Conservative Care and Outcomes for 2 Patients With Ramsay Hunt Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this case study is to describe the diagnostic characteristics, symptomatology, alternative treatment, and outcome of 2 patients with persistent facial palsy from Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS).

CLINICAL FEATURES: A 38-year-old female and a 55-year-old male presented with right-sided facial paralysis, which affected multiple cranial nerves. The patients displayed difficulty eating and speaking, facial paralysis, vertigo, inability to close eyes on the affected side, and painful blisters. The occurrence of distinguishing characteristics of RHS, such as painful blisters, hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, difficulty eating, vision changes due to eye dryness, and speech impairment, was assessed.

INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: In the first case, the patient was treated in 8 weekly sessions with a combination of chiropractic spinal manipulation, acupuncture, cold laser, myofascial release, and homeopathy. In the initial 2 sessions, the patient received weekly acupuncture and cold laser therapy. In the final sessions, the patient reported pain reduction and anxiety relief. In the second case, the patient received acupuncture, cold laser, soft tissue manipulation, and homeopathy for 8 weeks. The patient was initially prescribed a homeopathic remedy, Causticum 30 C, for two weeks. Then he was given Graphites 30 C for 6 weeks. He displayed improved speech, decreased tongue deviation, increased eye closure, increased control of right eyebrow movement and was able to close his eyes fluidly. He no longer experienced double vision or eye dryness.

CONCLUSIONS

This article presents a case study of two patients with varying symptoms of RHS. In both cases, patients were treated with conservative care. Improvements in eye closure, speech, capability to eat and drink, tongue moment, and pain were reported by the patients.