How can our specialised TMJ treatment help your Bells Palsy?
How can our specialised TMJ treatment help your Bells Palsy?
What is Bells Palsy?
Bells Palsy is inflammation of the facial nerve causing weakness/paralysis of the facial muscles supplied by the facial nerve where the nerve exits at the stylomastoid foramen.
How does Bells Palsy present?
The patient will not be able to do the following actions on one side:
– Raise their eyebrow
– Close their eye
– Smile
– Pout
– Snarl
At rest, the affected side may droop.
What causes Bells Palsy?
The exact cause of Bells Palsy isn’t known but could be due to a virus.
What are the risk factors for Bells Palsy?
Risk factors include an ear infection, pregnancy, diabetes and upper respiratory tract infections.
What are common issues associated with this condition?
1. Dry eyes, patients with Bells Palsy commonly complain of dry eyes as the facial nerve supplies the tear duct. This is a common complication and if not managed can lead to corneal ulcers which are very serious. Patients with Bells Palsy will feel that their eye is fully closed when it is in fact not, this is also a contributing risk factor to developing dry eyes.
Therefore, precautions need to be taken to prevent this such as:
– using eye drops
– using a humidifier to moisten the air
– taping the eye closed at night
– drinking water to stay well hydrated
2. Dry mouth, similarly to the dry eyes, the facial nerve supplies the salivary ducts.
Similar steps to help with dry eyes can be taken such as:
– using a humidifier
– staying hydrated
– avoiding air-conditioned rooms
What can we our specialised team do for your Bells Palsy?
– Reduce inflammation along the facial nerve. With our extensive knowledge of where the facial nerve runs we can directly target the nerve to reduce inflammation and irritation, while promoting healing and return of function.
– Improve function of the muscles affected through improving their nerve supply with a hands-on specific approach combined with exercises. These include recruiting the muscles affected with the use of mirror therapy, tapping, taping and active assisted movements.
We have a very high success rate of returned function and back to normality within a few sessions. Contact us on 0674190725/www.myphysiotherapist.co.za to get healing today.