Patient's question:
Mom had a mild stroke a few weeks ago and has also started showing symptoms of facial paralysis. She has been saying her face hurts a lot, so she wants to ask the doctor what causes the pain in a paralyzed face?Doctor's answer:
Facial paralysis primarily refers to facial muscle collapse caused by a viral infection of the facial nerve. Since the facial nerve exits the cranium through the stylomastoid foramen, during the acute phase, facial neuritis can lead to local edema and the recurrence of neural pain symptoms. It is recommended that patients undergo local cold compressions to alleviate pain, while also receiving antiviral and nerve-nourishing treatments.