Bell's Palsy

Bull76

Hi,

I've just got Bells Palsy on Tuesday gone. Not a very nice feeling. It's a condition where the nerve in one side of your face is put under pressure, and cause's the muscle in that side of your face to cease to function. Caused by what no one know's, all data points to a virual infection. Can take up to 6 weeks to regain full control of your face muscles.
I'm a male of 32, in good health and healthy diet and life style. Was curious as to who else out there has gotten this and what was your recovery like?

Looking forward to your inputs if any.

Bull76.

r3nu4l

Have never had it myself but a female friend of mine did about 12 years ago. She woke one morning to find one side of her face droopy and thought she'd had a stroke!

In her case it was a couple of weeks before everything returned to normal with no long-lasting effects or recurrences. I'd never heard of it before then, neither had she.

whocaresanyway

I've had Bells Palsy twice, once when i was a kid and again as an adult... apparently its stress related but contributing factors can be wet hair.. not drying your hair after washing it.. and driving with your window down a couple of inches... usually its treated with steroids (cortozone for about a week). my second bout of bells palsy didn't heal up completely.. left my mouth frozen slightly on one side...

LegacyUser

Had it about 10 yrs ago - when I was about 25. Woke up one morning and was brushing my teeth and I couldn't spit ( the toothpaste) - thought I was after having a stroke !!!

Went to the Doctor - 'Well it wouldn't kill you ' - not very reassuring. The physo will give you some excersies to strengthen the muscles - a bit boring but you need to do them. One of the symptoms was that I could not close my left eye (lid). It was getting dry and dirt was getting ito it - I had to stick it down was a plaster at night when I went to bed !

I'm still aware that the left side of my face is weaker & I have less taste on the left side of the tongue - But apart from that nothing else !

cabrwab

I had it once, horrible feeling i was freaked out.
At the time i was having alot of stress in my life so its what the doc thought at the time that it was stress related!

A treatment of steroids had it sorted in a few weeks.
The worst part was i couldn't blink in one eye or close it properly so i didn't sleep proper for about 2 weeks.
That cured first and after that it slowly went back.

Haven't had it sense thank god, but i didn't think it was a bad illness until a friend got it last year and was out of work for 6 months. She got it really bad!

You'll be fine its a rare one to have but you'll be ok and get through it.

krooney

Stupid thing!

I have it 8 weeks now!

Physio keeps the muscle moving which is good

They say put heat on it

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Doesnt work
Accupuncture

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Really doesnt work

Best thing to do is keep the muscle active and thats it!

It is as long as a piece of string! It is driving me mad at the moment! I am very Short tempered and just ARRRGGGHHH(No not a pirate AARRGGGHHH, The other type)

Ah keep the bright side out, Only got one anyway

Tallon

My friend had it a while back, he said the worst part was the slaggin we gave him. But it cleared up in a couple of weeks with no lasting effects.
You should be fine

Bull76

Hi everyone,

To those who are suffering from Bell's palsy, this is an update on my progress. It's been nearly 3 Months since I got Bell's Palsy, Looking at me you can't tell anything is wrong. My eye still isn't blinking and my eye does dry out and that is quiet a pain.
All I keep been told it clears up in a few weeks, well it hasn't yet. It is improving, and as each week goes by I do see changes. Keep up the facial exercises. I've got to the point where I'm attending a physio for electro stimulation. It is helping and gives me some form of hope that it will all be fine soon.
So keep the head up and carry on doing the exercises. I've had all the staring and pirate jokes, it's like water off a ducks back now.

All the best, hope you all recover to full health.

Irjudge1

I had this when I was about 16. No lasting damage. The slagging was a pain in the arse. Teacher at school made me stand up the front of the class and demonstrate my dopey looking face function.

Kinda like this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bells.jpg

I do remember that the eye not closing was a bit troublesome and I had to wear a eyepatch for a while.

CDfm

A friends daughter had it last year after her leaving cert. It took around 9 months to clear up totally.

It really wasn't that noticeable at all and had to be pointed out to me. So don't get self conscious about your appearence as people don't really notice it at all.

Vasco

For most people it clears up in a couple of months. I have never had it but my ex gf had it and still has to years later. It is different for everyone.

Ruu_Old

I had it about a year ago. I got some tablets for it and I was fine within about 2 weeks. The doctor said there can be after effects but I caught it early so I was grand. It was uncomfortable trying to sleep and eat.