I have right-sided facial nerve paralysis, which prevents me from closing my eye and makes eating difficult.
Doctor's diagnosis: Facial nerve paralysis
symptom
While having lunch with a friend, I noticed a strange sensation on the right side of my face, and my eye gradually began to droop. By that evening, the corner of my mouth had also drooped, so I went to a general hospital the next day. I was prescribed oral steroids and antiviral medication, and underwent examinations in neurosurgery, but no abnormalities were found in my brain. I was diagnosed with suspected Bell's palsy. The doctor told me that I might recover in two or three months. Because my right eye wouldn't close, it was extremely dry. The paralysis was mild to moderate for the first three or four days after onset, but became severe from the fifth day onward. I could only manage to eat soft foods using the left side of my mouth, and I continued to be unable to eat properly.
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Visitors
Female
48 years old
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Period
February 25 - March 26
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Visit Frequency per week
2 - 3
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Number of Visits
6
Treatment and progress
During the initial examination, palpation confirmed that the right eye could not be completely closed, and tension in the right side of the neck and stiffness in the right side of the back were observed. Acupuncture was performed on points on the medial border of the right scapula, the right buttock, and the right hand. After the first treatment, there was no change in facial symptoms, but the tension in the right side of the neck was reduced. From the second treatment onward, treatment continued, focusing on points around the right scapula, the forearm, and the back of the hand. From the third treatment onward, the patient began to be able to close their eye, and from the fourth treatment onward, the tension in the face and the movement of the mouth rapidly improved. After four treatments, the patient was able to close both eyes together, and was very pleased.
Acupressure points used
Symptom score
Functional score
Summary
In a suspected case of Bell's palsy that worsened after 5 days from the onset of symptoms, acupuncture treatment was performed in parallel with drug therapy at a medical institution. Focusing on acupoints around the right scapula, forearm, and back of the hand, the patient improved to the point where they could close both eyes after only four treatments. Although doctors had suggested a recovery period of 2-3 months, it is believed that early acupuncture treatment promoted the functional recovery of the facial nerve. While no change in symptoms was observed after the first treatment, a clear improvement was seen from the third treatment onward, demonstrating the importance of continuous treatment.
Acupuncture clinic for the case:Visiting acupuncture and moxibustion clinics
