What are the Effects after having bell's palsy?

Answer 1

Bell's palsy is coined for any type of facial paralysis that does not have any other associated causes such as tumors, trauma and salivary gland inflammation. Recent research has shown that Bell's palsy occurs when a virus (herpes simplex virus, HSV) gets reactivated in the bone behind the ear (temporal bone.) When the nerve gets reactivated and swollen, it ends up causing the nerve to essentially "shut down." This occurs in a very rapid manner and most patients who have Bell's palsy present have acute onset and immediate facial paralysis. Other symptoms of Bell's palsy may include an aura that precedes it or a sensation that your face movement may be inhibited. Patients who have Bell's palsy should go to the emergency room immediately and get evaluated. 85% of people who have Bell's palsy recover with no no noticeable deformity or issue. 10% of individuals have incomplete recovery with synkinesis and partial facial weakness. 5% of the patients have complete facial paralysis and significant synkinesis. In this 5% of individuals, extreme care must be made to make sure that there is not a missing tumor or other causes that may not be related to Bell's palsy.

-Dr Babak Azizzadeh

--

Slight or severe paralysis to one side of the face from the eyebrow to the mouth. It is treated with steriods and heals itself in most cases in about a week.

Answer 2

The worst and only real side effect of Bell's Palsy is cornea damage. If the eye doesn't shut all the way at night, the cornea can dry out and, if sever enough, could need replacing. Wearing an eye patch and using lubricating drops can severly reduce this risk.

Answer 3

The major symptom of Bell's palsy is one-sided facial weakness or paralysis. Muscle control is either inadequate or completely missing. Patients frequently have difficulty shutting the affected eye and may not be able to close it at all.

Answer 4

Sensation returning to the affected side would be the most clear sign of recovery.

Answer 5

You might experience a permanant, partial (very parital) deformation on the affected side of your face. Also, the numbness might never truly go away due to nerve damage.

Answer 6

The only real complication can come from the fact that your one eye might not shut all of the way. This can cause your cornea to dry out, become damaged and need replacing in severe cases.