Bells Palsy and massage advice please please......

[Pompal 09.]

I have had a client approach me who would like an Indian head massage or a full body massage.
The problem is that she had bells palsy approx 12 months ago, I know that a treatment can be helpful to someone with this condition but I'd appreciate any advice before I go ahead with a treatment.

Would it be beneficial or could it cause more problems???

The client said that she has been suffering from headaches and some problems with her vision recently (About a month ago) she was admitted to hospital and had some tests and scans done but no problems have showed up and she was discharged.

 

[The Answer Fairy]

It should be ok but if in doubt get her to contact her GP for consent/confirmation. I think a full body massage would not be a problem as you're not going near the face.

 

[proospalp]

I have treated several people with this condition. I am not an IHM therapist, but used basic massage techniques for the head, face and neck. It took several treatments for the facial paralysis to start to diminish, but, over a course of 6 - 8 weeks it made a huge difference. I recently saw a woman who had recent onset of Bells Palsy - she woke up with it one morning last November. After a few treatments she was able to smile without her mouth looking crooked. The condition, I am told, does alleviate itself after time - massage seems to speed the recovery period.

 

[weasa]

it's just ok.. cause its just like having an exercise on the face..
Bells Palsy meaning the Facial Nerve is weak so its ok to stimulate the face.. Or mush better strengthening exercise..

 

[Willy]

Hi,

I had bells palsy as a teenager.. they used little electrical things on my face (though they were not sure if that even helped) and not sure if they still do it... but i did do facial exercises every single day and night which helped the condition and i was fine after 6 months... i still cannot raise my top lip "elvis stylee' on the affected side so other than that cruel restriction it recovered well. Had i had access to a massage then I definately would have went.

 

[aZootSabeReado64]

hi, when i did the indian face lift massage course last year we were told that it was ok to massage someone with bells palsy, as it could help them. but if in doubt then seek gp's consent.

 

[ducky14528]

The term Bell's Palsy is in its self not a diagnosis. The term Bell's Palsy is used when a doctor or physicial cannot diagnose the reason (or does not bother). The same symtoms can be caused by other problems such as; stroke and brain tumor. It is thought that was causes is is an inflamitory responce due to a viral infection of the 7th cranial nerve.

While Bell's Palsy is a non-diagnosis it should be referred to a GP in ALL cases. Any massage instructer/practitioner who advises otherwise is wrong.

Remember, it's always best to put the owness on GP than use your own liability.

 

[valir553]

I forgot to mention...
there's absolutly NO evidence what so ever that massage can directly help Bells palsy... at this moment in time there also no evidence that ANYTHING can help the condition.

That said, R&R and even just another's caring touch can help with many conditions so massage can indirectly help but, as I said, GP referral

 

[SHY]

thats if you can get a gp referral but thats a whole different topic

 

[Me Fornever]

Hear hear, hemelgirl!