Bell's Palsy~~any one else?

BlueSteam · 11-09-2006, 09:59 AM

Hi Everyone, a couple of nights ago my 15 year old daughter's face (the left side) went paralyzed. I called a nurse who had me bring her to the ER. She was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy. The dr said it is highly unusual in such a young person. They are having her take a steriod and an anti-viral. They believe that people with Bell's Palsy have been exposed to the chicken pox or shingles virus. My grandmother came down with shingles a month ago, and we were spending a lot of time with her due to my grandfather's heart attack.

My daughter's left eye is staying wide open and yet she is complaining about blurry vision in that eye. The dr completely dismissed her worries and said nothing about it. She is using artificial tears to keep the eye from drying out and it does blink. Has anyone else had blurry vision with Bell's Palsy?

Another thing that worries me is that she had been complaining about neck pain two days prior. I'm wondering if this is related. The dr dismissed this also. Any one else have Bell's Palsy? Can you tell me anything about it? Thanks!

AFH · 11-09-2006, 11:24 AM

Bells Palsy - although the name sounds freaky is never permanent. It takes up to a year to fully recover because the nerves need time to FULLY regenerate (about 18 months or longer). Symptoms usually begin to subside on their own within 2 weeks

Children recovery very well and quicker then older adults.

It's known to be caused by trauma to the cranial nerve and also believed that a viral infection such as viral meningitis or herpes simplex causes the disorder when the facial nerve swells and becomes inflamed in reaction to the infection. Warning sign's can be pain in the ear or neck, a dry eye or tingling around their lips.

Because there is no cure for Bells Palsy and it's never permanent- doctors are unconcerned and mostly wait it out and prescribe something to alleviate the symptoms such as acyclovir (to fight viral infections) and anti-inflammatory drugs (prednisone) to reduce inflammation and swelling.

Good Luck

bderozi · 11-09-2006, 11:54 AM

Hi,

I too had bells palsy at 15. I am now 22 and a male. Started one evening, and was full blown left side of face by morning. I went to the doc and did the steroid pills. Worked great. It has been 7 years and no reoccurance. Hope this helps.

-B

cwjackson · 11-09-2006, 05:29 PM

My 9 year old son had Bells Palsy last summer, for some reason it flared up again this week. His left side of his face is completely paralyzed, Dr. put him on Prednisone. It is so hard to see him this way, and worse, kids at school are really making fun of him and he is having a hard time dealing with that.

AFH · 11-09-2006, 06:54 PM

cwjackson,

Have you gotten a second or even third opinion on your son's Bells Palsy?
I only ask because the average timespan between recurrences is 10 years (if a reacurrence does at all happen) and most doctors take the laid back approach figuring Bells Palsy heals mostly on it's own.

I would get another doctor's opinion being he was diagnosed last summer and now has a recurrence. It may be something else that needs to be treated in a different manner.

Good Luck!