Question
I am 59 years old and have had facial paralysis for five years. Initially, I received treatment, but then I stopped. Can facial paralysis that has lasted for more than a decade still be treated?
Answer
Facial paralysis is caused by damage to the facial nerve. During the acute phase, symptomatic anti-inflammatory medication and nutritional nerve medication should be administered. In the later recovery phase, therapies such as acupuncture and electrotherapy are often used to alleviate neural edema. Typically, the optimal time for treating facial paralysis is within three months after onset, with the most noticeable effects. However, if more than five years have passed since the onset, the effectiveness of treatment may not be very pronounced.