Bell Palsy - How long did it last?

Hi everyone, I got facial paralysis on the right side of my face but i dont think mine was that severe because i was able to close my eye and I was able to eat, but the first day i got it my face face did droop alot and my face look like it was sucked in so it looked skinnier than the other side. Its been four months now and my face is not that droopy anymore but its still looks sucked in, it kind looks flat its been very stressful. Iam only 34 years old and i feel like its affcted it me so much to the point that i dont want to see anyone. My question is will my face go back to looking more plumped like my left side?? I started electro therapy but im worried if thats a bad option. I forgot to mention that i think i got facial paralysis from strenous force at the gym, i felt a pain run through my neck up to my ear and next day i woke up with my face paralyzed. I am no longer working out. Could working out have been the cause of my paralysis?

Thanks everyone for sharing the details of your experience with BP!

Glad to know that there are many Breavehearts out there.

I had BP 8 years ago and got back to 90% of normalsy in 60 days, except that my left eye remained smaller and that I didn't have complete control over the eyebrows. The eye turned slightly  red by most evenings; but I was happy the way I was :-)

To my horror it has is back again!

Today is the 14th day of my second encounter with BP.

The advantage this time was that I could identify the symptoms in the very begining and start medication. After 8 years, same doctor, same medicine and procedure!  I am almost done with medicatoin and continue with electrotherapy.  According to my doctor the nerve continues to de-generate for atleast 21 days and any change should be expected only thereafter. I am hoping for the best  . . . The first time I had difficulty in drinking water, chewing food etc. This time though I can still eat and drink properly. But I am having trouble with my eyes . . . the left ear too pains at times. I got an MRI of my Temporal Bone done yesterday and everything seesm to be fine.

As someone has rightly mentioned, you know your condition much better than anybody else. What matters is, how you deal with it. There is NO Better way than accepting it. You cannot hide it nor can you run away from it. Face it and Be Brave!

The secret is, you actually do not look that bad/funny as you think you are . . . .  people might find a change in your appearance  but it is not as severe as you actually feel. I did have a New Year picture with my family today and I did not feel like looking at my drooped face. It saddens . . . but my nine year old son says that I look smarter and that he doesn't find anything abnormal. I do realise that the Best Medication is to keep telling myself that  I had beaten BP once and can do it agin. It is only a metter of time. I am trying regain courage. One needs to maintain a very positive atitude. It is not that your condition is too bad but . .  BP affects the mind much more than it affects your face. . . .

 

I have had Bells Palsy for almost 3 years now. It is winter here in The UK and I find my face is much worse when it is cold outside. Sometimes my speech sounds slurred if I am cold and I worry that people will think I have been drinking! I have just had my passport renewed and getting a decent photo was difficult. I hate my face.

On the positive side I have taken up Yoga and Yoga Nidra which helps me to relax and stills my mind. Getting out walking and cycling I also find very therapeutic. I try to rest in the afternoon if I have a social event in the evening as my face looks worse when I am tired.

I still hope to get better and would be grateful for ant advise. 

Hello everyone, I am (my own words) at the end of my bout with this thing! I've  had it since first of November 2016. It is now Jan 26. I'm almost back to normal. but because of my severe ear ache and sinus infection it was very painfull and I couldn't sleep on my right side for at least a month. I had to seek my own professional help. Dr. just say wait it out! My ear was still hurting. I had to take pain meds just to sleep. I felt as if a Train ran over my face! It was horrible! Changed my whole life! I made appointments to the ear specialist. I didn't lose any hearing. My eye is dry alot, but I must say with all my persistence in getting theraphy and doing everything in my power to get well again. Every thing is looking better. There is no right or wrong. Just don't give up!! God Bless

 

Wow I didnt know it could come back so many times! i don'r want this ever again!!

i had BP 5 weeks already. Now much improvement.

My ear no pain since week 2 after treatment

Hi all..i live in the US and found this site. I got diagnosed 2 days ago and could not be more devastated. I m 47 and my whole left face is paralyzed. My left eye won't close which causes the other eye to twitch and roll. I m on steroids and antibiotics. I also have extreme pain in my left ear. I have to learn how to eat drink and talk. Forget about smiling. This wears me down...the psyche is affected so much so that i do not want to expose myself. I m German in a foreign country. My family is in Germany. My poor husband does what he can but reading about the recovery time is devastating. I was thinking a couple of days! But several weeks to months to years?! Shoot me now!!! So i guess eyedrops is necessary and maybe a bandaid for my affected eye at night. I m a hot mess right now and usually i m strong person but this caught me out of the blue..any tips for the mental health that docs avoid to talk about??