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Facial Paralysis Talks Podcast - What to do and What to Avoid
- Mar 31, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 3, 2023
In This Article: Episode Summary | Podcast Links | Timestamps | Transcript Link
Episode Summary
Dealing with facial paralysis is scary. Realizing it may not be a quick recovery is emotionally and physically challenging.
Shortly after I knew my case was more long term, where I was not going to regain full access to my facial muscles quickly, I began searching for more knowledge. For me, it was helpful to understand the mechanics of the injury to cope with the trauma. I wish I had been given crucial information in the beginning, but I didn't find the exact knowledge I needed until after I made some mistakes during a crucial time when my facial nerve was regenerating.
Once I found more knowledge, I wanted to help others who were affected by longer term facial paralysis and shorter term alike. One of the ways I knew I could help was to ensure that authoritative knowledge would reach people closer to onset, before doing things that could risk their full recovery.
So, in 2019, I collaborated with some members of the international facial paralysis community to create authoritative information and awareness that we could present on the web and in our various social media support groups. This episode was one of our projects. It is an interview with a facial therapist who has over 30 years of experience dealing with facial paralysis. Thank you to those who collaborated with us to bring about this episode.
We hope you find this episode helpful. If you are a medical professional, please share this with your patients.
Podcast Links
You can find the episode on Apple Podcasts and Podbean:
Timestamps
1:50 Why are we doing this podcast?
3:00 Susan’s background on facial retraining (introduction)
4:15 What is facial paralysis?
4:45 What can facial paralysis feel like when it starts?
6:00 The structure and function of the facial nerve and facial muscles
8:50 Do facial muscles deteriorate in the same way that other muscles do?
11:55 What causes facial paralysis?
13:18 The difference between a central facial palsy and peripheral facial palsy
13:43 Steroids vs decompression surgery to reduce pressure inside the bony canal
14:14 What is causing the inflammation of the facial nerve?
15:05 What is the difference between Ramsay Hunt syndrome and Bell’s palsy?
18:57 What other conditions can cause facial paralysis?
21:53 What to do in the acute phase of facial palsy
23:00 Steroids and antiviral medications. What should I take?
23:46 How to protect the affected eye
24:31 How to stimulate blood circulation of the facial muscles
24:58 How to maintain symmetry to your face?
25:48 More tips about what to do in the acute phase
27:00 What to avoid while we are waiting for facial recovery
28:50 Why should you avoid electrical stimulation?
29:45 Pirate patches - safety precautions
30:25 What about acupuncture or electrical acupuncture?
30:55 What can you expect with healing? How long do I have to wait until I start to heal?
Transcript Link
File last updated - April 2023
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