Cranial nerve palsy causes paralysis of one or more cranial nerves, affecting facial muscles and expressions. Causes include trauma, surgery, and degenerative conditions. Treatment involves identifying and resolving the cause, and may involve physical therapy. Regular check-ups are important.
Cranial nerve palsy is a form of paralysis involving one or more cranial nerves. Paralysis occurs when a muscle becomes paralyzed or someone loses control of it, experiencing erratic muscle movements, spastic jerks, and other problems. Those related to the cranial nerves are usually very easy to identify because they involve the muscles of the face and people’s faces change due to paralysis. A patient may have difficulty smiling, controlling eye movements, and engaging in other facial expressions.
There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves that go directly from the brain to various areas of the face through holes in the skull known as foramina. The cranial nerves allow for a very fine level of control over the facial muscles, allowing people to do everything from making small eye movements to pursing their lips. In people with cranial palsy, control over a muscle or group of muscles is lost, leading to drooping, paralysis, or erratic involuntary movements.
There are a number of reasons someone might develop cranial nerve palsy. Facial or head trauma may be a cause, as it could directly damage a nerve. People can also experience this condition after surgery in which a surgeon inadvertently damages one of the cranial nerves. Degenerative conditions like multiple sclerosis can also damage nerves, as can conditions like diabetes and meningitis. High blood pressure has also been linked to cranial nerve palsy.
When someone recognizes changes in facial expression or movement, a neurologist should be consulted. The neurologist may conduct an examination to determine which cranial nerve or nerves are involved and to determine the extent of damage to the nerve. The neurologist may also begin to explore potential causes of cranial nerve palsy. It is important to provide a complete patient history, as information that may not seem relevant may be important to the diagnosis.
Treatment of cranial nerve palsy is based on identifying the cause and resolving it. In some cases, it may not be possible to reverse the paralysis, due to damage to the nerve. In other cases, a patient may regain some muscle control. Patients also sometimes find it helpful to work with a physical therapist during the treatment process to work on muscle control and develop coping skills. It’s also important to see a neurologist regularly to determine whether or not there is new damage that may need to be addressed.
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