Bell’s palsy causes sudden, temporary weakness in your facial muscles. This makes half of your face appear to droop. Your smile is one-sided, and your eye on that side resists closing.
Bell’s palsy, also known as facial palsy, can occur at any age. The exact cause is unknown. It’s believed to be the result of swelling and inflammation of the nerve that controls the muscles on one side of your face. Or it might be a reaction that occurs after a viral infection.
For most people, Bell’s palsy is temporary. Symptoms usually start to improve within a few weeks, with complete recovery in about six months. A small number of people continue to have some Bell’s palsy symptoms for life. Rarely, Bell’s palsy can recur.
Paralyzed muscles can shrink and shorten, causing permanent contractures. Here at Tyrrell Physiotherapy, Swords, Co. Dublin we can teach you how to massage and exercise your facial muscles to help prevent this from occurring. We will also teach you tactics for living and coping with muscle weakness.
Electrical muscle stimulation may be used in facial paralysis treatment where appropriate to externally strengthen weakened muscles.
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