Facial Palsy is a general medical term which refers to weakness of the facial muscles, usually on one side of the face, as a result of damage to the facial nerve.
There are many reasons why the facial nerve can be damaged but the most common one is swelling or pressure on the nerve.
There are two facial nerves on either side of the face. Each nerve leaves the brain through a tiny channel in the skull and enters the face in front of the ear.
It then divides into 5 branches to supply the different muscles for facial expression.
What are the causes of Facial Palsy?
- Viral infection by the herpes simplex virus is thought to be a common cause of a facial palsy known as Bells Palsy.
- The Varicella Zoster virus can cause a more aggressive form of facial palsy known as Ramsay Hunt Syndrome.
- Stroke can cause facial palsy as a result of damage in the brain itself.
- Traumatic injury such as brain injury, skull fracture or facial trauma, as might be suffered as a result of an accident.
- Neurological conditions (e.g.Guillain-Barre syndrome or Neurofibromatosis).
- Congenital facial palsy refers to an abnormal development of the facial nerve or muscle that you are born with.
- Surgery to remove a facial nerve tumour or acoustic nerve tumour or when operating on the parotid gland may cause facial palsy. These operation sites lie very close to the facial nerve so in the process of removing these tumours the facial nerve can become damaged.
What can be done to help?
There is a wide range of treatments available for patients who have suffered a facial palsy.
These treatments should be provided and supervised by professionals trained in Facial Rehabilitation.
A detailed assessment will identify the key problems and ensure that the treatment is appropriate for your stage of recovery.
This is because certain exercises and therapies may be inappropriate and can be detrimental to your recovery.
Your therapist can guide you on
- Eye Care
- Massage
- Stretches
- Taping to support the face
- Advice re oral care
- Advice re eating & drinking
- Guidance re specific exercises for your stage of recovery.
- Education re stages of recovery.
Why should I start facial therapy early?
There are many benefits to starting facial therapy early. When your nerve is not working or slowly recovering the face can develop incorrect movement habits.
These can cause long term problems, in particular synkinesis. Synkinesis is a medical term that means “unwanted movement”.
Having synkinesis means that different parts of the face move together outside your control e.g when you smile your eye closes also.
Research shows that early facial therapy can minimise the risk of synkinesis and improve your facial movement from a much earlier stage of recovery.
What if I have had facial palsy for a long time? Can I be helped?
Everyone can benefit from specialist facial therapy. Whether you have had facial palsy for weeks, months, years, or even since birth, facial therapy from a chartered physiotherapist with specialisation in this area can still help you greatly.
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