Bell Palsy - How long did it last?

Yes the endless dropping eye - for me its eating. I literally have to eat with my mouth open to proper chew my food or cut them up in tiny pieces.

Actually all i want is my smile back.

eyedrops are very important so that your vision is protected.  it will be 3 years in January since I got this strange "disease".  However, do not despair.  I am still getting improvement after all this time. My eye still cant open properly but it is getting better.  I do certain exercises that I found online a vitamisnd this is very helpful.  Also, I take B vitamis for nerves.  When swimming I use ear plugs and I try not to get too cold or

?be exposed to windy climatic conditions.  Swallowing is much easier too.  Pain is still there sometimes but it is all bearable and unlike the first few months when it was excruciating.  Stay positive and rest and good luck.  This ordeal will be over soon hopefully and you can get back to playing trumpet!

Thanks, Debra for letting me know there is still hope. The Drs said after a year it probably wouldn't get any better so this is encouraging. I'll check out the exercises and try vitamin B. My trumpet playing is a side job so I do have an income. Couldn't make it on a musician's salary. Hope I can play again cause I sure would miss it  

yes never give up hope,  I think innervation can continue for a long time.

?As long as there is some improvement it means the nerve is not 'dead'.

?I am amazed everytime something comes back. Maybe it is something you taste or just more movement or feeling in the face. The doctors are great bless them but sometimes they are baffled by this too. Good luck!

 

I have been plagued by this for 2 1/2 years.  I don't see anything getting better but you say don't give up hope,  I think I have.  My eye waters continually, face smile lopsided, eye smaller.  But thankfully I have never had any pain.   

Hi Sharon

I too have had BP for over two and a half years. I think that I have come to terms with the fact that I may always have a lop sided smile and a smaller looking right eye. What has changed the most with me though is my stamina. I like to think that I am quite active, but I get very tired now and often feel the need to rest for an hour or so in the afternoon. I am 62 and wonder how I would manage were I not retired. When I am cold or tired my speech becomes slurred and I worry that people will think I have been drinking so always find myself having to explain my condition. I go to yoga class which has helped me in managing my stress levels.

Do you have trouble with your eye dripping all day long?  I guess that bothers me the most.  I have had 2 surgeries to try open my eye more.  I can't raise my eyebrow on that side.  I wonder if my eye can drain properly.

Hi I have a question about your eye. I see a lot of people saying that their eye is smaller than the other and waters a lot.. is this on your Bell's palsy side? On my Bell's palsy side my eye is larger, very dry, and doesn't water and the other side is smaller.

Yes, the Bell's Palsy side.  A plasttic surgeon did 2 surgeries to try and open my eye bigger.  One surgery was an eyelid lift on both sides and the second was a shortening of the muscle under the eye lid.  My friend that came down with BP 6 months after I did also has a smaller eye on the BP side.  I have an appointment with my eye Dr. tomorrow and I will see if I have dry eye or if the tears aren't draining right.

I saw my regular eye dr. and watery eyes is not in his expertise "he only does cataract surgery" so now I have to see the plastic surgeon again.  How many of you out there have had plugs or stents put in for over watery eyes??  Are your eyes draining properly?  Did the stents work?

Mine has been over a year with no improvement. I had to have gold weights put in my eyelid so I could close my eye. Is there any chance it will ever get better?

I have a friend who got Bells Palsy 7 months after I did and she is no better off than I am.

I wouldn't consider this rare.  I have seen 9 specialists and all they can recommend is botox.  I have had 2 eye surgeries and still don't look any better,  Eye waters continually, smile lopsided,  trouble with speech, etc.  I took all the medications withing 12 hours.  This has been 2  1/2 years.  

Hi Sharon, the recovery process will vary depending on the cause and severity of the initial attack. Most bell's Palsy cases are linked with pregnancy and diabetes. For the ones who get idiopathic Bell's Palsy the cause is usually unknown (many believe it is caused by the Herpes Simplex) but the truth is we just don't know. Compression of the facial nerve can be more severe in some than others. I have seen patients who have had swelling severe enough to cause significant damage to their nerve resulting in long term/permanent hemi-facial paralysis. It is not rare to get Bell's but it is rare to get it and not make a decent recovery.

I am not a specialist in this field so I can't offer much in suggestions but have you tried acupuncture?

Having Bell's Palsy for 3 months is about the limit for a full recovery. Your facial nerve is fed with blood and oxygen but with no movement to keep the muscles working the nerve eventually stops functioning. You can of course try and stimulate the nerves to give you movement. Electro-stimulation, going to therapy and even a hot compress on that side of your face can help. Try pouting and twitching the corner of your mouth after holding a hot compress to your face.

Get some hot water and dip a towel in. The water wants to be about the same temperature you would use to shower/bathe in. Every so often refresh the towel with more water so it doesn't cool too much. After ten or so minutes try to pout or twitch your mouth. If you see any sign of life you can work with a therapist to try and get more movement.

However I will remind you that you may not see any sign of recovery. A year is a long time for a muscle and it's nerves to be unused.

I wish you the best of luck and hope you get some good news

I don't have any faith in acupuncture.  Like I say it has been over 2 years, a little too late.  My friend had it in the very beginning and did no good.

I am very sorry to hear that it isn't easy to live with. Acupuncture isn't for everyone. I wish you all the best for the future, and your friend too.

Mark

I was told by specialists, neurology and plastic  surgeons not to do any electro-stimulation, no massages or anything strenuous.  What is your specialty?  We get mixed messages.

It isn't easy to live with and I don't think Drs. know enough about this.  I am thankful I didn't have any pain like I know a lot of people did.  Most Drs. think it will be over in 3 months but what about the 5% that don't get over it?

My speciality is cardiology but I am currently working as a general practitioner. I got Bell's in early 2015 and although I recovered I do wish I knew more about the exact cause of 7th nerve compression. I can safely say that massage doesn't really help, it only makes a difference during the first month or two. I have had mixed results with Electro-stimulation treatments some regained movement others unfortunately didn't. Neurologists often recommended against it but for bell's sufferers the pros outweigh the cons. One of my patients didn't have much improvement but he can smile slightly now so it may be worth a shot. I don't pretend it will be a guaranteed fix but him being able to smile made a huge positive impact.

Thank you for the advice Dr. My biggest concern is my eye. I now have weights in my eye so I can blink however it always hurts. I am diligent when it comes to drops and gel as my wife is an ophthalmic technician and makes sure I don't get a corneal abrasion. Still, my vision has gotten worse and it always hurts. Any suggestions for my eye ? Thank you.

Bell's Palsey is Diabetes related?  I had it on the right side of my face in 1992 mostly full recovery, but seems to have trigered trigeminal neuralgia.  7 weeks ago, got it on the left side of my face.  Still unable to smile, raise eyebrow, and still difficult to speak.....especially when I get tired.  I'm very frustrated and afraid this time it will not go away.  

I forgot to mention I am diabetic now.  That is why your comment of it being Diabetes related got my attention

Hello. I can't suggest much but here are the few things you can try.

Nerves are damaged so I don't think they will regenerate after all these years but you can sooth the pain using over the counter medication. I would recommend ibuprofen as over a week it acts as an anti inflammatory. So 2-6 a day speak evenly throughout. To avoid addiction you will need to stagger the course. 1 week on 1 week off. Also using a warm compress can help soothe. To avoid dry eye you can artificial or eye drops. I would also recommend using an eye patch for a day or 2 just to give your eye back some natural comfort. You say your right eye vision is deteriorating so using a patch to hold the eye closed can slow these effects. Eyes are very far from my best medical assistance. As for the after effects of the Palsy you can always try electro stimulation. It has worked in the past for a few but as it been a while I doubt it will help. Might I ask your age? And if you have any neurological issues?

Hi Doctor, I am 62. I also have Tourette's syndrome but no other issues. 

Hi Doctor Mark one day at the gym working out i think i worked out too strenous and i felt asting run through my neck to my ear and it stung really bad, then next day i woke up and the right side of my face was paralyzed. My paralysis was not severe because i was able to close my eyes and my mouth did not droop but my face did get sucked in it looks skinnier thanbthe other side its been 4 months and I have seen some improvement but the right sidebof my face looks flat as if i have no cheecks. Most people tell me that they cant tell but when i point it out then its noticeable. I am very stressed out and since then i have not returned to the gym.my question is will my face plump up again , im still not sure if my nerve is conpletely dead?

hi sharon this is my 3 time for having this im 50 yrs old first time was in my teens then mid 20s now 50 and uts scary everytime .first time they put needles in my cheek and by my temple and sent shock to my face .wondering if they still do that .i read someware where a dr was sent to prision for that it seemed to help .2 and 3rd time have to tape eye shut .just started 3 days ago .really worried cause of my age .cant remember how long my recovery took the other 2 times .hopeing its only a few weeks hard to eat eye bothers me alot ..glad to see this sight for bp .like your post thanks

 My BP started 3 years ago.  I cannot smile, smaller eye even with 3 eye surgeries.  Never had pain.  I was told that electrical stimulation  causes more problems than it helps.  I have heard light massage may help.  I was told this by a Dr. again just last week.  Try and stretch muscles lightly.  I am 73 yrs. old.  You are young enough to get better.

Hi, my Daughter got Bell’s palsy at age 7 an she what I thought recovered quite quickly but not fully and she is now 14 and it bothers her Everyday she is so self conciliatory if it she says her eye is funny and waters all the time an she can see it in the left side of her face still now I was just wondering is there anything that can heal this if I take her back the Doctors? They palmed me off last time but it upsets her all the time x

Self conscious I meant

Hi Tracey, 

I’ve had Bell’s palsy twice now. First time at 17 then again at 24. I recovered within two weeks the first time around though still had issues with my eye twitching and watering. That never went away. At 24 I got Bell’s palsy on the other side of my face, took about a month to heal and still residual twitching. I also feel my eye is weird and definitely changed. I can tell most when doing my eyeliner. I’m wondering if it’s a common side effect even after recovery?

Does your daughter have obvious signs of paralysis or is it just her who sees it? I am also self conscious of my face but have been told by many they cannot tell 

Hi there Tracey

I had Bells about 12 years ago and although I have made a good recovery there are still some residuals left. I was left with a very watery eye so after about seven years of putting up with this I made an appointment (privately) with an eye consultant.  He suggested using botox to stop the eye watering and so I went on to have these injections every three months.  This was very successful and worked well.  I had these for about 3 years when all of a sudden my eye stopped watering altogether and has been fine ever since - touch wood.  The consultant did say that the Botox would not have cured the eye watering so I don't know why it stopped suddenly other than the muscles which control watering had got stronger and were now working properly.  The consultant did do the Botox on the NHS as he said it was due to an illness of which I had no control over.  It was the best thing I did.  Also i would like to say to others going through this that you can see improvements for years after having Bell's so never give up.  They will be small improvements after a couple of years but my face has gradually got better and better so never give up.