muscles.
3. Eye lid stretching – it allows to maintain the flexibility of upper eyelid muscle.
4. Eye care - If blinking is not possible because of the weakness or paralysis, you are susceptible to corneal abrasions, and damage to the retina, which may permanently affect your vision. Your physician may prescribe artificial tears, protective eyewear, an eye patch and lubricating ointments to protect your eyes. Stay away from direct sunlight.
5. Hot fomentation - Many find that a warm cloth may help resolve pain and discomfort. Hot fomentation helps to relieve tension, relaxes muscles and promote restful sleep, you can use face steamer. You can repeat it 3 or 4 times a day.
6. Acupuncture: This needle-based Chinese therapy may help lessen facial paralysis and facial disability in people with Bell's palsy.
7. Massage - Ask your physical therapist for massage techniques that you can do at home. Many patients find gentle massage of the face can ease symptoms and discomfort. benefits of massage therapy include inflammation reduction, stress and anxiety relief, and improved immune system functioning.
8. Vitamin - - Vitamin B12 – it helps repair nerve and reduces inflammation. - Zinc – by eating zinc rich foods helps to heal quicker from the underlying cause of bells palsy. - Vitamin B6 – consuming vit B6 foods can help improve nervous system system function and eye health.
9. Meditation and relaxation – it relieves muscle tension and stress.
10. Adequate sleep is very important. 11. Protect your ears using cotton or ear plugs.
12. Oral hygiene – since your mouth is not functioning well due to paralyzed muscles your oral hygiene might be compromised. So prefer food with semi solid consistency than hard food. Chew food on unaffected side.
13. Drinking adequate water.
For more information and better guidance contact our expert physio Dr Meghana Dave, founder of HealthQrehab. she has great expertise in treating bells plasy patients over the years. She is treating bells plasy patients online as well as offline. Feel free to contact us on www.healthqrehab.com.
References
1. www.wikipaedia.com
2. www.draxe.com
When you have symptoms of Bell’s palsy, your medical team will ask a variety of questions to help them with a definitive diagnosis. Many treatments and precautions are available for taking care of bell’s palsy. All treatment approaches hand in hand will give better outcome in recovery of bell’s palsy.
Treatments –
As you get diagnosed with bells palsy be patient. Don’t worry. Let your natural course of nerve takes it own time to recover.
1. Medicines - Once diagnosed, your doctor may prescribe corticosteroids, antiviral drugs. Don’t skip any medicines.
2. Physiotherapy – after physical therapist assessment he or she will prescribe you exercise programme to initiate muscle contraction, to prevent facial muscle contracture and to strengthen the muscles.
3. Eye lid stretching – it allows to maintain the flexibility of upper eyelid muscle.
4. Eye care - If blinking is not possible because of the weakness or paralysis, you are susceptible to corneal abrasions, and damage to the retina, which may permanently affect your vision. Your physician may prescribe artificial tears, protective eyewear, an eye patch and lubricating ointments to protect your eyes. Stay away from direct sunlight.
5. Hot fomentation - Many find that a warm cloth may help resolve pain and discomfort. Hot fomentation helps to relieve tension, relaxes muscles and promote restful sleep, you can use face steamer. You can repeat it 3 or 4 times a day.
6. Acupuncture: This needle-based Chinese therapy may help lessen facial paralysis and facial disability in people with Bell's palsy.
7. Massage - Ask your physical therapist for massage techniques that you can do at home. Many patients find gentle massage of the face can ease symptoms and discomfort. benefits of massage therapy include inflammation reduction, stress and anxiety relief, and improved immune system functioning.
8. Vitamin - - Vitamin B12 – it helps repair nerve and reduces inflammation. - Zinc – by eating zinc rich foods helps to heal quicker from the underlying cause of bells palsy. - Vitamin B6 – consuming vit B6 foods can help improve nervous system system function and eye health.
9. Meditation and relaxation – it relieves muscle tension and stress.
10. Adequate sleep is very important. 11. Protect your ears using cotton or ear plugs.
12. Oral hygiene – since your mouth is not functioning well due to paralyzed muscles your oral hygiene might be compromised. So prefer food with semi solid consistency than hard food. Chew food on unaffected side.
13. Drinking adequate water.
For more information and better guidance contact our expert physio Dr Meghana Dave, founder of HealthQrehab. she has great expertise in treating bells plasy patients over the years. She is treating bells plasy patients online as well as offline. Feel free to contact us on www.healthqrehab.com.
References
1. www.wikipaedia.com
2. www.draxe.com
