| Author |
Here's to Your Health:  Bells Palsy  |
|
|
Bridge
True Blue Farmgirl
814 Posts
Bridgette
Southern
Indiana
USA
814 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 20 2006 : 09:11:04 AM
|
Has anyone had any experience with someone that has had this?
My mom scared me to death, I thought she had had a stroke. But the Dr. says that she has bells palsy. The wholes left side of her face is paralyzed.
I just wondered if anyone had any home remedies or things to help make it easier to deal with.
~~Bridge's Boutique~~
|
|
|
ThymeForEweFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
705 Posts
Robin
An organic farm in the forest in
Maine
USA
705 Posts |
Posted - Jul 20 2006 : 09:38:13 AM
|
A friend had Bells. It took six months for the paralysis to clear up. She's had no problem since then. It was a struggle for her. She continued to go to work once she had a diagnosis and lived as normally as possible. It was very scary in the beginning. I don't know of anything to make the process happen faster. I hope your mom recovers quickly!
Robin
www.thymeforewe.com
|
 |
|
|
Garden_artist
True Blue Farmgirl
182 Posts
Tammy
Southern Coast Oregon
182 Posts |
Posted - Jul 20 2006 : 09:44:18 AM
|
I knew someone who got it as well, they blamed it on a fan on her office desk blowing directly at her face 8 hours a day, days a week, 52 weeks a year. It also cleared up in about 6 months.
I wonder if facials would help? The massage on the face encouraging circulation. I would look into the cause so you could see if it would be relieved by massage.
When I feel spring coming I have to plant or I’ll go crazy! |
|
|
|
jo Thompson
True Blue Farmgirl
603 Posts
Jo
the mountainside of the Chugach
in Alaska
USA
603 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2006 : 2:31:32 PM
|
Old ER nurse, very scary for people at onset, questionable etiology, could be viral, often stress related, sometimes it does not completely resolve, but usually does. Steroids are often used to treat it. Sounds like a textbook, eh? It usually follows a nerve in the face much like shingles. Read up lots, I would definitely take immune boosting medicines and reduce stress, protect the affected eye.
I had shingles last year, thought I needed a hip replacement because my hip hurt so bad and it turned out to be shingles! A new exciting version of chicken pox! It WAS awful.
Hope she does well, it should go away with time.
"friends don't let friends eat farmed salmon"
http://homepage.mac.com/thomja/Anchorage/PhotoAlbum14.html |
|
|
|
Bridge
True Blue Farmgirl
814 Posts
Bridgette
Southern
Indiana
USA
814 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2006 : 3:52:11 PM
|
Thanks Everyone, She is doing good as can be. She says she has alot of body aches. Her eye & mouth looked much better today. She is taking the steroids and a antiviral. She has a reflexolgy session Aug 10th, so hopefully that will help some also.
She goes back to the Dr next Tuesday.
~~Bridge's Boutique~~
|
|
|
|
happymama58
True Blue Farmgirl
1210 Posts
Patti
Missouri
USA
1210 Posts |
Posted - Jul 28 2006 : 06:59:51 AM
|
I had Bells Palsy 3 summers ago. I woke up on July 3rd and the entire right 1/2 of my face was completely drooped. THe doctor said it was one of the most severe cases he'd seen. I don't know of any home or natural remedies or aids. I read everything I could find -- online, at the library, at the natural health store, etc. -- and found nothing about taking anything other than steroids (for 10 days) and an antiviral medication, both of which I did.
I don't know how much else you'd like to know, but I can tell you that I found I needed more rest, more quiet time, etc. and that if I got that I felt better "emotionally". Also, the heat tired me out more when I had BP. I'm a real hot weather person, but the rest of that summer the heat really did me in.
I was 45 when I got it, and the doctor and all resources I read said that I was at an age where I should recover fully. I didn't, though. Most people can't tell that I had it, but I can and so can those who know me well.
Also, when the new nerves begin regenerating, sometimes they get "confused". Therapy can help with that, even if you wait several years to get the therapy. The new nerves can be "trained" or "corrected".
Sorry to go on & on. Feel free to email or ask anything. Oh, I forgot to say my cousin also had BP. She was 23 and she was struck with it about 10 minutes before walking down the aisle at her wedding!
Some people search for happiness; others create it.
http://happymama58.typepad.com/my_weblog/ |
|
|
|
happymama58
True Blue Farmgirl
1210 Posts
Patti
Missouri
USA
1210 Posts |
Posted - Jul 28 2006 : 07:07:26 AM
|
Someone mentioned the cause. According to all my reading and a specialist in St. Louis, the cause is not known, although the belief is that SOME of the cases might be caused by a virus and stress may play a part. I had not had any health issues and was off school for the summer having a great, relaxing time, so I don't think either was a factor for me. BP does not run in families, btw.
What happens is that the nerves that deal with the face come from behind the ear. There is a hole (fairly small) through a bone behind the ear (on each side), and the nerves go through that hole. For some reason, the nerves swell right before the hole, and impulses can't go through, and the nerves die from that point on. The nerves that died are the ones that fan out throughout that side of the face, in a network sort of pattern, leaving the face "palsied". Those nerves regenerate, but very slowly, and that's why it takes approximately 6 months for recovery.
There is a great BP site online, an official site with tons of information, news on the latest research, etc. I found it to be very helpful. I found it using a metacrawler search. Good luck!
Some people search for happiness; others create it.
http://happymama58.typepad.com/my_weblog/ |
|
|
|
Bridge
True Blue Farmgirl
814 Posts
Bridgette
Southern
Indiana
USA
814 Posts |
Posted - Jul 28 2006 : 1:36:47 PM
|
Thanks Patti, I am going to print this and give it to my mom and also check out that site!!
~~Bridge's Boutique~~
|
|
|
| |
Here's to Your Health: Bells Palsy |
|
Bells Palsy
