Medication
Procedures
Self-care
Nutrition
What can a neurologist do for Bell's palsy?
If necessary, for more severe cases, an MRI test can be performed to determine what pressure if any there are to the facial nerves. For the treatment of Bell's Palsy, steroids are often used as they are highly likely to be effective and can increase the probability of recovery of facial nerve function.
What treatment would a doctor recommend for Bell's palsy?
Patients with Bell's palsy should be treated within three days of the onset of symptoms with a seven-day course of oral acyclovir (Zovirax) or valacyclovir (Valtrex), plus a tapering course of oral prednisone.
What if Bell's palsy doesn't go away?
Bell's palsy usually starts to improve in 2 weeks but may take 3 to 6 months to return to normal. If there is no improvement or if any symptoms worsen, it is important to tell your healthcare provider.
What is the best treatment for facial palsy?
The most widely accepted treatment for Bell palsy is corticosteroid therapy. However, the use of steroids is still controversial because most patients recover without treatment. Antiviral agents have also been studied in this setting, as have combinations of the 2 types of drugs.
Is gabapentin good for Bell's palsy?
Our findings suggest that gabapentin may be an effective treatment for patients with hemifacial spasm with a very good ratio of therapeutic effects to side effects when compared with other drugs currently used.
What are the best eye drops for Bell's palsy?
Products containing them include Refresh, GenTeal, Visine Dry Eye Relief, and Systane. Patients should instill 1-2 drops in the eye as needed during waking hours. Treatment of dry eye during the night is the great challenge for Bell's palsy patients, owing to an inability to completely close the eye during sleep.
What autoimmune diseases cause Bell's palsy?
Bell's palsy may be an autoimmune demyelinating cranial neuritis, and in most cases, it is a mononeuritic variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a neurologic disorder with recognised cell-mediated immunity against peripheral nerve myelin antigens.
How long does Bell's Palsy last with steroids?
In patients with Bell's palsy, early treatment with prednisolone significantly improves the chances of complete recovery at 3 and 9 months. There is no evidence of a benefit of acyclovir given alone or an additional benefit of acyclovir in combination with prednisolone.
How long should I take prednisone for Bell's palsy?
The recommended dose of prednisone for the treatment of Bell palsy is 1 mg/kg or 60 mg/day for 6 days, followed by a taper, for a total of 10 days. Caution should be used in patients with any of the following: Tuberculosis.
What is the fastest way to get rid of Bell's palsy?
Immediate Bell's Palsy Treatment After it's been determined that Bell's palsy is causing the facial paralysis, the doctor needs to prescribe a high dose of steroids as well as an anti-viral medication such as Valtrex.
Does vitamin B12 Help with Bell's palsy?
Vitamin B12 injections have been shown to be beneficial for people with Bell's palsy. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause nerve degeneration, and both oral and injected vitamin B12 have been used to treat many types of nerve disorders.
Can damaged facial nerves be repaired?
There are three basic approaches to facial nerve repair: direct nerve repair, cable nerve grafting or nerve substitution. Direct nerve repair is the preferred option whenever possible and is performed by removing the diseased or affected portion of the nerve, then reconnecting the two nerve ends.