Patient's question:
Patient Age: 31Detailed Medical Condition and Purpose of Consultation: The patient previously suffered from facial paralysis and underwent acupuncture treatment. A week ago, the condition recurred, and the patient received injections and acupuncture again at the hospital, with no improvement so far. Recently, the patient came across the patented medicine "Facial Paralysis Recovery" capsules introduced by the Facial Paralysis and Facial Nerve Rehabilitation Treatment Center of the Shenyang Military Region Command Hospital on the China Facial Paralysis and Facial Nerve Medical Network. The approval number of this medicine is Shenlian No. (2004) FP22027, but the patent number was not visible. The patient is unsure of its reliability. Additionally, the center claims that "facial paralysis does not necessarily require acupuncture," but the patient wants to know if this statement is correct. If not, how should facial paralysis be treated?
Doctor's answer:
Hello: Regarding the medication you mentioned, you can consult the local drug regulatory authority. There are no special treatment measures for facial paralysis. Corticosteroid hormones like prednisone, used continuously for 1 to 2 weeks within 2 days of symptom onset, may be effective. However, whether this can reduce pain and promote recovery is still not supported by reliable conclusions.If the eyelids cannot close, you can use lubricating eye drops or an eye mask every few hours to protect the eyes. Massaging the paralyzed facial muscles may help with recovery. If the facial paralysis persists for 6 to 12 months or longer, surgical options such as transplanting a healthy nerve (often the hypoglossal nerve) to the paralyzed facial muscles can be considered.