Benefits of Steroids in the Treatment of Bell's Palsy

The use of steroids in the treatment of disorders and diseases continue to expand. Steroids are already proven to at least help in the treatment or cure some conditions and diseases. Some notable uses of steroids are in the treatment of cancers, kidney problems, hormone problems, asthma and many others. Another use of steroids in the field of medicine is in the treatment of patients with Bell's palsy. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) describe Bell's palsy as a form of temporary facial paralysis resulting from damage or trauma to one of the two facial nerves. The facial nerve-also called the 7th cranial nerve-is a paired structure that travels through a narrow, bony canal (called the fallopian canal) in the skull, beneath the ear, to the muscles on each side of the face. It is named for Sir Charles Bell, a 19th century Scottish surgeon who was the first to describe the condition. The disorder, which is not related to stroke, is the most common cause of facial paralysis. Generally, Bell's palsy affects only one of the paired facial nerves and one side of the face. However, in rare cases, it can also affect both sides of the face.