What is bell's palsey?

Question

What causes it and how do you treat it

Answer 1

Lots of links here: http://www.answers.com/bells+palsy?initiator=IE7:SearchBox

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Bell's palsy lasts anywhere from as little as a month to a year or more. Some patients (around 5%) never recover and are permanently paralyzed. Chances of recovery are increased dramatically if treatment is begun within a week or so of noticing the symptoms. On a side note, are you certain you only got antiviral meds? Ask your doctor about corticosteroids, they have a better track record in treating Bell's palsy.

Answer 3

I developed Bell's Palsy 18 months ago, and am still suffering. A virus afflicts the 7th cranial nerve. The nerve sheath is tight anyway, and swelling with no space to expand kills the nerve, and you have to wait for it to regrow. I had physiotherapy, the physiotherapist said the affected side of my face looked as though it had been injected with botox. They try steroids, but this had no effect on me. I have been told there is nothing more conventional medicine can do, just have to wait it out. I am wondering if I will ever be right. My eyesight has been affected, although I can now read and have been passed to drive, my eye area and face are still very stiff and uncomfortable.
People are particularly susceptible after illnesses like glandular fever, mumps, chicken pox and shingles. Diabetics are 4 times more likely to get it than other members of the population. I am diabetic, and it affected my blood sugar levels, at the start I kept getting hypos. This was my second attack of Bell's, I had it as a child of 10 after chicken pox. That only lasted about 3 weeks.
If you have Bell's you will feel completely wiped out, as it is reckoned to be a virus. You mustn't overdo things. Luckily there is no pain after the very early stages when the nerve is dying.
I am now looking into the possibility of any help from alternative medicine.

Answer 4

Bell's palsy is a weakness (paralysis) that affects the muscles of the face. It is due to a problem with the facial nerve. The weakness usually affects one side of the face, but rarely both sides are affected. It is thought that inflammation develops around the facial nerve and it is thought that the inflammation may squash the nerve. The nerve then partly, or fully, stops working until the inflammation goes.
The cause of the inflammation is not known, but it is probably due to a viral infection.
There is a good chance of full recovery without any treatment. However, drug treatment is usually advised to improve the chance of full recovery even more, usually a short course of steroids but, as stated, often patients recover without any treatment. Discuss with your doctor whether he feels medication may benefit you. Good luck and have a merry Xmas.

Answer 5

Paralysis of the facial nerve; the effect is that one side (or possibly both sides) of the face is, to some extent, paralysed. The cause is not always known but it could be a viral infection or some kind of lesion to the facial nerve. The condition may be exacerbated by cold. Treatment will depend on cause.

Answer 6

bell's palsy is a partial paralysis of one side of the face. It is caused by inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, and if diagnosed early enough is treated with a course of prednisone. Unfortunately, if not caught early enough, the prednisone won't help and about 20% of those affected have the facial paralysis for life.

Answer 7

the cause of bell's palsy is unknown.Bell's palsy is facial nerve paralysis..deviation of the mouth, drooling of saliva,lacrimation and unable to the close the eyes.in brief assymmetery of the face.
actually no treatment is required.but for encouragement of the patient, massage of the face can be done.

Answer 8

it can be a symptom of borreliosis / lyme disease