Question
My nephew is now three years old and has been suffering from facial paralysis for four months. He has been receiving treatment, but there hasn’t been any noticeable effect. Is it still possible to recover from facial paralysis after four months?
Answer
Facial paralysis refers to the paralysis of the facial muscles and is also known as facial palsy in modern Chinese medicine. It is a disease caused by nerve damage to the facial nerve due to various reasons. The main clinical manifestations are disorders of facial motor function, such as facial muscle palsy and decreased taste sensation. Facial paralysis is categorized into central facial paralysis and peripheral facial paralysis. The main complications include severe pain in the facial muscles, rapid, small muscle twitching contractions on the affected side, often accompanied by increased blinking activity. It is recommended to use acupuncture in conjunction with oral meclobamate for symptomatic treatment. Apply regional cold compresses, avoiding stimulation from cold compresses, and maintain a light diet; avoid spicy, irritating foods, and hard-to-chew foods.