Yakima WA Neurologist Doctors - Facial Nerve Problems and Bell's Palsy Causes by MedicineNet.com

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Facial Nerve Problems Center - Yakima, WA

Yakima 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 Yakima *

Michael A Thomas & Peter C Gilmore MDs
Peter C Gilmore
111 S 11th Ave
STE 321
Yakima, WA 98902
(509) 248-3954

R Richard Sloop MD
R Richard Sloop
307 S 12th Ave
STE 16
Yakima, WA 98902
(509) 452-1234

Clarence D Washington MD
Clarence D Washington
780 Swift Blvd
STE STE 190
Richland, WA 99352
(509) 943-1880

Cadillac Neuroscience Center
Hui-Juan Zhang
221 Wellsian Way
STE STE 101
Richland, WA 99352
(509) 946-7931

Tri City Neurology
Paulo J Cancado
216 W 10th Ave
STE STE 304
Kennewick, WA 99336
(509) 586-5700

Yakima, Washington

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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 Yakima

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Yakima Hospitals *

Yakima Regional Medical & Cardiac Center
110 S 9th Ave
Yakima, WA 98902
(509)575-5000

Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital
2811 Tieton Dr
Yakima, WA 98902
(509)575-8000

Kittitas Valley Community Hospital
603 S Chestnut St
Ellensburg, WA 98926
(509)962-9841

Toppenish Community Hospital
502 W 4th Ave
Toppenish, WA 98948
(509)865-3105

Sunnyside Community Hospital
1016 Tacoma Ave
Sunnyside, WA 98944
(509)837-1500

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