Facial Nerve Problems Center - Santa Cruz, CASanta Cruz Neurologist Doctors for Facial Nerve ProblemsType 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 Santa Cruz * Santa Cruz Medical Neurology Department  Santa Cruz Medical Neurology Department  Santa Cruz Medical Neurology Department  South Bay Neurology  Neurology Associates  Raul Guisado MD Inc  Harmeet Sachdev & Tripta Sachdev MDs  Harmeet Sachdev & Tripta Sachdev MDs  Robert Gould MD  Paul H Singer MD  Camino Medical Group Neurology  W Stroud Connor MD  Santa Clara Valley Medical Center  Santa Clara Valley Medical Center  Santa Clara Valley Medical Center  Santa Clara Valley Medical Center  John M Sum MD  Joel B Younger MD  Mohammed F Ahmed MD  Mark W Koukkari MD  Jerwin Wu MD  Robert L Weinmann MD & Barbara J H Hastings MD  Robert L Weinmann MD & Barbara J H Hastings MD  Good Health Medical Center  Ronald Z Hoffman MD  Susan R Hansen MD  William Waterfield Jr. MD  Andrew A Hsu MD  Anthony Vitto MD  Laura T Banks MD  Dale A Helman MD  Gerard M Lehrer MD  Scott Schneiderman DO  Pajaro Valley Neurological Medical Associates  Camino Medical Group Neurology  Camino Medical Group Neurology  The Parkinson's Institute  The Parkinson's Institute  The Parkinson's Institute  The Parkinson's Institute  Stanford Hospital Neurosciences  Stanford University Medical Center  Stanford Hospital Neurosciences  Stanford University Medical Center  Stanford Hospital Neurosciences  Bruce T Adornato & Peter C Cassini MDs  Palo Alto Medical Clinic Ophthalmology  Palo Alto Medical Foundation  Bruce T Adornato & Peter C Cassini MDs  Palo Alto Medical Foundation  Palo Alto Medical Foundation  Palo Alto Medical Foundation  Palo Alto Medical Foundation  Palo Alto Medical Foundation  John R Sinnhuber  Klein Medical Group  Wayne Shen MD  Dale A Helman MD  Central Coast Brain & Spine Associates  William T Hamill MD  Reed J Kaplan MD  Atherton Neurology  Atherton Neurology  Atherton Neurology  Atherton Neurology  Stanford Hospital Sleep Disorders Clinic  Stanford Hospital Sleep Disorders Clinic  Robert N Pavy & William W Hofmann MDs  Robert N Pavy & William W Hofmann MDs  Alok Bhattacharyya MD  Charan K Singh MD  Ravinder Kahlon MD  Fremont Neurology Medical Associates Inc  Kaiser Medical Center Hayward Neurology  Kaiser Medical Center Hayward Neurology  Kaiser Permanente Hayward Neurology  Kaiser Medical Center Hayward Neurology  Kaiser Medical Center Hayward Neurology  Kaiser Medical Center Hayward Neurology  Kaiser Medical Center Hayward Neurology  Vasiliki Economou MD  Howard Belfer MD & Michael Siegel MD  Howard Belfer MD & Michael Siegel MD  William R Tatomer MD  Richard F Gravina MD  Peninsula Neurological Associates  Peninsula Neurological Associates  Peninsula Neurological Associates  Peninsula Neurological Associates  Hisaka Ohmoto & Charlene Hu MDs  Man K Leung MD  VA Hospital of Livermore  Stan T Lin MD  Barry S Mann MD  A R Jayaram MD  Associated Neurology Medical Group  Kulveen Sachdeva MD  Associated Neurology Medical Group  Edgardo G Alicaway MD  McQuinn & Young MDs Santa Cruz, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-16
2012-06-17
2012-06-23
2012-07-04
2012-07-07
2012-07-28
2012-08-04
2012-08-25
2012-09-09
2012-10-06
Facial Nerve Problems and Bell's PalsyRead the Facial Nerve Problems and Bell's Palsy article » 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:
Recommended Reading Related to Facial Nerve Problems and Bell's PalsyIntroduction to Trigeminal NerualgiaPain 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:
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... Other Related Facial Nerve Problems ArticlesEmergency Contact for Santa Cruz
Nearby Santa Cruz Hospitals *Dominican Hospital Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center Watsonville Community Hospital Good Samaritan Hospital Mission Oaks Good Samaritan Hospital San Jose El Camino Hospital of Los Gatos Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center Santa Clara Valley Medical Center O'Connor Hospital Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center Saint Louise Regional Hospital El Camino Hospital Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula Regional Medical Center of San Jose Natividad Medical Center VA Palo Alto Health Care System Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System Stanford Hospital & Clinics Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Menlo Park Surgical Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Facial Nerve Problems and Bell's Palsy by Our Doctors
-
Related Diseases & Conditions
15 articles-
Lyme Disease
- Lyme disease is a bacterial illness, which is spread by ticks when they bite the skin. Initially the disease affects the skin causing a reddish rash associated with flu-like symptoms. It takes weeks to months after the initial redness of the skin for its effects to spread throughout the body. Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics. Lyme disease can be prevented by using tick avoidance techniques.
-
Genital Herpes In Women
- Genital herpes, a viral infection by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), is transmitted during sexual contact with the mucous-covered linings of the mouth, vagina, or the genital skin. A typical outbreak begins with an itching or tingling sensation followed by redness of the skin and blister formation. The blisters and ulcers that form when the blisters break are painful to the touch, and last from 7 days to 2 weeks. Though there is no cure for herpes, there are ways to treat outbreaks.
-
Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)
- Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. The two types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (non-insulin dependent). Symptoms of diabetes include increased urine output, thirst, hunger, and fatigue. Treatment of diabetes depends on the type.
-
Herpes Simplex Infections (Cold Sores, Non-Genital)
- Herpes simplex infections are common and when they appear around the mouth and lips, people often refer to them as "cold sores" and "fever blisters." Canker sores are different than cold sores. Air droplets can spread the virus, as can direct contact with the fluid from the blisters. Cold sore treatment include over-the-counter medication as well as prescription medications.
-
Alcoholism
- Alcoholism is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law.
-
Dry Eyes
- Dry eyes are caused by an imbalance in the tear-flow system of the eye, but also can be caused by the drying out of the tear film. This can be due to dry air created by air conditioning, heat, or other environmental conditions. Treatment may involve self-care measures, medications, or rarely, surgery.
-
Pain Management
- Pain management and treatment can be simple or complex, according to its cause. There are two basic types of pain, nociceptive pain and neuropathic pain. Some causes of neuropathic pain includes: complex regional pain syndrome, interstitial cystitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. There are a variety of methods to treat chronic pain, which are dependant on the type of pain experienced.
-
Fracture
- Fractures occur when bone cannot withstand the outside forces applied to the bone. Fractures can be open or closed. Types of fractures include: greenstick, spiral, comminuted, transverse, compound, or vertebral compression. Common fractures include: stress fracture, compression fracture, rib fracture, and skull fracture. Treatment depends upon the type of fracture.
-
Neuropathic Pain
- Neuropathic pain is chronic pain resulting from injury to the nervous system. The injury can be to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) or the peripheral nervous system (nerves outside the brain and spinal cord).
-
Diabetic Neuropathy
- Diabetic Neuropathy is a complication of diabetes that causes damage to the nerves; this is related to the blood glucose of the body being too high for a long period of time. The four types of neuropathy include peripheral, autonomic, proximal and focal.
-
Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
- Ramsay Hunt syndrome is an infection of a facial nerve that causes a red painful rash with blisters and facial paralysis. The herpes zoster virus causes the infection. The infection is treated with antiviral agents, steroids, and pain medications.
-
Corneal Ulcer
- A corneal ulcer is an open sore on the cornea. Infection is a common cause of corneal ulcer. Symptoms and signs of corneal ulcer include redness, eye pain and discharge, blurred vision, photophobia, and a gray or white spot on the cornea. Treatment depends upon the cause of the corneal ulcer.
-
Pregnancy Planning
- Pregnancy planning is important to help prevent exposure of the mother and fetus to potentially harmful medications and substances during the early days, and throughout the pregnancy. Nutritional planning, prevention of birth defects, conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease need careful monitoring. Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and pregnancy induced hypertension are conditions that may arise during pregnancy. Immunizations, inherited disorders, exercise, air travel, intercourse, and birth control are important factors to consider when planning a pregnancy.
-
Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Pain that originates in the face is referred to as trigeminal neuralgia. This pain may be caused by an injury, and infection in the face, a nerve disorder, or it can occur for no known reason. Trigeminal neuralgia can be treated with antiseizure medications. Some antidepressant drugs also have significant pain relieving effects.
-
Pregnancy Basics
- Pregnancy can bring challenges like weight gain, stretch marks, varicose veins, heartburn, constipation, hemorrhoids, problems sleeping, and wondering if it is safe to have sex while pregnant. Learn how to manage and move through these challenges during pregnancy.
-
Lyme Disease
-
Medications
3 articles -
Procedures & Tests
5 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
1 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
2 articles -
Health News
0 articles -
Health Features
0 articles
