Bell's Palsy

3-4 years ago I had an attack of Bell's Palsy, yeh..not the funnest thing to go through. A virus settles on the 7th cranial maxo-facial nerve and causes paralysis on one side of the face. One side slumps as if you've had a stroke. Some unfortunates get this over their whole face. 6 weeks of steroids ( deep joy, it was caught early, my face went ker-plump and I mumbled "I should see the doctor" out of the good half ) taping my eye shut at night so it wouldn't dry..sucking everything through a straw. You get the gist.
My point is, up till now it wasn't a problem per se unless I was very tired, stressed or upset..speech will slur, and left side will 'lock up'. Now I've been having pain in the left side of my face, like muscle cramp in my jaw that I need to massage out and the cheek feels numb ( like after a novacaine shot for dental work ), eye feels 'slack' for lack of a better word.
Anyone else have lingering symptoms or other from this?

I'm sorry 2 hear that also: I've done some reading on it since i came across you're thread
here are ways that can help cure or make it easier 2
handle.

1. Eat garlic with olive oil (mash the garlic and mix it with the olive oil).

2. Try to avoid milk.

3. Avoid exposure to the wind.

4. Exercise the facial muscles daily (smile, lift your eyebrow,try to whistle, close your eyes etc.).

5. Smile and pull infected side of face up to a normal smile and hold for 10 seconds(repeat)

6. Put a heating pad on low and put it on infected side of face. Hold for 3 minutes then rest it for 3 min.(repeat)

7. Drink plenty of water.

Thank you both. 🙂 I tried responding last night but it must've been upkeep time at Chez dxp.
I will keep massaging my face. Simply because it feels nice and helps a bit. Ze list..let's see.

1. Will start taking garlic again, not that I'd mind the garlic/olive oil combo.
2. Lactose intolerant, check.
3. This will be tougher, I'm like a dog hanging out of a window in the wind. Booo.
4. I'm a waitress, smile at peeps all day..this count? 😄 Teasing, I shall try the exercise.
5. *makes mental note to purchase heating pad*
6. Check, one of my favorite beverages.

🙂

Thank you M. Laughter always beats tears. 🙂 I can waggle my snout *crossing eyes and moving nose* See?

Have a look here.

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/bells/detail_bells.htm<BR>
It seems that you already have a pretty good grip on what is going on.
I do agree with the massage type thing. As damaged nerves start to come back on line, strange and varied sensations, movements, and assorted other symptoms can come and go. Very disconcerting.

Actually, I didn't want to say anything, but I thought you were just chewing your cud.....

In way of apology of that last comment, if you look at the bottom of the listed web page it will give you an address for some place for more information on "Rare" diseases. Really VB, you would have something rare and unusual, wouldn't you.

LOL No need for apology, that was FUNNY. Thanks dofster, I likes to keep things interesting. Tune in next week while our intrepid heroine stitches herself a dribble bib "just in case". 😄

It did thanks, I still go through the pffffft occasionally when pooped out or PO'd, but other than that A-OK. 🙂