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FACIAL PALSY
The content of this article is based on my own idea concerning the condition in question and other relevant ideas other personalities have shared online. Apart from my own knowledge and ideas forming part of this article, the remaining ones owned by other personalities, obtained from online forming part of this article are dully acknowledged. Therefore, I declare this very article as my own.
INTRODUCTION
In most cases, one of the most disabling conditions that may affect individuals at any age is Bell's or facial palsy. It is a neurological condition, a condition that affect the facial nerve. Nerves are structures that link the muscles to the brain and relay messages of voluntary and involuntary motor functions from the brain to the muscles. Apparently, the body is able to move due to intact linkage between nerves and the correspondent muscles they supply. Lesion(inflammation), break, compression, weakness in a nerve result in interruption of the conductivity of the nerves leading to weakness in the corresponding muscles they supply.
However, Facial palsy or Bell's palsy is a disruption of the conductivity of the facial nerve and the facial muscles, resulting in weakness in the muscles on one side of the face.
The facial nerve is one of the nerves of the cranial nerves. It is the VII(7th) cranial nerve.
Muscles of the face are primarily controlled by the facial nerve.
You are able to blow air in your cheeks, wrinkles your forehead, close your eye, chew food, drink water without any drooling, whistle, and perform other facial actions because of the intact connection between the facial nerve and the brain. This nerve passes through a narrow, bony area within the skull and also in the ear.
When the nerve swells even a little bit, it pushes against the skull's hard surface. This affects how well the nerve works.
Inflammation of the nerve during or after infection can also cause facial palsy. It becomes scary when there's facial palsy because normally, it may be seen as stroke is present because usually, stroke may present with Facial palsy. But ones there is weakness on the face alone without weakness in other body part,as stroke may cause, it is no more regards as stroke. So don't be scared when you have facial palsy. Infections of the ear, diabetes and stroke can cause facial palsy.
ACTIVITIES THAT CAN CAUSE EAR INFECTION.
1.Allowing entry of excess air in the ear. Normally, many people who sits close to opened window of cars may stand the risk.
2.Allowing entry of smoke in the ear-
factory workers are at higher risk.
3.Removal of dirt using feathers or any hard object in the ear.
4.Listening to music on high volume with ear piece or headset.
5.Severe slapping can increase your risk.
6.Putting herbs in the ear as a means of treating ear pain.
NB: Any of these act may cause ear infection and may cause your facial nerve affected.
What causes facial palsy??
Most doctors believe that it’s due to damage to the facial nerve, which causes swelling. This nerve passes through a narrow, bony area within the skull. When the nerve swells even a little bit it pushes against the skull's hard surface. This affects how well the nerve works.
Researchers have long believed that viral infections may also play a role in the development of Bell's palsy. They’ve found evidence that suggests the herpes simplex 1 virus (a common cause of cold sores) may be responsible for a large number of cases.
How do you determine you have facial palsy?
The facial nerves control blinking, opening and closing of the eyes, smiling, salivation, lacrimation (production of tears), and frowning. They also connect with the muscles of the stapes, a bone in the ear involved in hearing.
When the facial nerve malfunctions, as in Bell's palsy, the following symptoms can occur:
*Sudden paralysis/weakness in one side of the face
*Difficulty closing one of the eyelids
*Irritation in the eye because it does not blink and becomes too dry
*Changes in the amount of tears the eye produces
*Dropping in parts of the face, such as one side of the mouth
*Drooling from one side of the mouth
*Difficulty with facial expressions,
sense of taste may become altered
and affected ear may cause sensitivity to sound
*Pain in front or behind the ear on the affected side
*Headache.
IS THERE ANY TREATMENT FOR FACIAL PALSY?
The answer is yes. There's indeed treatment for facial palsy. Facial palsy can be treated, but the earlier your treatment, the better your prognosis. Doctors may prescribe medication to thwart the inflammation and infection. But the facial weakness would be persisting. However, the intervention of a physiotherapist becomes more important. The physiotherapist remain the primary treatment for musculoskeletal and neurological conditions and therefore remains the main professional of the treatment of Bell's palsy.
Your physiotherapist, may set goals which would target.
-Facial nerve stimulation
-Muscular strengthening
-Muscular relaxation
These goals would restore the deficit the condition has caused you.
How Does he/she achieve these aim??
•Facial exercises :
The physiotherapist may teach you some active exercises that include :
-Wrinkling of forehead
-Blowing of air into the cheeks
-Closing if both eyes tightly
-Whistling
-Encouraging chewing on weaker part
-Encouraging speaking more often.
•Facial stimulation:
The use of TENS Can be used to stimulate the facial nerve. This will revive the nerve and enhances its conductivity. It also facilitate pain relief.
•Facial massage:
Facial massage with powder would facilitate circulation as well as releases muscle tension.
Though taping can be used to reinforce the weak facial muscles on the opposite side of the face to pull the stronger side, During facial massage, the therapist may perform this technique manually.
•Taping:
Kinesiology tape is a stretchable material. It normally used to stretch the weaker side of the face as such pull the muscles at the stronger side of the face.
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ARTICLE BY THOMAS ADJEI BIO
PHYSIOTHERAPY AND ORTHOTICS TRAINING SCHOOL, DUAYAW NKWANTA-AHAFO REGION.
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