Bell's Palsy 5 years on

Wow...I've had nearly the same long lasting effects. I first got Bell's palsy on the right side in 2010 (lasted about 3 weeks) then had constant eye twitches for years. Last year I got BP again but on the left side. I recovered after about 6 weeks. I again had constant twitching but on both sides. At times they were so strong and noticeable. They felt like muscle spasms. Lately it's been a constant flutter under my eye.

When I chew for long periods my lips shake similar to after an intense workout. I also feel numbness at times...normally under my eye/on my cheeks or right around my brow bone.

I've always had inner ear issues so I did not attribute ear pain to the BP.

I was hit with Bells in Feb 2017. While at lunch I noticed my lower lip going numb while taking a drink. I returned to work as a 9-1-1 operator, handed my partner (an EMT) her tea and she says "turn around and look at me". I did and she said hold out your arms.. She then proceeded to dispatch an ambulance for a possible stroke. I'm like, I'm fine.. she says no your not. EMS arrived and my blood pressure was elevated 230/118. Transported to a stroke center where a CT scan and blood work ruled out CVA. Bells Palsy was the diagnosis. Used a straw for over a year to drink, Showering was difficult since I had to physically hold my left eye closed with one hand. Night driving was interesting because I couldn't "squint" at oncoming headlights. Had to cover my eye with one hand. Now in November 2018 , 21 months after onset, I have problems keeping my left eye open. Left side of mouth is lazy, but I don't need a straw. When shaving, I occasionally have a "face cramp" from my left temple to my lower jaw. Overall I cant complain. everything else still works. I retired from 9-1-1 in Aug 18 after 39 years. Still very active as a volunteer firefighter for over 26 years. Physically active and stay fit by weightlifting. My goal is a 300 lb bench press in December 18 on my 60th birthday. Live Fit and stay active are the way I try to live. My wife and 3 kids have been very supportive throughout.

I got Bells Palsy March 2014, will be 5 years coming up. I can blink, my mouth pulls to the opposite side when I smile and I still have trouble eating. Liquids leak out of the palsy side. I don't notice any twitching, thank goodness. If I don't talk or don't move I look normal. I have to cover my mouth if I have a good hardy laugh because the palsy side doesn't smile. Very distressing.

Hi,

I am a victim to Bell's and it will be a year Dec 17, 2018.

It took 28 days for me to regain control of my facial nerves but I too can feel permanent effects my facial nerves on the left side hurt and ache from time to time. when I smile I can still feel tightness.

I hope it continued to get better but fear the damage is done.

I thought maybe you would be interested in my journey since it has been 13 years since I had my BP attack. My palsy took a good 6 months before I could say that I had had good improvement, even then I still had a few residuals. One of these was a very watering eye which doesn't sound much but was really quite distressing as I seemed to be mopping it all day long and especially with eating anything. This eye-watering went on for five years by which time I thought I would go and see an eye consultant to see if there was anything that could be fixed . He did a lot of different tests to make sure there was nothing wrong with the tear ducts and then said that he could stop the watering by botoxing my eye in a certain place.I agreed to have it done and continued seeing him every four months for up to a period of two years. This worked brilliantly and I began to feel a bit more normal again. At about the two year point I started to notice that my eye had stopped watering altogether by itself and has continued to be good ever since which must be a few years now. My consultant was so pleased too and said that he hadn't expected my eye do that and that it would not have been the botox that cured it but somehow it had righted itself. I do still have a slightly wonky smile and my eyebrow will drop especially when tired - I also have a bit of a droopy eyelid on that side. I also get cramp occasionally too but not nearly as many cramps now as I used to get. I used to long for some sort of topical cream you could put on the cheek area to prevent this happening but could not find anything on the market.

The BP affected me emotionally terribly . My whole personality seemed to change as I did not want to go out anywhere for the first few months and even for a couple of years I would dread going out anywhere in case anyone noticed anything different about me. I was so conscious of it the whole time.

Fast forward to today and I can say I have noticed many improvements - small little increments - over the many years so never fret that if you have seen no improvement after a couple of years or before that that will be you for life because I am living proof that things carry on improving.

My face isn't 100 per cent as it was before the BP but it is very very near to that and I am back to my old self confidence-wise.

I hope this may give hope to any others out there.

Thanks doctorMark for asking this question as it did prompt me to write the above.