Facialis symptoms are a range of problems related to weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles. They may be temporary or permanent and can affect both men and women equally.
Affected people often experience asymmetry of the face, which causes functional and social interaction issues. The asymmetry can be caused by partial or complete paralysis, and may also result from damage to the facial nerve (cranial nerve 7).
Bell’s palsy
One of the most common causes of facial paralysis is Bell’s palsy. It occurs most commonly in pregnant women, but it can happen at any age. This is a disorder of the seventh cranial nerve, which connects the brain to the muscles that control facial expression and also involves taste and hearing.
It can cause weakness in half of the face, causing it to droop or become stiff. It usually resolves within a few weeks.
Your doctor will want to know when your symptoms began, what other signs you have, and whether they are getting better or worse. He or she may also do a test called an electromyogram, which uses electrodes to measure the electrical impulses transmitted through specific nerves and muscle tissue.
During the test, your doctor will place small, thin needle electrodes through your skin and into the facial muscles that correspond to specific nerves. He or she then asks you to move these muscles if you can, recording the signals that occur as each muscle contracts.
The tests can help determine whether a nerve is injured and whether it has a chance of regaining normal function. Your doctor will conduct these tests two or three times during the weeks after you are diagnosed with facial nerve paralysis to monitor your progress.
If your doctor suspects facial nerve injury, he or she will order an electromyogram and other tests to determine the extent of the damage. This is especially important if your doctor suspects that the nerve is damaged due to a stroke, a tumor, or a salivary gland tumor.
Another test that your doctor might do is to examine your ears. This is important because the facial nerve is responsible for the innervation of the ear muscles. If your ear is inflamed or injured, this could cause a facial nerve problem.
Pain behind your ear, which can be relieved by a pinching or rubbing motion, is another common sign of a facial nerve injury. A neurologist, an otorhinolaryngologist or an allergist can do a physical exam to check the functioning of your ears and other parts of your face.
A doctor might prescribe steroids if your symptoms appear to be new-onset. Steroids can help reduce inflammation and swelling and increase your chances of regaining facial nerve function. However, they must be taken as prescribed.
Your doctor might also prescribe antibiotics and antiviral medicines to reduce your risk of infections and other diseases. These medicines will not treat the underlying cause of your Bell’s palsy, but they can help with other problems associated with it, such as difficulty swallowing or dry eyes.
