Anybody here ever had "Bells Palsy" ?

[BlueJazz]

I caught it about 3 weeks ago and of course, went to the Doctor and received some pills...yada. yada, yada...

It's still in my face(well,Ear) but what I'm most interested in is
how long does it take to finally get over it? I'm well aware that some folks never do but would love to hear any fellow
DU's "tales" of when they had it and what happened in their life.

[donco6]

1. Yes, my mother in law . . .

gets it once in a while. Takes a few weeks to recover. For her, it's an annoyance. Hope that's all it is for you.

[outinforce]

8. Yes

I had it several years ago on the left side of my face.

I caught it in time, according to my doctor. He told me that some people don't seek help, and that the longer it goes on, the greater than chance for permanent damage.

I remember my doctor telling me that it was caused by a nerve getting "pinched" in the bones behind the earlobe -- and that sometimes that occurs when a person is exposed to a draft near that ear. In my case, I like to drive with my car window open, even when the weather is cold.

My doctor prescribed facial massages (which I gave to myself) on my left side, and a shot of B-12 every-other-day for about two weeks.

It cleared up, and I have had no re-currence.

It is much more common that you might think.

[SoCalDem]

2. some times pregnant women get it..

I never had it , but a friend did, and it took a few months for it to go away.. It did leave a residual "tingling sensation" that stayed longer.. she did recover fully though :)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. I have a friend who has it

and she's using medication. Her doctor said that it would take a while for the nerves to heal. My physician, who is an MD and board-certified holistic doctor, says there are natural things you can do to promote healing. Good luck and speedy recovery!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. I have seen patients with it

MOstly they complain of some numbness remaining in their face indefinitely but not as bothersome as the initial affliction. Just make sure the diagnosis is correct and that you don't have hypertension or diabetes.

[ex_jew]

5. 20 years later...

my face is still somewhat crooked, I can't drink coffee without leaving trails down the side of the mug, and I wasn't able to play the clarinet very well afterwards. I think blurred vision was the major problem at the time. Good luck to you !

[papau]

21. Same result - 80% recover by 4 weeks, 90% by 12 weeks

Lost a bit of muscle control on left side of face - some/most folks recover completely.

Eye's focus a bit harder than before.

I believe it is the 6th cranial nerve going through the skull bone hurts itself as it tries to expands and is prevented by the skull in reaction to an inflamation of the nerve. God only knows what causes the nerve to get inflamed (inflamation is usually associated with infection).

[Xithras]

6. My mother in law

My MIL had a Bells Palsy problem a few years ago, and it looked like she'd had a stroke. It took about six months for it to get better, but she still relapses every now and then.

[MsFlorida]

7. my best friend's daughter has this

I wish you well and speedy recovery. Seems the older you are the better you recover. My friend's daughter was very young at the time -- not too much was known about it then. She needed to have gold weights added so she could close her eye. She still looked fine and remains a very pretty girl.

[leftynyc]

9. I had it last summer as a result

of shingles in my ear (which makes it actually Ramsey Hunt Syndrome). My neurologist put me on Famvir (an antiviral) and Prednisone (a steroid). I also started acupuncture a few days after I got the Bells. Between east and west medicine, I recovered pretty quickly (I was told it would take 3 months to see ANY improvement) and I was 85% healed in 5 weeks.

It does have some residual effects. When I'm very tired, the Bells affected side of my face and my neck ache and that side of my mouth droops ever so slightly.

There is a great website www.bellspalsy.net which has a lot of information and a chat site which I found very helpful.

My nephew also got Bells as a result of Lyme disease when he was 7 years old (4 years ago). Just antibiotics for the Lyme and recovered in a few months. No residual effects.

Get as much rest as you can and try not to sweat it too much.

[jus_the_facts]

10. Well...it's not something you *catch*..it's not a disease....

....and I did lose the feeling in the left side of my face when I was 13 years old......woke up...getting ready for school...was brushing my teeth and I COULDN'T SPIT!!! Thought that was really odd...as the day went on....I was having trouble blinking and lots and lots of nerve spasms....freaked out at school and called my mother ...she took me to the doctor....he said it was Bells Palsy and gave me a shot of B12 and that was it....the feeling and movement came back within about a week...


on edit....we attributed my case to my liking to sleep with the window open...it was late winter and cold night breeze blowing across my face! :)

[jus_the_facts]

15. ...being only 13yrs old at the time and my last name being Bell......

....I tripped on that irony pretty BAD...just KNEW I was gonna be permanently messed up from nerve damage and of the same NAME as me no less...Oooh the twisted irony of it....I wasn't...but still! :crazy:

[preciousdove]

11. If you have not had recent dental work or sinus infection...

suspect Lyme Disease as BP it is a classic sign. Other signs MAY be a rash at the bite site (does not have to be bullseye). The tests for Lyme Disease do not pick up all strains of the disease therefore a test will only find 39% of positive cases between 48 hours and 6 weeks post bite and only if your body produces antibodies to the disease. Other symptoms are flu like: fatigue, aches, headache, and low grade fever. Sore throat, earache may also be present.

Some people never produce antibodies. Some people's immune system only keeps the infectin in check but never defeats it.

If you suspect you have Lyme Disease get treatment while you are waiting for the test results to come back. They will try to give you 7-10 days you will need at least 6 weeks to wipe it out. If you need more information about Lyme Disease or physicians in your area go to www.lymenet.org and click on Flash discussion for information for your area.

Bell's palsey usually resolves on its own in a few weeks or becomes permanent in cases other than Lyme Disease. With Lyme Disease it may clear up faster with antibiotic treatment.

Who has had Lyme Disease?: Michael J Fox, David Letterman, Amy Tan, Martha Stewart, Rosie O'Donnel's daughter, Sen Harkin of IA, Sen Smith of TX, many PGA golfers and many more.

President,
Lyme Disease Coalition of Minnesota (est 1993)

[preciousdove]

13. And I got it in 1978...

four years after I was infected with Lyme Disease and 13 years before I was diagnosed and treated. It eased up in few weeks but did not totally go away until I had two years of treatment in 1993

I have a picture with my two boys who were 2 1/2 and 6 months. It is one of the milder complications of Lyme Disease. The second child had it at birth. Really, really scarey!

[BlueJazz]

14. I did have a sinus infection a few weeks before ...

...the palsy set in. I'll take your advice and seek further diagnostics. Thanks Much.

PS. I used to live in Minneapolis (well, Rosemount)
sure wish I could see my former Doc at the Aspen Clinic...sigh.

[BlueJazz]

12. Thanks so much for your Kind words, People...

....Wow!...I didn't realize that it (Bells) was so pervasive.
I thought that maybe 3 or 4 people would have some knowledge of it.
I'm a Jazz Player (Sax) so this is a difficult period right now.
(I'm also a Microsoft Certified System Engineer, But lately that and 2 dollars will get you a good cup of coffee.) :)

[leftynyc]

17. I know it must be frustrating as you play

the sax but don't try and force anything. Rest really is the best thing for you and avoiding stress is a must. You should really see a neurologist if you haven't already. I understand the medications work best if taken early on. Try and relax...it just takes time. just listen to music for now.

[Peachhead22]

16. I was diagnosed with BP...

...about 8 years ago by mistake (by a general practitioner). My situation turned out much worse. I really had a Chiari Malformation and Syrinx in my neck. Which was basically a problem with my brain stem and cerebellum and a cyst on my spinal cord. Make damn sure the diagnosis of Bell's Palsy is correct. If practical get a second opinion. Preferably from a neurologist. Some things initially look like Bell's Palsy, or BP can mask something else. And the other things can be pretty obscure to a general practitioner. I was misdiagnosed by several doctors.

I don't mean to scare you. It's much, much more likely you have BP rather than another similar looking thing, but you need to be 100% sure of the diagnosis.

[CO Liberal]

18. I Had it in 1987

I was just getting over a nasty sinus infection. It was moving day - my then-wife and I were moving from one rental house to another. I woke up in the morning and half my face felt numb - I was afraid to say anything to anybody because I though I had suffered a stroke at age 34.

Later that day, a friend who was helping us move asked me if something was wrong - I didn't look right. I told her my face felt numb, and had felt that way all day. She yelled "Why didn't you say something before?" I told her, "Because the only way I could think of to say it was 'Lee, does my face look funny to you?', and I wasn't about to give you an opening like that!!!"

My wife called our doctor, who was out of town. She described my symptoms to the doctor on call, who said is sounded like Bell's palsy. Our doctor confirmed this two days later. Apparantly, the sinus infection had put pressure on a nerve, which paralyzed it.

It took a few months to fully regain movement in my face.

[radwriter0555]

19. Weeks, months.

All you can do is hurry up and wait.

[bleedingheart]

20. The key is to listen to the doctor and take the steriods

my husband had it and it cleared up in about three weeks...and he had to tape his eye shut during the worst of it..

[TrogL]

22. Get it treated

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien had it, which is why he always look like he's trying to talk out the side of his mouth.