Bell’s Palsy is a Viral Infection

Bells’ Palsy is a condition in which the patient loses any sort of sensation in the face and is incapable of controlling the facial muscles on one side of the fact that is affected. The symptoms which can be both mild and severe usually make an appearance after 48 hours approximately. In this condition, the cranial nerve VII or the facial nerve fails to function normally. In mild cases, the condition heals by itself after nearly 14 days and gains completely recovery by 6 months time. It is very rare though that it snowballs into fatal stages of complete paralysis or relapse in symptoms.

What Causes Bell’s Palsy in People?

The exact cause of Bell’s palsy is not known as of yet but it can in most cases be traced back to certain viral infections. The viruses that were found to have a link to Bell’s palsy are inclusive of the following:

• Cold sores and genital herpes (herpes simplex)
• Infectious mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr)
• Chickenpox and shingles (herpes zoster)
• Mumps (mumps virus)
• Flu (influenza B)
• Cytomegalovirus infections
• German measles (rubella)
• Respiratory illnesses (adenovirus)
• Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (coxsackievirus)

The risk of Bell’s palsy is enhanced in people affected with diabetes or some upper respiratory infection like cold or flu. It might also affect pregnant women in their third trimester or even after a week of giving birth.

Recognising Bell’s Palsy

In Bell’s palsy, the nerve that controls the facial muscles becomes inflated or swollen as a cause of some viral infection, as already discussed before. This nerve finds its way to the face as it passes through a tapered corridor of bone. This condition not only affects the facial muscles but also saliva, tears, the small bone in the middle of the ear as well as taste.

The signs and symptoms of Bell’s palsy usually include the following:

• Headache
• A shift in the quantity of saliva and tears one normally produces
• Taste buds start to lose function
• Drooling
• Mild weakness in the facial muscles on one side of the face that gradually leads to complete paralysis that occurs in a matter of hours or days.
• Pain and discomfort in the jaws or in and around the ear of the affected side.
• The person is unable to make proper expression due to the drooping of the facial muscles.
• The ear on the affected side becomes extra sensitive to sound.
• Rarely, Bell’s palsy might also affect the nerves located on both sides of the face.

A mild case of Bell’s palsy lasts for about a month before it disappears. But for one with severe Bell’s palsy, the recovery time might vary.

The condition might worsen to result in the following complications:

• Due to the eyes’ incapability of closing, it becomes excessively dry and the cornea becomes itchy. This can lead to complete blindness.
• The damage to the facial nerve can become permanent and no amount of medication can fix it.
• There might be an anomalous growth of nerve fibres that results in the unintentional contraction and expansion of particular muscles as one tries to move others. This condition is also known as synkinesis. For instance, when the patient tries to smile, the eye on the affected side may close.

How can Bowen assist with Bells Palsy  

At My Bowen Therapy our goal is to approach those suffering from Bell’s Palsy condition first and foremost no different than for an individual suffering from back pain etc, as our initial goal is to address whole body structural issues. 

Understanding that Fascia is in effect like a never ending spiders web throughout the body, our award winning therapists leave no stone unturned. 

It is not unusual for our therapists to find that the individuals suffering from Bell’s Palsy or Ramsey Hunt Syndrome have issues in the cervical spine area (neck) in conjunction with dysfunction involving the muscles connect to the TMJ (Tempo Mandible Joint or Jaw) which we address as they present.

 

Our muscles attach one bone onto another, and if they are too tight (stuck in contraction,)  they will have a negative, pulling effect on the bony structures they are attached to.

Our therapists encourage these muscles to go back to their normal state allowing for free movement and taking the pressure of any nerves that may be trapped within the soft tissue or between the bony structures.