Bell’s Palsy is a neurologic condition that causes unilateral paralysis of the facial muscles. It is a temporary condition, and the symptoms resolve after a few weeks or months. Trigeminal Neuralgia is a condition that causes electric shock-like pain in one half of the face, that is severe enough to disrupt activities of daily living.

What is Bell’s Palsy?

Definition:

Bell’s palsy is a neurologic condition that causes unilateral paralysis of the facial muscles. It is a temporary condition, and the symptoms resolve after a few weeks or months.

Causes:

Bell’s palsy is linked with viral infections. It occurs after viral and bacterial pathologies like HIV, EBV infection, herpes simplex, shingles, chickenpox, and Lyme disease. Stress, sleep deprivation, and other autoimmune conditions are also associated with causing Bell’s palsy.

Symptoms:

Symptoms of Bell’s palsy are inability to close the eye, dry eye, drooping of the angle of the mouth, inability to smile, and move lips.

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis of Bell’s palsy is confirmed after investigations like CT scan, MRI scan, electromyography (EMG), and nerve conduction studies are carried out.

Treatment:

For Bell’s palsy, the treatment choice is steroids which is prednisolone. Other treatment options include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, eye drops to prevent keratitis, and facial exercises to stimulate facial muscles.

What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?

Definition:

Trigeminal Neuralgia is a condition that causes electric shock-like pain in one half of the face, that is severe enough to disrupt activities of daily living.

Causes:

Trigeminal Neuralgia occurs due to compression of the trigeminal nerve at the brainstem by a blood vessel, a tumor, or a lesion. Damage to the trigeminal nerve during surgery can also cause trigeminal neuralgia-like symptoms.

Symptoms:

Symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia include numbness or tingling in the cheek or jaw, sudden outbursts of shocklike, electrical pain aggravated by chewing or talking, and a burning feeling on one side of the face.

Diagnosis:

Trigeminal Neuralgia is diagnosed on history and neurologic exam of the face. The type of pain felt and the region where it occurs along with the activities that trigger it are important in correctly diagnosing the condition.

Treatment:

Trigeminal neuralgia is treated with medications like carbamazepine, amitriptyline, gabapentin, and muscle relaxants. Sometimes surgical decompression might be needed if medications don’t work.

Difference between Bell’s Palsy and Trigeminal Neuralgia

Definition:

Bell’s palsy is a neurologic condition that causes unilateral paralysis of the facial muscles. It is a temporary condition, and the symptoms resolve after a few weeks or months.

Trigeminal Neuralgia is a condition that causes electric shock-like pain in one half of the face, that is severe enough to disrupt activities of daily living.

Causes:

Bell’s palsy is linked with viral infections. It occurs after viral and bacterial pathologies like HIV, EBV infection, herpes simplex, shingles, chickenpox, and Lyme disease. Stress, sleep deprivation, and other autoimmune conditions are also associated with causing Bell’s palsy. Trigeminal Neuralgia occurs due to compression of the trigeminal nerve at the brainstem by a blood vessel, a tumor, or a lesion. Damage to the trigeminal nerve during surgery can also cause trigeminal neuralgia-like symptoms.

Symptoms:

Symptoms of Bell’s palsy are inability to close the eye, dry eye, drooping of the angle of mouth, inability to smile, and move lips. Symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia include numbness or tingling in the cheek or jaw, sudden outbursts of shock like, electrical pain aggravated by chewing or talking, and a burning feeling on one side of the face.

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis of Bell’s palsy is confirmed after investigations like CT scan, MRI scan, electromyography (EMG), and nerve conduction studies are carried out.

Trigeminal Neuralgia is diagnosed on history and neurologic exam of the face. The type of pain felt and the region where it occurs along with the activities that trigger it are important in correctly diagnosing the condition.

Treatment:

For Bell’s palsy, the treatment choice is steroids which is prednisolone. Other treatment options include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, eye drops to prevent keratitis, and facial exercises to stimulate facial muscles. Trigeminal neuralgia is treated with medications like carbamazepine, amitriptyline, gabapentin, and muscle relaxants. Sometimes surgical decompression might be needed if medications don’t work.

Table of differences between Bell’s Palsy and Trigeminal Neuralgia

FAQs

Is Bell’s palsy related to trigeminal neuralgia?

No, these are two different conditions.

What is the difference between facial nerve paralysis and Bell’s palsy?

Peripheral facial palsy results in total paralysis of one-half of the face. Bell’s palsy is an example of peripheral facial palsy.

How to tell the difference between facial nerve stroke and Bell’s palsy?

Symptoms of Bell’s palsy are inability to close the eye, dry eye, drooping of the angle of mouth, inability to smile, and move lips. Facial nerve stroke can lead to permanent weakness on one side of the face with problems in speech and gaze changes.

How do you know if you have trigeminal neuralgia?

Symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia include numbness or tingling in the cheek or jaw, sudden outbursts of shock like, electrical pain aggravated by chewing or talking, and a burning feeling on one side of the face. Trigeminal Neuralgia is diagnosed on history and neurologic exam of the face.

What is the trigger for trigeminal neuralgia?

Activities like brushing teeth and chewing can trigger trigeminal neuralgia.

What is the most likely cause of trigeminal neuralgia?

Trigeminal Neuralgia occurs due to compression of the trigeminal nerve at the brainstem by a blood vessel, a tumor, or a lesion.

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