Justin Bieber's onset Facial nerve paralysis?

June 14, 21:32

"I can't blink my eyes and I can't laugh on this side of my face," said



Justin Bieber, a popular Canadian singer, on her Instagram.


It is one of the "facial nerve paralysis" that causes symptoms such as paralysis on the face, and it is a disease that can occur at any time and by anyone.


(Network News Department Akiko Shimizu Ayumi Yanagisawa Chiu Hirooka)

One morning I can't gargle suddenly

"I lost the left half of my nerve due to facial nerve paralysis in my third year at the same time, 28,"



said Ryo Sahashi, 44, an associate professor at the Institute of Advanced Studies on Asia, University of Tokyo, who posted on Twitter.


He is an expert in international politics, but he tweeted about Justin Bieber, who was about the same age as himself 16 years ago and had the same illness.

Mr. Sahashi had symptoms in April 2006.

He was devoted to writing and researching doctoral dissertations.



One morning when I was busy over a mountain, I tried to gargle as usual, and when I included water, it spilled from the left side of my mouth.


It's the same even if I try it again.

Looking in the mirror, my mouth wasn't closed and my left eyelid was stuck.

Ryosuke Sahashi


"I was very anxious and shocked. I felt like I was wearing a mask for half of the time, so there was something that came to me mentally."

Immediately go to the hospital Diagnosis ...

Mr. Sahashi visited the university's health center, had him write a letter of introduction, and went to the hospital that day.



She was diagnosed with "facial nerve paralysis" due to the virus after she had confirmed that she had no abnormalities on her brain.

She was prescribed steroids and was told to rest at her home for a week.

Mr. Sahashi


"I felt very tired and uncomfortable. However, the role of the medicine was to slow down the progress, so there was no change in the facial paralysis even after I finished taking the medicine."

It has a big impact on life

After that, he didn't feel like going out to the public for a while, and he started to study and work almost at home.


It was about half a year later that the part that had been paralyzed finally started to move.

Ryosuke Sahashi


"I feel like I'm recovering loosely. However, my face is still stiff and my mouth always rises when I close my eyes. I have tears when I'm eating food because of the aftereffects."

Why does it occur?

Recover?

"Facial nerve paralysis" is a disease in which the muscles of the face become difficult to move due to damage to the nerves.



Most of the causes are viruses.

Herpes simplex virus Varicella-zoster virus is known to be the cause.


When immunity is weakened due to fatigue or stress, it develops regardless of age or gender, and according to an academic society made by doctors of otolaryngology, it is said that there are 60,000 people a year in Japan.



With proper treatment, about 80% of people will return to their original state, but some people will have paralysis.

Some people suffer from sequelae ...

"It's been almost two years and three months since the onset of Hunt Syndrome. I closed my eyes lightly. In the photo, the right side (my left eye) is the paralyzed side, but it doesn't close completely."

This May, a woman in her 40s posted a photo of her eyes up with a tweet.


Her right eye is closed, but her left eye with paralysis is not completely closed and is slightly open.



The onset of women was in March 2020.

After she felt a headache and numbness in her tongue, the left side of her face got stuck.


It was a time when the work environment changed and the changes in life overlapped due to the influence of the new Corona.



The day after the woman noticed her facial abnormalities, she was diagnosed with "facial nerve paralysis" and was hospitalized for steroid infusion.

Six months after the onset, sudden symptoms

It was around the time when he started to move his face after rehabilitation.


If you move your mouth while eating, tears will come out and your left eyelid will close without permission.



She was told by her doctor that she was a sequela of "morbid synkinesis," and the woman had surgery to cut the muscles under her left eye last October to relieve her symptoms. ..


Her eyelid closure symptoms improved, but she remained paralyzed.



She still can't blink and suffers from dry eye because her eyelids don't close completely.


Touching her face can be very painful and can cause symptoms such as headaches, dizziness and tinnitus.

A woman with persistent sequelae


"There is no definitive cure, so I have to wait for time. I never thought I would have facial nerve paralysis. I got this illness around me. I've never actually seen a person. "

Two years and three months after the onset, in May, the woman created a dedicated account to post about facial nerve paralysis and started Twitter.

A woman with sequelae


"I hope many people will know about this disease and find out that some people are inconvenienced. And medical research is progressing, and a better treatment is available. I want you to find it. "

"Time to treatment" that holds the key

There are some things you should know about the treatment of facial nerve paralysis.



That is, treatment should be started as soon as possible.


The academic society calls for "visit within 3 days of onset".

Dr. Kenji Kondo, The University of Tokyo Hospital


"Facial nerve paralysis is a disease with a limited number of days until treatment. Treatment becomes difficult if the nerves become inflamed and their functions are greatly lost over time. Some people say that they have been busy with work and have postponed the consultation, but it is important to see the doctor as soon as possible when symptoms occur. "

What are the shortcuts leading to early treatment?

Dr. Maeda of Osaka Hospital points out that many people do not know the department to be examined.

When asked about "diseases that can be treated by otolaryngology" in a survey conducted by the Society last year via the Internet, only about 20% knew that facial nerve paralysis could be treated.

Dr. Yohei Maeda, Department of Otolaryngology, Osaka Hospital


"Most of the nerves that move the facial muscles that cause facial nerve paralysis pass near the ears, and by consulting an otolaryngologist, diagnosis can be made smoothly, leading to early treatment. Early treatment is an important illness, but it is possible that time may pass while you visit your family doctor and perform various tests, so if you experience any symptoms, you should go to the Department of Otolaryngology. Please see a doctor. "

However, it is a brain abnormality that is worrisome when paralysis occurs.

Dr. Yohei Maeda, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Osaka Hospital


"Patients may occur due to other causes such as cerebral infarction. Please tell me and confirm the consultation destination. "

Rehabilitation with video, professional consulting doctor

For those who suffer from sequelae, the academic society has been introducing correct rehabilitation methods on the video posting site since March.

Rehabilitation video from here * Leave the NHK site

In addition, from April, a new qualification as a consultant specializing in facial nerve paralysis has been established, and we are focusing on medical examination and treatment.

Dr. Kenji Kondo, University Hospital , University of Tokyo


"Facial nerve paralysis is thought to be triggered by fatigue and stress when it is caused by a virus, and especially now that stress is increasing due to the influence of the new corona. It is necessary to be careful. Not only the body but also the psychological effects such as being unable to go out or being blocked due to the line of sight from the surroundings are not small, and it is important to spread the understanding of the disease to the whole society. is"

How to face Mr. Sahashi

Mr. Sahashi who became paralyzed on the facial nerve in his 20s.

At that time, there was a memorable event.



He went to a hairdresser.

At that time, I couldn't close my eyes, and when I was washing my hair and face, I was in trouble because water got into my eyes.

Ryosuke Sahashi


"I noticed that my eyes couldn't be closed, and he covered my eyes with my hands and washed them. I've been going there for 16 years, but he told me about his face and mahi. I have never been told. I was happy to support you without saying anything. "

"If you do facial nerve paralysis, you have to slowly accept your new self. If you are lucky, you will heal, and if you take time, you will get better little by little. Believe in that and do your best. I need to rehabilitate every day, and I try to move my face and massage. But after more than 15 years, I realized that the best thing is to laugh, so it's very important to laugh brightly and live. I really think now. "