Bell's palsy

[southeastastra]

anyone had this? how long does it last?

my friend had this,got treatment (steroids I think,but could be wrong) and it lasted about 3 weeks.

thanks! dp came home from work last night, his whole left side of face is numb, he's going to dr

my Aunt had it, it lasted a couple of months but it DID go. Good luck.

it's horrible isn't it! he's got steroids and eye drops

hope he recovers soon southeastra.

thanks

my dad had it for about a year, it can be stress related alternativ medicine got rid of his in the end, hope it improves for you

argh i won't tell him a year, he'll freak out!

Oh a friend of mine had this, she posted about it on the web, I'll see if I can find a link, hold on ...

here it is

I should hasten to add that I'm not intending to name-drop, we were at school together, haven't seen her since we left!

I have had it many years ago! I was treated with large doses of steroids and it lasted about a month IIRC.

thanks for the link i remember her! it's weird the way it comes on so suddenly. thanks tiggi hopefully his won't last long but who knows

Hi, as well as the steroids and drops, physio can help after the initial acute stage (if he is having problems with facial muscle weakness), specific exercises and a little muscle stim unit can help to get things going again when the inflammation around the nerve has settled. Pre slavery to 2 small people I used to be a physio and I would regularly see people with Bells Palsy...good news is almost everyone I saw got 100% better. Hope this helps a bit.

he wonders what has caused it, he's suffering tonight

It's usually a virus that causes it, and the virus that is responsible for cold sores is the common culprit. If he's in pain then paracetamol should help and a heat pack (hot water bottle wrapped in a towel or one of those microwave weaty bags thingmys) are good too.

I had it. About 6 and half years ago. Mine lasted about a month with bad symptoms and then a coupl more months while it tappered off. But my friend's partner has been left with permanent numbness.

Feel sorry for your DH it was horrible. Really saps your confidence too.

I used an eye patch to help with eye dryness - it kept the eye closed. Also had eye drops. However, I didn't have the steroids. The doc I saw said there was no proof they worked so didn't prescribe.

A straw also helps with the drinking. Hope he feels better soon.

They are not 100% sure what causes it but think it may be a virus linked to chicken pox.

My doc found out about some hospital in London specialised in it - not sure which one though as I was on the mend by the time she discovered it.

it's interesting, he does get cold sores and has had a cold and been run down.

he's also had an eye patch on today - the eye dryness is getting to him a bit, but he has drops. i'll get him to try a heat pack too, help and advice appreciated

My aunt has it it started in august, she was given steroids for about 6weeks, she was told that it can take upto 6mths to go.

Oh and jokes about pirates are not funny at all I wore one to work (as a teacher...)

Do make sure you tape the eye shut with micropore under the patch - I ended up with corneal abrasions because they put a gauze pad over my eye, but of course it was still open under the patch, and was rubbing on the gauze. Use the drops frequently to keep eye moist. Hope it clears up soon.

I padded my eye with cotton wool as Ii had a real problem with the eye patch. i cannot even bear to put on eye make up so an eyepatch touching my eye all day was jsut a bit much for me.

he's got a tiny bit of feeling in his lower lip now, but i still feel really sorry for him

I got one while I was recovering from the c/section after Ds1 ie still in hospital. Lucky then to get a v good neurologist on the spot who referred me to physio, the exercises helped a lot in terms of keeping up my spirits. DH also thought he noticed an improvement after I had spent time talking to people.

there is some stuff on the BUPA website which might help. Wouldn't google it too widely though, some sites are just too depressing for words