Does Anyone Have Any Experience with Bells Palsy?

My friend had bells palsy while she was pregnant as well (the baby was fine), and my fil has had it twice, each time it was a different side of his face which is very rare.

The duration varies, per person... as so does healing. My friend recovered fully within a few months, but my fil still has a hard time moving some mouth muscles and still has dry eyes and it's been 10 years, but it's barely noticeable unless you look really hard.

I believe the pain and paralysis lasts just a few weeks though, to return to normal can be several months.

More info and a support group forum here:
http://www.bellspalsy.ws/

Here are some things you can do at home to help with the pain:
* Protecting the eye you can't close. Using lubricating eyedrops during the day and an eye ointment at night will help keep your eye moist. Wearing glasses or goggles during the day and an eye patch at night can protect your eye from getting poked or scratched.
* Taking over-the-counter pain relievers. Aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) may help ease your pain.
* Applying moist heat. Putting a washcloth soaked in warm water on your face several times a day may help relieve pain.
* Doing your physical therapy exercises. Massaging and exercising your face according to your physical therapist's advice may help relax your facial muscles.

Although there's little scientific evidence to support the use of alternative medicine for people with Bell's palsy, some people with the condition may benefit from the following:

* Relaxation techniques, such as meditation and yoga, may relieve muscle tension and chronic pain.
* Acupuncture, placing thin needles into your skin to relieve pain, may stimulate nerves and muscles, offering some relief.
* Biofeedback training, by teaching you to use your thoughts to control your body, may help you gain better control over your facial muscles.
* Vitamin therapy — specifically B-12, B-6 and zinc — may help nerve growth.

more information here:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bells-palsy/DS00168

Momma L. gave great info.
A friend of mine's 10 yr old daughter had this over the summer. Hers came on while out of town on vacation, so it was really frightening for them. She didn't seem to have a lot of issues with pain, mostly it was dryness issues. She even swam in the pool, she just had to use goggles to protect her eye. The last time I saw her (probably 3 weeks ago now?) she looked completely normal (rather than half her face paralyzed in a frown).

It did take quite a while for her to recover, however. I think she got it in early June and still had facial paralysis at LEAST as late as August. So it might be awhile before you see big improvements. I wish I had better news.

L.,
I had Bells Palsy last year. My paralysis lasted for about 4 weeks. It started out with an earache and then what I thought was a headache behind my ear. That pain moved down into my jaw and neck. Some days the pain was excruciating and seemed to be worse when I layed down. I think the pain part of it lasted about 6 weeks. From what I was told by my Dr. it was the nerves healing or something like that. I constantly had a heating pad with me. I got a microwaveable one so that I could heat it up while I was out.(I would hunt down a microwave) Heat was the only thing that made it bearable for me. Every once in awhile my neck on the affected side feels a little tight and if you look hard enough, you can tell my smile is a tiny bit crooked. But overall, I have completely healed. I hope you have a speedy recovery...

Hi L.,

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. I'm sure you're miserable and that's not what this time is to be like. Bell's Palsy is an autoimmune response associated with a Herpes virus much like chicken pox or shingles. A proven absorbable prenatal will help (I can recommend one if you like) as well as the essential amino acid L-Lysine. If you have Bell's Palsy then there is not enough L-Lysine in your system to prevent an outbreak. It is safe for your pregnancy but it's not for long term use. You can confirm this with any Naturopath or ND. Sunshine and exercise as well as chiropractic care will do wonders for you and the baby right now.

God bless and Congratulations!

M.

I know of a supplement that may help you greatly. It is safe during pregnancy and while nursing. Actually, some women use it as their prenatal... Anyway, let me know if you'd like more info. Sorry you are going through this and I hope you are feeling much better soon... God bless.

My friend was 60 when it hit. She finally tried accupuncture. After two treatments, it went away and hasn't come back in 4 years. (I usually am against alternatives, but traditional medicine didn't work).

My mother has had Bells Palsy twice, both times in reaction to a cold draft. After her 2nd episode, she was treated with antibiotics, and felt she recovered much more quickly than the 1st time many years earlier. An eye patch at night along with the gel can help you sleep and feel more comfortable. Homeopathy can help and would be safe during pregnancy. My son's Spanish teacher, a man in his early 30's, had a bout of BP that resolved very, very quickly. Best of luck to you -- feel better!