CHIROPRACTIC CARE & ACUPUNCTURE FOR THE TREATMENT FOR BELL’S PALSY

Bell’s Palsy can be very stressful experience. Often, people afflicted with Bell’s Palsy are concerned they are dealing with a more life-threatening medical condition like a stroke or brain tumor. This is because Bell’s Palsy mimics the symptoms of stroke, with significant facial dropping where one side of your face is severely weak, drooping or paralyzed.

Although generally not life-threatening, a diagnosis of Bell’s Palsy can negatively affect a person’s wellbeing in many significant ways. The good news is that Bell’s Palsy is generally self-limiting, and symptoms usually subside within six months.

The doctors of chiropractic at Advanced Sports & Family Chiropractic & Acupuncture (ASFCA) can help ease and eliminate the symptoms and discomfort of Bell’s Palsy at an accelerated rate.

What is Bell’s Palsy?

If you have Bell’s Palsy, you are not alone. In the United States, over 40,000 people are diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy every year. An Estimated 1 in 60 are diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy in their lifetime . Bell’s Palsy is a neuromuscular condition that causes either severe weakness or paralysis in the facial muscles. It is most commonly associated with a sudden or gradual onset of a one-sided facial droop, without any other neurological symptoms, like slurred speech, hemiparesis (weakness on one side of the body), or altered level of consciousness.

It is believed that Bell’s Palsy is caused by swelling and inflammation to the face’s cranial nerve VII, which causes the facial muscles to weaken or be paralyzed. This facial inflammation can be caused by numerous factors, including trauma, viral infections, and impaired autoimmunity. Bell’s Palsy can occur at any age but is generally more prevalent in the ages 15- to 45-year-old age groups.

Other factors that increase the risk of getting Bell’s Palsy are the following:

• Pregnancy
• Misalignments also known as spinal subluxations
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Upper Respiratory Ailments
• Decreased Autoimmunity
• Increased Stress
• Sleep Deprivation

What are the Symptoms of Bell’s Palsy?

Bell’s Palsy’ characteristic facial weakness and paralysis can lead to several symptoms that affect the afflicted person’s day-to-day life. Considering that Bell’s Palsy is so visible, it can negatively influence a person’s physical and mental health. Many people struggle with maintaining a healthy self-confidence when their face is afflicted with paralysis from Bell’s Palsy. Bell’s Palsy can have a significant impact on a person’s eyes and vision. People with Bell’s Palsy regularly wear protective eyewear, like eye patches, to safeguard their eyes from inadvertent harm .

Other common symptoms experienced by patients with Bell’s Palsy are listed below:

• Facial Paralysis
• Facial Droop
• Numbness/Tingling
• Drooling
• Difficulty Eating
• Excessive Tears
• Eye Irritation
• Inability to Close Affected Side’s Eye
• Facial Pain
• Sound Sensitivity
• Loss of Taste
• Headaches
• Increased Social Anxiety
• Increased Stress

Special Note

It is important to note that anyone who experiences a sudden onset of a facial droop, weakness, or paralysis should seek immediate emergency care, because these symptoms could be the first symptom of a serious life-threatening medical conditions like a stroke or brain tumor. Emergency medical doctors can generally rule out these conditions swiftly and diagnose their patients with Bell’s Palsy which then lead them to seek care in our office next.

How Do Our Chiropractors Treat Bell’s Palsy?

If you need treatment for your Bell’s Palsy, look to the expertise of the doctors and staff at ASFCA. Conveniently located throughout the Kansas and Missouri Metro area, ASFCA Clinics treat patients with various neurologic concerns, especially Bell’s Palsy.

Bell’s Palsy is triggered by the inflammation or interference on the face’s cranial nerves, causing apparent weakness in paralysis. Chiropractic care, especially in conjunction with the services that we provide at ASFCA, makes our staff well suited to treat patients with Bell’s Palsy.

Our doctors of chiropractic treat Bell’s Palsy at the source, the central nervous system. The chiropractors use chiropractic adjustments, class 4 laser therapy, acupuncture and disc decompression therapy to help correct the interfered with neuro pathways that are having trouble transmitting signals. ASFCA also offers acupuncture to treat patients with Bell’s Palsy, which will be provided by one of our board certified doctors. Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine therapy that dates back thousands of years, has been effectively used to treat Bell’s Palsy . Acupuncture stimulates the central nervous system at the source of the affliction, increasing healthy blood flow to the affected area, promoting the body’s ability to heal itself.

ASFCA also provides physical therapy services (Physiotherapy) for our patients with Bell’s Palsy. We understand that living with Bell’s Palsy can be challenging at best, so our physiotherapy staff helps our patients learn exercises and techniques to overcome difficulties in their daily routines. We want to help our patients help themselves overcome the challenges that Bell’s Palsy presents and help them recover quicker than they would without care.

Schedule an Appointment – We are here to help you!

Lee's Summit, MO Clinic

338 Southwest Main St.
Lee's Summit, MO 64063
 816-600-5483
  816-524-5328

Belton/Raymore, MO Clinic

17027 Bel-Ray Blvd.
Belton, MO 64012
 816-425-7015
  816-425-2117

Blue Springs, MO Clinic

622 SW US 40 Hwy
Blue Springs, MO 64014
 816-815-7007
  816-815-7008

Liberty, MO Clinic

1520 N. Church Rd |  Suite C
Liberty, MO 64068
 816-831-3600
816-831-3601

[1] National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2020, October 2). Bell’s Palsy Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.ninds.nih.gov:  https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Bells-Palsy-Fact-Sheet   

[2] Mohney, G. (2017, August 8). How Serious a Condition is Bell’s Palsy? Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com: 
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-serious-a-condition-is-bells-palsy

[3] Mayo Clinic Staff. (n.d.). Bell’s palsy. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org:  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bells-palsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20370028

[4] Hills, R. K. (2015, May 14). Efficacy of Acupuncture for Bell’s Palsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4431843/