Rapid City SD Neurologist Doctors - Facial Nerve Problems and Bell's Palsy Causes by MedicineNet.com

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Facial Nerve Problems Center - Rapid City, SD

Rapid City Neurologist Doctors for Facial Nerve Problems

Type of Physician: Neurologist

What is a Neurologist?

A certification by the Board of Psychiatry & Neurology; practitioners focus on the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease or impaired function of the brain, spinal cord, muscles and nervous system, as well as the blood vessels that relate to these structures. The neurologist is often the primary physician but also serves as a consultant to other physicians and may render all levels of care, including the continuing care of outpatients and/or inpatients. The neurologist will often perform and interpret tests that relate to the nervous system or muscles.

Specialty: Neurology

Common Name:

Neurologist Doctors in Rapid City *

Black Hills Neurology
Heather G Cwach
2929 5th St
STE 240
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 341-3770

Black Hills Neurology
Robert Finley
2929 5th St
STE 240
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 341-3770

Black Hills Neurology
Steven Hata
2929 5th St
STE 240
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 341-3770

Black Hills Neurology
Keith A Kelts
2929 5th St
STE 240
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 341-3770

Black Hills Neurology
Matthew E Simmons
2929 5th St
STE 240
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 341-3770

Black Hills Neurology
Brian E Tschida
2929 5th St
STE 240
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 341-3770

Neurosurgical & Spinal Surgery Assoc
Tim J Watt
4141 5th St
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 341-2424

Rapid City, South Dakota

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Facial Nerve Problems and Bell's Palsy

What is the facial nerve?

The facial nerve is a nerve which controls the muscles on the side of the face. It allows us to show expression, smile, cry, and wink. Injury to the facial nerve causes a socially and psychologically devastating physical defect; treatment may require extensive rehabilitation or multiple procedures.

The facial nerve is the seventh of the twelve cranial nerves. Everyone has two facial nerves, one for each side of the face. The facial nerve travels with the hearing nerve (the eighth cranial nerve) as it travels in and around the structures of the middle ear. It exits the front of the ear at the stylomastoid foramen (a hole in the skull base), where it then travels through the parotid gland. In the parotid gland it divides into many branches which provide motor function for the various muscles and glands of the head and neck.

What are symptoms of a facial nerve problem?

Facial nerve problems may result in facial muscle paralysis, weakness, or twitching of the face; dryness of the eye or the mouth; or alteration of taste on the affected side. However, the finding of one of these symptoms does not necessarily imply a specific facial nerve problem; your physician needs to make a careful investigation in order to make a precise diagnosis.

What conditions affect the facial nerve?

There are numerous causes of facial nerve disorder:

  • Trauma: such as birth trauma, skull base fractures, facial injuries, middle ear injuries, or surgical trauma.
  • Nervous system disease: including Opercular syndrome, Millard-Gubler syndrome.
  • Infection: of the ear or face, or herpes zoster of the facial nerve (Ramsey-Hunt syndrome).
  • Metabolic: diabetes mellitus or pregnancy.
  • Tumors: acoustic neuroma, schwannoma,...

Recommended Reading Related to Facial Nerve Problems and Bell's Palsy

Trigeminal Neuralgia »

Introduction to Trigeminal Nerualgia

Pain originating in the face, or elsewhere, may be caused by an injury, an infection in a structure of the face, a nerve disorder, or it may occur for no known reason.

Some common causes of facial pain include:

  • Abscessed tooth (a condition in which a tooth is surrounded by inflammation and pus)
  • Sinus infection
  • Sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses)
  • Injury to the face
  • TMJ disorders (TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, or the jaw joint)
  • Trigeminal neuralgia (described below)

What Is Trigeminal Neuralgia?

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN), also called tic douloureux, is a condition that is characterized by intermittent, shooting pain in the face.

Trigeminal neuralgia affects the trigeminal nerve, one of the largest nerves in the head. The trigeminal nerve sends impulses of touc...

Emergency Contact for Rapid City

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Rapid City Hospitals *

Regional West Center for Behavioral Health
915 Mountain View Rd
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605)719-7200

Rapid City Regional Hospital
353 Fairmont Blvd
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605)719-1000

Black Hills Rehabilitation Hospital
2908 5th St
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605)719-1100

Rapid City Indian Health Service Hospital
3200 Canyon Lake Dr
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605)355-2500

Sturgis Community Health Care Center
949 Harmon St
Sturgis, SD 57785
(605)347-2536

VA Black Hills Health Care System Fort Meade
113 Comanche Rd
Fort Meade, SD 57741
(605)347-2511

Custer Community Hospital
1039 Montgomery St
Custer, SD 57730
(605)673-2229

Northern Hills General Hospital
61 Charles St
Deadwood, SD 57732
(605)578-2313

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