Bells Palsy
                            My mother is one of the many unlucky people in this world who are living with a
                            little known condition know as BELLS PALSY, it is sometimes known as facial
                            palsy. Sir Charles Bell identified the disease in the 19th century.

                            Bells Palsy is characterised by a sudden facial drooping and an inability or limited
                            movement in the facial muscles. It I suspected to be caused by damage to the cranial
                            nerve VII, brain injury, tumour, hypertension, infarction, sometimes the cause is
                            unknown. The best way I can describe what someone looks like with Bells Palsy is
                            for you to stand in front of a mirror, put your hand over one half of your face and
                            pull it down toward your chin. This is what my mother looks like everyday because
                            of this condition. She like many others who suffer from Bells palsy have to deal, not
                            only with the discomfort associated the condition but the staring and ridicule from
                            people in the community. Words and name calling, people whispering, pointing,
                            staring etc all took a toll on my mother who after a while simply refused to leave the
                            house, she would not go to work, she would not go shopping visit friends. She
                            became a hermit , too afraid to leave the house, in fear of being ridiculed.
 
 

The symptoms of Bells Palsy are as follows

                            (I got these from a pamphlet my mother received from the doctor):
                            * pain behind or in front of the ear
                            * may precede weakness of facial muscles by 1-2 days
                            * impairment of taste
                            * sensitivity to sound  on the affected side
                            * headache
                            * facial stiffness
                            * face feels pulled to one side
                            * difficulty with eating and drinking, dribbling
                            * change in facial appearance
                            * drooping of face to one side
                            * difficulty with facial expressions, grimacing
                            * facial paralysis of one side of the face
                            * difficulty closing one eye
                            * difficulty with fine facial movements
 
 

How can you find out if you have Bells Palsy?

                            Examination shows upper and lower facial weakness, which is almost always
                            isolated to one side of the face or occasionally to the forehead, eyelid, or mouth.
                            Despite subjective sensory symptoms, the loss of sensation on examination is a rare
                            and disturbing finding. Blood pressure is normal. A skull x-ray may be done to
                            rule-out infection or tumour.
 
 

Common Treatment

                            In many cases, no treatment is necessary. The goal of treatment is to relieve the
                            symptoms.
                            * Corticosteroids may reduce swelling and relieve pressure on the facial nerve for
                            some persons. Corticosteroids must be given early to be most effective; preferably
                            within 24 hours of the onset of paralysis.

                            * Lubricating eye drops or eye ointments may be recommended to protect the eye if
                            it cannot be closed completely. The eye may need to be patched during sleep to
                            protect it.

                            * Surgical procedures to decompress the facial nerve have not been shown to
                            routinely benefit people with Bell's palsy.
 
 

Prognosis

                            The outcome varies. Approximately 60% to 80% of cases resolve completely within
                            a few weeks to months. Some cases result in permanent changes. The disorder is not
                            a threat to life.
 
 

Complications

                            * disfigurement from loss of facial movement
                            * damage to the eye (corneal ulcers and infections)
                            * chronic spasm of face muscles or eyelids
                            * chronic taste abnormalities
 
 

How long does it take to recover?

                            About eighty percent of Bell's palsy suffers will have a complete recovery within a
                            three month period with or without medical treatment. Some sufferers will never
                            completely recover.
 
 

If you  know someone has Bells Palsy.

                            Be supportive. People suffering from Bells Palsy often get depressed about their
                            appearance (like my mother).

MANY THANKS GOES OUT TO ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO
HELPED MY MOTHER THROUGH THIS TIME.