Healing From Facial Paralysis
Phase II: Setting Goals For Recovery From Facial Paralysis
The results of each comprehensive evaluation identify specific sites of physical dysfunction related to the patient's facial paralysis. These areas of dysfunction are then correlated to the individual's symptoms and treatment priorities are established in consultation with the patient. Each patient sets their own goals for facial rehabilitation while the practitioner directs the treatment program to most efficiently meet those goals. CenterIMT facial rehabilitation therapists set diagnostic-directed goals to alleviate the Common Problems Associated With Facial Paralysis and Facial Nerve Dysfunction noted above. The following are various patient-directed goals that IMT has helped achieve.
1. My facial muscles will move again.
2. My face will look symmetrical.
3. I will eliminate uncontrollable tearing.
4. I will not have to use artificial tears or lacrilube.
5. I will be able to blink more normally.
6. I will lose the feeling of irritation in my eye.
7. I will not tighten my eye when I smile.
8. I will be able to shut one eye at a time.
9. I will move my eyebrow with expression.
10. I will wrinkle my forehead when I express.
11. I will eliminate tenderness and pain around my eye and face.
12. I will eliminate swelling in my face.
13. I will eat and drink normally.
14. I will breathe out of my nose normally.
15. I will be able to blow up my cheeks with air.
16. I will not tighten my neck muscles (platysmus) when I smile.
17. I will smile evenly on both sides of my face.
18. I will get rid of the swooshing sound in my ear.
19. I will get rid of the pain in and behind my ear.
20. I will be more comfortable in social settings and get out more.
Patient education is an ongoing process in recovery from facial paralysis. It is critical that patients understand their goals and the plan of action necessary to meet those goals. Each individual has their own unique barriers to recovering from facial paralysis and sometimes the reasons for a particular treatment focus may not be obvious to the patient. For example, a patient may have the primary goal of smiling. This patient may also have a moderate amount of swelling in the face, neck, and/or thoracic inlet. Furthermore, Integrative Diagnostics may have revealed that this patient's swelling was a primary problem. In this case, the therapist would help the patient understand that by first focusing treatment on the reduction of swelling, the face tissues will be less swollen and have a more optimal environment for healing and ultimately smiling.
