My friend just got Bells Palsy, anyone know anythin bout it??

She in real bad way, all of a sudden her face dropped on one side, she cant shut one eye, her face is all swollen and paralyzed. She is so scared!!

My cousin had it when she was younger for about 12 weeks and then it went away. I also had a friend who had it when he was 3 and it also went away. I'm sure she is very scared, hopefully her doctor can refer her to a counselor or therapist who can help her deal with the stress and uneasiness of this until it goes away. Just keep being the best friend that you can and spend a lot of time with her, maybe go to the library for her and find a book about it that you and she can look through. It will get better, it's only temporary. Here is some info I found online: What is Bell's Palsy?


Bell's palsy is a form of temporary facial paralysis resulting from damage or trauma to one of the two facial nerves. It is the most common cause of facial paralysis. Generally, Bell's palsy affects only one of the paired facial nerves and one side of the face, however, in rare cases, it can affect both sides. Symptoms of Bell's palsy usually begin suddenly and reach their peak within 48 hours. Symptoms range in severity from mild weakness to total paralysis and may include twitching, weakness, or paralysis, drooping eyelid or corner of the mouth, drooling, dry eye or mouth, impairment of taste, and excessive tearing in the eye. Bell鈥檚 palsy often causes significant facial distortion. Most scientists believe that a viral infection such as viral meningitis or the common cold sore virus -- herpes simplex-- causes the disorder when the facial nerve swells and becomes inflamed in reaction to the infection.


Is there any treatment?


There is no cure or standard course of treatment for Bell's palsy. The most important factor in treatment is to eliminate the source of the nerve damage. Some cases are mild and do not require treatment since the symptoms usually subside on their own within 2 weeks. For others, treatment may include medications such as acyclovir -- used to fight viral infections -- combined with an anti-inflammatory drug such as the steroid prednisone -- used to reduce inflammation and swelling. Analgesics such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen may relieve pain, but because of possible drug interactions, patients should always talk to their doctors before taking any over-the-counter medicines. In general, decompression surgery for Bell's palsy -- to relieve pressure on the nerve -- is controversial and is seldom recommended.


What is the prognosis?


The prognosis for individuals with Bell's palsy is generally very good. The extent of nerve damage determines the extent of recovery. With or without treatment, most individuals begin to get better within 2 weeks after the initial onset of symptoms and recover completely within 3 to 6 months.

I knew a guy who had it and it was not permanent. It went away after awhile. That's all i know.

I had it about 4 years ago. It can be very scary at first, but it is almost always temporary. It will take a couple weeks to get better, but she will slowly get movement back in her face. I was back to almost 100% within 2 months.

Its caused by a virus similar to chicken pox, that causes swelling in the nerve behind your ear that controls facial movement. Your friend probably noticed an ear ache before it hit.

If she hasnt seen a doctor yet, she should. She will probably get anti-viral medicine and maybe a mild steroid. The biggest risk is of damage to her eye because she cant blink. I had to tape my eye shut at night and put ointment on it during the day.

Feel free to email me if you want more info.

Bells palsy is a condition that causes the facial muscles to weaken or become paralyzed. It's caused by trauma to the 7th cranial nerve, and is not permanent.

My husband was diagnosed with it about 6 months ago. It is caused by an inflammation of the 7th cranial nerve( it controls the muscles in your face) When it is inflamed you lose muscle control one 1 side of your face. You can take a steroid medication and also valtrex to combat any virus that may have caused it, but basically time is what it takes. My husband still is affected slightly by it. Make sure she has proper eye care, since it can easily become dry due to inability to blink. Tell her not to be discouraged, it is fairly common and everyone recovers at a different pace.

Bell`s palsy IS AN ISOLATED FACIAL NERVE PALSY BELIEVED DUE TO A VIRAL(OFTEN HERPES SIMPLEX) INFECTION WHICH CAUSES SWELLING OF THE NERVE WITHIN PETROUS TEMPORAL BONE.

RECOVERY MAY TAKE 12 MONTHS TO BECOME COMPLETE.