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Bell’s Palsy

Alternative Treatment for Bell’s Palsy

Bell’s palsy is paralysis or weakness that occurs on one side of the face. It is usually temporary, but symptoms can continue for life. The specific cause is usually unknown, but it is thought that swelling and inflammation of the facial nerve. Bell’s Palsy has also been associated with conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, injury, toxins, Lyme Disease, Guillain-Barre, Sarcoidosis, Myasthenia gravis, Multiple Sclerosis, viral infections and some vaccines which are thought to cause an autoimmune phenomenon or reactivate latent infections.  Traditional treatment for Bell’s Palsy typically involves steroids, antiviral medications, pain medications, and Physical Therapy. 

Common Symptoms of Bell’s Palsy 

Mild weakness to paralysis on one side of face that occurs within hours to days. 
Difficulty closing eye on affected side 
Excessive tearing in one eye 
Headache 
Drooling 
Loss of taste 
Pain on the affected side 
Increased sensitivity to sound on the affected side 

Our Approach to Bell’s Palsy

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy decreases inflammation, oxygenates the entire body, stimulates the growth of new healthy blood vessels, and releases stem cells, up to 800% more after twenty sessions. Research shows that including HBOT with other treatments increases the efficacy of the treatment and decreases the length of time to returned function of the damaged nerve. A study regarding the use of HBOT to treat Bell’s Palsy compared to steroids showed that the group treated with HBOT recovered significantly faster than the steroid group. Additionally, some of the patients in the HBOT treatment group had normal nerve excitability test scores after treatment while the steroid treatment groups scores remained abnormal. 

Physical Therapy

These sessions focus on retraining the body and brain from a neurological standpoint compared to the traditional muscular approach. Patients are trained to use muscles correctly rather than compensating for muscle groups that are not functioning properly. Each session is one on one and can work to eliminate pain, retrain the body, and recover from illnesses, injuries, or trauma.  

Our Approach to Bell’s Palsy

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy decreases inflammation, oxygenates the entire body, stimulates the growth of new healthy blood vessels, and releases stem cells, up to 800% more after twenty sessions. Research shows that including HBOT with other treatments increases the efficacy of the treatment and decreases the length of time to returned function of the damaged nerve. A study regarding the use of HBOT to treat Bell’s Palsy compared to steroids showed that the group treated with HBOT recovered significantly faster than the steroid group. Additionally, some of the patients in the HBOT treatment group had normal nerve excitability test scores after treatment while the steroid treatment groups scores remained abnormal. 

Physical Therapy

These sessions focus on retraining the body and brain from a neurological standpoint compared to the traditional muscular approach. Patients are trained to use muscles correctly rather than compensating for muscle groups that are not functioning properly. Each session is one on one and can work to eliminate pain, retrain the body, and recover from illnesses, injuries, or trauma.