Bell's Palsy

kelle

Have any Boardsies suffered this, and how long did recovery take? My 7yo son was diagnosed with it yesterday, he was prescribed steroids which he has to take for a few days. I'm just praying his face goes back to normal!
I'd like to know of other people's experiences, please.

Victor

A friend had it about age 20. I get the impression it was an issue for more than 6 months.

kelle

Victor wrote: »

A friend had it about age 20. I get the impression it was an issue for more than 6 months.

Is his face back to normal now, Victor?

Victor

From the outside yes, but I haven't discussed it with her, so I don't know how she feels about it.

modernjane

I had it in July and I am back to normal now. With me it got worse for about 8 days - so don't worry if that happens. After that I was extremely tired and had to rest a lot. From what I have read that is important to recovering faster.

One of the most important things is keeping the eye moist if it won't shut or there can be damage to the cornea and sight. I used Systane? eyedrops from the drugstore and then taped my eye shut at night and used Theratears, also from the drugstore. If his eye won't shut you might want to get swim goggles for the bath or shower so shampoo doesn't get in.

I made a blog about my experiences that you can find here in case it would be helpful http://bells-palsy-diary.blogspot.com/ and there are some links to more info on the right side.

I also took a lot of supplements that aid nerve regeneration and ate an all raw food diet so that everything going in my body had a purpose and by body wouldn't have to expend any extra energy to get junk food out - it could just focus on healing. Who knows if any of that really helped but it's been 29 days and I am fully recovered.

I was so frightened when it happened that I was willing to do just about anything.

I read that the younger you are the faster and better you heal so I think your son will do great. Just make sure he gets a lot of rest.

Jane

kelle

Thanks very much for your post, modernjane!
The good news is he seems to be able to close his affected eye better today. It's a step in the right direction.
I'm trying to get him to eat healthier, but he's such a livewire resting won't come easy to him!

NedTermo

kelle wrote: »

Thanks very much for your post, modernjane!
The good news is he seems to be able to close his affected eye better today. It's a step in the right direction.
I'm trying to get him to eat healthier, but he's such a livewire resting won't come easy to him!

Can i ask how you are now or your experience since then?
Thanks.

Piste

I just read on wikipedia (yes, wikipedia olololol) that bell's palsy is caused by herpex simplex-1 virus. Could anyone in the know confirm/deny this?

DrIndy

It is associated with it - but the entire aetiology is not known for this condition and is poorly understood.

However it normally resolves on its own.

Bull76

Hi,

I got it back in May, Came on over night a scary feeling and sensation. Went to the hospital, carried out Chest X-ray and CT scan. All clear. Prescribed Steroids and anti virual meds. They reckoned it would clear up in 6 to 8 weeks. Nearly four months later it is still present, but looking at me you can't tell. Unless you look closely, My eye doesn't blink properly as of yet and the corner of my mouth hasn't come back correctly yet.
But it is improving every day or should I say week.
Your son seems to have the short recovery, Make sure he does the exercises, facial stimulation to get the muscles back in shape. I found gel tears and natural tear drop's the best.
He won't need an eye patch to protect his eye by the sound of things. Hope he gets better soon.

All the best,
Anthony.