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Have you ever felt one side of your face getting weak or a bit floppy? You may also have noticed some dribbling of saliva or your eyes watering more than usual. These could be signs of facial nerve palsy, a condition in which the nerves controlling your facial muscles become affected, leading to these symptoms. If you’re experiencing this, consult an ANF Therapist for diagnosis and treatment.
ANF Therapy®️ is a holistic approach to treating facial nerve palsy. This is a drug-free and non-invasive therapy to treat different conditions. It enhances the body’s natural healing capabilities by optimising neurological frequencies. ANF Therapy®️ aims to restore normal function of the facial nerves, alleviate muscle weakness, and improve overall facial movement.
What is facial nerve palsy?
- Temporal
- Zygomatic
- Buccal
- Mandibular
- Cervical
These branches control various facial expressions and functions.
How common is facial nerve palsy?
The overall incidence of facial nerve palsy is about 3-4 cases per 10000 population. Facial nerve palsy is relatively common, most frequently affecting individuals between the ages of 15 and 45. The leading cause is Bell’s palsy, which accounts for approximately 70% of all cases. Trauma is the second most common cause, constituting 10-23% of cases. Viral infections account for 4-7% of facial nerve palsy cases, while neoplasia makes up 2-5%.
Stages of facial nerve palsy:
There are three stages of facial nerve palsy. These include
1-Flaccid paralysis:
It is the beginning of symptoms of facial nerve palsy.
In this stage, the muscle supplied by the facial nerve becomes floppy, dropping the eyelid and angling the mouth. This is followed by watery eyes and drooling saliva.
2-Paresis:
In the partial recovery stage, your facial muscles begin to regain their strength. Some muscles regain strength and function, and some remain weak, resulting in asymmetric facial expressions and movements.
3-Synkinesis:
It is the late stage of facial nerve palsy that causes involuntary movements. For example, when you close your eyes, your cheeks lift involuntarily.
What can cause facial nerve palsy?
There are multiple causes of facial nerve palsy, depending upon the type of facial nerve palsy. Moreover, the causes of facial nerve palsy are:
- Idiopathic
- Stroke
- Viral infections such as cold sore and herpes zoster
- Trauma to skull
- Bell’s palsy
- Otitis media (middle ear infection)
- Tumor
- Ramsay hunt syndrome
- Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)
- Lyme disease
- Autoimmune diseases
- Neurofibromatosis
- Birth trauma
- Hemorrhage
- Moebius syndrome (genetically induced)
Risk factors for facial nerve palsy:
You are more prone to have facial nerve palsy if you have the following factors:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- History of upper respiratory tract infection
- Pregnancy
- Middle ear infection
What are the symptoms of facial nerve palsy?
The symptoms of facial nerve palsy depend on the location of the lesions. According to the location of the lesion, facial nerve palsy is characterised in two forms: upper motor neuron and lower motor neuron facial palsy.
| UMN Facial Palsy | LMN Facial Palsy |
|---|---|
| Facial nerve lesion is above the pons | Facial nerve lesion is in the pons |
| The lower part of the face of the opposite side is involved | It is associated with an inability to close the eyes on the same side |
| Drooping of angle of mouth followed by dribbling of saliva | Drooping of the angle of the mouth on the same side |
| Food accumulation in the mouth | Associated with hemiplegia |
| Inability to clench the teeth | The nasolabial fold of the same side is absent |
| Failure to blow or whistle but frowning is present | Frowning is absent (frontal sparing) |
Symptoms of facial nerve palsy according to the supply :
The symptoms of facial nerve palsy, according to the supply, are:
Forehead:
- Absence of forehead wrinkles
Eye symptoms:
- Drooping of the eyelid
- Inability to squint
- Unable to close the eye or blink
- Irritation in the eye
- Watery eyes or dry eye
Nose:
- Absent nasolabial folds
- Nasal flaring is absent
Mouth:
- Taste changes
- Drooping of mouth angle
- Drooling of saliva
- Difficulty in chewing
- Drying of mouth
- Speaking difficulty
- Inability to smile
- Inability to blow or whistle
Ears:
- Hearing impairment
- Ear ache
- The ear becomes sensitive to pitch sounds
Treatment of facial nerve palsy with ANF Therapy®️:
Diagnosis of facial nerve palsy is a step-by-step approach that includes a detailed history, clinical examination, neurological assessment, and application of ANF Devices. They will also rule out other diseases that have the same presentation.
History:
Your ANF Therapist will start asking you some questions regarding your illness. These include:
- When do you notice the following symptoms?
- Do you feel pain in your face, eye or ear
- History of previous medical illness
- Do you feel any change in taste?
- History of previous viral infection
- Any hearing impairment or discharge from the ear
Physical and neurological examination:
ANF Therapists distinguish between upper and lower motor neuron lesion palsy by examining facial nerve movements. The physical examination includes an inspection of your face to check its symmetry and the obvious signs and symptoms of facial nerve palsy. In addition, physical tests are performed to confirm the diagnosis. These include:
Corneal reflex (blink test):
Your ANF Therapist will take a small piece of cotton, touch it on the clear part of your eye, and check it. If both eyes blink simultaneously, then the test is negative. However, in facial nerve palsy, the eye of the affected side shows no reflex movement.
Schirmer test (lacrimation function):
In this test, you ANF Therapists will take a folded piece of blotting paper and touch it on the lower conjunctival part of your eye to check the lacrimation function. In facial nerve palsy, there is a 75% decrease in lacrimation of the affected eye.
Taste test:
The chorda tympani is a branch of the facial nerve that supplies the lateral aspect of the anterior 2/3 of your tongue. Your ANF Therapist will examine your facial nerves using salt, sweet, and bitter tastes.
Stapedial test:
In this test, your ANF Therapist will expose your ear to high-intensity sounds. In the case of facial nerve palsy, your stapedius muscle contracts, which makes your ear sensitive to high-intensity sounds.
Application of ANF Devices:
Based on the assessment, your ANF Therapist will strategically apply ANF Devices to certain parts of your body. These devices are designed to work synergistically to address various health issues.
The primary function of the ANF Devices is to reduce inflammation, which is a common source of pain and discomfort. These devices aim to alleviate these symptoms by resolving inflammation from its root cause. They are designed to optimise neural oscillations and activate the body’s natural healing process.
ANF Devices also play a crucial role in strengthening nerve signals. By improving the communication between nerves and muscles, these devices help restore proper muscle function and strength. This enhancement of nerve signals leads to better coordination and overall muscle performance.
Expected outcome:
According to Dr. Mikel H-G Hoff, the founder of ANF Therapy®️, most patients feel an improvement in their symptoms after a few minutes of applying ANF Devices. Individual response may vary depending on the severity of conditions and the body’s response. This therapy aims to reduce pain by 50% after the first session.
Follow-up:
Regular follow-ups are essential to treat facial nerve palsy using ANF Devices. Your ANF Therapist will guide you on the number of follow-up sessions and treatment duration. You will need to change ANF Devices after 72 hours. Your therapist will create a personalised treatment plan for you and educate you on changes and training exercises.
Start your journey with ANF Therapy®️:
ANF Therapy®️ offers an innovative tool for managing facial nerve palsy. By utilising wearable ANF Devices that emit neurological frequencies, ANF Therapy®️ aims to modulate inflammatory responses, promote healing, and support overall well-being related to health. This non-pharmacological therapy provides a safe and effective approach that improves disease outcomes by targeting the root cause. If you’re suffering from facial nerve palsy, consult an ANF Practitioner or find an ANF Therapist at www.findanf.com to start your treatment with ANF Therapy®️ today!
If you’re a healthcare practitioner who wants to enhance your clinical skills with ANF Therapy®️, visit www.anfacademy.com to learn more about the ANF Clinical education program.
What can be the differentials of facial nerve palsy?
The differentials of facial nerve palsy include:
- Ramsay hunt syndrome
- Hemifacial microsomia
- Bell’s palsy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Stroke
- Intracranial neoplasia
- Subdural Hemorrhage
What are the complications of facial nerve palsy?
Complications can occur if the facial nerve palsy remains unaddressed for an extended period of time. It includes the following:
- Corneal ulceration
- Irreversible damage to facial nerve
- Ocular synkinesis
- Crocodile tear syndrome
FAQs:
What is the difference between facial nerve palsy and Bell’s Palsy (Facial nerve palsy vs Bell’s Palsy)?
The difference between the facial nerve palsy and bell palsy is as follows:
| Facial Nerve Palsy | Bell's Palsy |
|---|---|
| Associated with upper motor neuron lesions | Associated with lower motor neuron lesions |
| Paralysis may be permanent | Paralysis is temporary |
| Caused by trauma and infection | Idiopathic |
| Less common | Most common |
What is Moebius Syndrome?
Moebius syndrome is a rare inborn defect that affects your baby’s facial muscles. It is caused by a defect in the development of the 6th and 7th cranial nerves, which are the main supply of the face and control your baby’s facial expression and eye movement.
What is the difference between stroke and facial nerve palsy (Stroke vs facial nerve palsy)?
Stroke and facial nerve palsy have the same facial presentation. However, in a stroke, you also experience one-sided body weakness, but in facial nerve palsy, you feel weakness only in facial muscles.
What is the difference between central and peripheral facial nerve palsy (central vs peripheral facial nerve palsy)?
Central facial nerve palsy affects the facial muscles of the contralateral side of your face. In contrast, peripheral facial nerve palsy involves the facial muscles of the ipsilateral (same) side.
What is the best treatment for facial nerve palsy?
ANF Therapy®️ can be the best treatment for facial nerve palsy. It is a non-surgical and drug-free approach that works on the principle of neuro-frequency modulation. It uses ANF Devices that are charged with certain frequencies to strengthen nerve signals and promote the body’s healing process.
About ANF Therapy®️
ANF Therapy®️ uses circular ANF Devices, which are applied directly on the skin after palpation and assessment by a trained ANF Therapist following the ANF Therapy®️ Method, Patented Model no. U202030252, ES1259974.
The ANF Therapy®️ purpose is the alleviation of injury and pain within minutes.
Our aim is that the patient experiences a reduction of pain and swelling, an increase in range of motion, and an improvement in quality of life related to health. Non-transdermal, non-invasive device, NO needles or chemicals are used.
Do you need help with your health issues? Have you been experiencing symptoms of Facial Nerve Palsy?
Contact us, and we will explain how we can help you!
