how long to bell's palsy recovery?

Like you, I also had Bell's Palsy 10 years ago on the right side of my face but, while it took a year to recover I did recover about to 95%. What it did for me was to make me realise how people who are permanently disfigured must feel. It was a four year old child who said to her father "Look at that man's funny face." and the fathers embarassment which made me realise that it is not nice to look away in these situations. People cannot help it if they are inflicted like this, they should be treated as they would be if they had no disfigurement. Eight days ago I again got Bell's Palsy, this time on the left side. It is much easier to take this time although, unlike the last time I have been in some considerable pain. The good part is that recovery has already started.

To new sufferers, take heart, it is going to be O.K..

I have had Bell's for 14 months now. Does anyone believe that stress is a big trigger for this illness? I try to stay positive and stress free but 2 kids, husband, job and other health issues make it very hard to relax. I have most function back, about 90% but there are some things that still bother me. Mine occurred on my right side and when I try to eat on that side with every chew I take my eye blinks , when I yawn my right eye closes, when I get my eyebrows done I notice that one is lower than the other but the main thing that bothers me is that my smile which I always got complements for is gone. I still hope that maybe that smile will return. Has anyone else had bells palsy this long or longer and has achieved full recovery?

I was wondering if anyone felt ill from the Bell's Palsy. I am very dizzy and sometimes lose my balance, stumbling around like a drunk. If it was only my face being paralyzed that would be alright, but I feel very tired. If I do a light activity like cooking dinner for an hour or two, I get very dizzy and even nauseated. Then I have to go lie down and close both my eyes. Is this something unusual for Bell's Palsy? I don't think I can go to work at all, I have a very hard job with 12 hour shifts and I can't even put in 2 hours at home on a project without needing to lie down for an hour or two afterwards.

I am a 15 year old, I had bell's palsy on half of my face since I was 4. This makes me wonder if I have a different case of it? The symptoms are mild, I can close my mouth and eye, I do not drool, and I don't have problems with it. The only thing I couldn't do my whole life and still can't is smile. I hate taking pictures because I can not smile. I have lived with this my whole life, I used to cry and wonder why I had to be stuck with it. I tried to do some research and talked to my mom to get some background information. When I was born I had a severe case of asthma, I would stop breathing and I spent most of my life in the hospitals trying to breathe. I was put on some strong medication to help me with my asthma, as a result at the age of 4, I got bell's palsy. I moved away from the climate I had lived in which was very hot and dry. I had not touched any medication ever again, I am fine and I have no symptoms any more. I am also very physically active. Its like my asthma just went away. I am still trying to research and see all my possibilities of trying to heal this. I have lived with the since I was 4, which makes me living with it for the past 12 years. I try not to let it bring me down and I hope all of you suffering with what ever type you have get healed. My thoughts and prayers for everyone. Thanks. -D

what vitamin are you taking?

I've had Bells Palsy for 15 months now too. I've had physical therapy, acupuncture, deep biofacial massages, steroids, antiviral meds, B12, and homeopathic remedies. I still can't smile. The left side of my mouth does not move at all. My brow droops so you can't see my eyelid and when I blink it's only a partial blink. Still looking for a miracle. Does anyone have any ideas I haven't tried yet?

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. I have Bell's Palsy too. I'm going on three weeks now. I just got slight movement in my left eyebrow. It does not move much but the litlle bit it does is encouraging because it has been frozen for almost three weeks. Did your doctor give you the steroid and viral meds? Hope so because it is suppose to speed recovery. Also, my eye very dry. Eye doctor and neurologist recommended Refresh lubricant eye ointment for my eye and it has helped alot. It is thick like vaseline and you put it under your lower eyelid. It does make vision in that eye blurry, but I just tape my eye shut with paper tape and wear an eye patch. This has taken care of eye stinging and itching for me. Doc says anywhere betweeen 4 weeks to 6 months for full recovery. Take care and try to get lots of rest. The rest has helped me the most.

I came down with Bell's a week ago yesterday. I think it happened when I yawned one night. I felt a searing pain like a pulled muscle underneath my tongue. The next day, my eye was twitching on my right side, and some other weird things. Then the day after, the Bell's set in compeltely - droopy face, no muscle control, loss of taste buds, inability to tear, etc.

One thing that has helped tremendously for me (other than staying as positive as possible) has been acupuncture therapy. I am of course on the "western route" ie: acyclovir and prednasone, blood tests for Lyme, etc. plus the vitamins others have mentioned: a daily multivitamin, Vitamin C, B-complex and L-Lyceum.

But additionally, I go to daily acupuncture, in which I receive needles, a maxa treatment (chinese herb), gentle cupping, and facial, cranial and neck massage. This has been an absolutely enormous help. I have better control when I walk out 1 hour later than I did when I went in, and no regression the next day, just continual improvement. On the days I don't go to acupuncture, I see little improvement. So I'd recommend this to everyone.

After a week, I have lost most of the droopiness, I can drink (generally), I can smile a bit, no frowns yet, and I can't raise my eyebrow very far. I can't wink that eye, but I can blink them both (thank goodness!).

I would agree with some of the other posts that this is a really frustrating condition. Depsite it being not life-threatening, it interferes with your "norm." Above all, it creates a barrier to how you communicate with people, which can lead to a lot of self-doubt, and hurt your self-confidence. However, also like many of the other posts here, you can't let that get you down. You just have to focus on treatment, facial massage, and medication, and stay positive that you will be one of the people with a speedy full recovery. If you are frustrated when trying to communicate, talk about it. Every time I've fwelt self-doubt creeping in, I just explain what happened, and it makes it easier after tha tpoint if you have trouble with annunciation.

 

The Bell's Palsy is very frustrating.  I'm trying so very hard to stay as positive as I can muster, but I have to admit it is hard.  I'm still just able to lift my left eyebrow a little tiny bit.  It has been nice that I have been able to drink without a straw for about three days now (just need to do it very carefully).  Sure wish my eyelid would start closing because I'm getting tired of putting the eye goop in and taping my eye shut.  It is really nice to know that there are others going through the same thing.  Hopefully, we will all make a full recovery soon.  I looked back on a few posts and some of you mentioned accupuncture.  I'm going to look into this.  Does it hurt at all?

Chris,

When it's done properly by a trained practitioner, acupuncture shouldn't hurt. Some of the points they use for Bells are pretty awkward (needles in my lips for example), and it can feel uncomfortable, but never painful. And sometimes when the needles go in, there's a lot of built-up tension in that spot. The needles release that tension, which can sometimes hurt, bu tit's not a needle-hurting sensation, but rather and energy-release sensation. Chinese would say it is the blocked chi energy that is being released. Once the needles are in, I don't feel them at all. They leave them in for 10 or 15 minutes, during which time, you'll feel a huge sense of release of stress. Some people experience a buzzing, like an energy. The first time I did it, tears flowed for about 10 minutes. Not from pain or sadness, just my tear ducts going to town (I'll bet you'd appreciate that right now!).

It's important though, to say that everyone reacts differently to acupuncture. Some like it, some don't. It may be easier for me to take some of the awkward spots they use for Bell's just because I've been going for 2 years now for stress management, and so I'm more familiar with it.

But even without the needles, an acupunturist is trained in acupressure and therapeutic massage, which is just as effective.

Bottom line, I'd recommend you at least give it a shot. If you don't like it, don't go back. It can't hurt anything, and there's nothing to lose.

Staying positive, though is more difficult. I think it's been a bit easier for me because I am seeing progress fiarly quickly. Maybe the acupuncture can help move you forward on that, which will certainly help lift your spirits.

Have you tried self-massage? I do that along-side the trianed massage I get at acupuncture. Just gently pushing my facial muscles up where they belong. I usually do it on my commute in the AM and PM while driving. During the day I try to work those muscles as much as I can, smiling, grimacing, raising my eyebrow(s), lifting my cheek.

Good luck with it. I'm going to stay active on this forum so if you have any more acupunture questions, ask away.

Where do you live? I'll see if my acupuncturist has any contacts there who can help.

I got to thinking, I should edit this response. There is sometimes pain associated with acupuncture. The needles don't ever hurt like drawing blood, or anything. But sometimes they do. And sometimes you don't feel them at all.

But really the main point is that if there is any pain, it dissapates quickly, and is usually completely gone within a few seconds. Then the long-term effects are an overall lift in energy, spirits, better muscle control, recovery from Bell's, etc.

Hey! im 15 and i have had this for 30 days know and i understand how you feel i took 2 days off from school and went to school feeling unscure but know every one is supportive. so my advice to you is that dont worry you will get better have a poitive attitude and im sure both of us will get better quickly good luck :)

hi

i have had bells palsy since 29 january 2012 and its now april.

positive is the way to be its not life threatening. I found it hard to find anywhere to get physiotherapy for this but since i have been having physio i feel this has helped.

I have come to the conclusion i am one of the unlucky ones who will take a long time to recover fully but it could be worse. Keep positive .

Jane

hi Jane,
Not to beat a dead horse, but I really believe in acupuncture. it has made a tremendous difference with me, and I'd highly suggest giving it a shot.

Kamal - hang in there. I'm proud of your classmates for being supportive of you. That's rare to find in our world today. Hang on to those friends!

We will get through this!!!

~ Bill

Hello I'm Anissa I'm 18 years old & I have bells palsy for eight months now I woke up with it August 9th few days before my first day of my senior year. Having this has been the hardest times of my life. I've done acupuncture, shocking, medication you name it I've done it. But I haven't tried Botox, does that help?