Bell’s Palsy Symptoms
With Bell's palsy, a person would experience a sudden onset of paralysis and its symptoms could get worse during the early days. This condition usually affects both the upper and lower parts of one side of the face. The possibility of it affecting both sides of the face is less than 1% of all cases. The peak of Bell's palsy symptoms usually takes place within just a few days but it could also take as long as about two weeks. If there is a gradual development in paralysis, then tests for other possible cause of palsy must be performed.
There are plenty of Bell's palsy symptoms but the effects of this condition vary among individuals. These may differ in accordance with the location of the damage and also the degree of the nerve damage. The main Bell's palsy symptom is muscle paralysis or weakness. The other Bell's palsy symptoms include the disappearance of forehead wrinkles, overall droopy appearance, runny nose, stuffy nose, facial swelling, sensitivity to sound, ear pain, excess or reduced salivation and drooling.
Other Bell's palsy symptoms may include difficulty to blink, speak, eat and drink. Some patients may even have diminished or distorted taste buds. On the other hand, eye-related Bell's palsy symptoms include brow drop, lower eyelid droop, sensitivity to light, lack of tears, excessive tearing and difficulty in closing eyes.
The degree of this condition can range from mild weakness to complete paralysis of one side of the face. The onset is fairly abrupt and the Bell's palsy symptoms will become apparent within several hours to about a day or even two. It is possible to notice the Bell's palsy symptoms upon awakening. A day or two before the onset of palsy, there could be some pain in the vicinity of the ear. Within the first couple of days from the onset of Bell's palsy symptoms, the condition may likely become worse but then it will slowly get better. The usual trend with this condition is that the faster the Bell's palsy symptoms and signs progress, then the more serious the paralysis or weakness the patient will experience. In most reported cases, all Bell's palsy symptoms would be gone within about two months. Generally, four out of five people who have this condition completely recover within about three weeks of showing Bell's palsy symptoms and signs. While the others may see some improvement in about three to six months time; when the nerves have already had a chance to re-grow. Everyone should be aware though that getting facial paralysis does not always mean that the individual has Bell's palsy. It is important to immediately consult a doctor for correct diagnosis. Other possible causes of facial paralysis may include stroke, varicella zoster and Lyme disease. There are also less common causes like sarcoidosis, HIV infection, amyloidosis and tumors. A doctor is the only one who can accurately distinguish among all these possible causes that is why patients should make an appointment for a thorough examination.
| 