Hello everyone I was wondering if anyone had Bells Palsy twice and recovered? I'm beginning to get worried because the first time I had Bells it didn't take this long to recover. My recovery this time started at week #3 but now it seems to be at a stand still. Had this happened to anyone else? Also now I have a straining noise in my ear when I smile, lift my eye brow, or scrunch my nose is anyone else experiencing this?
Hello,
Having Bell's twice is not uncommon, and recovery times vary on each episode. Bell's Palsy is (as you probably know) the compression of the facial nerve and depending on severity recovery can be quick or it can take some time. As compression is released the nerve needs to recover and it can take weeks for compression to be released and weeks again for the recovery. At 3 weeks you may not see any improvement it all depends on the severity of the episode.
Did you notice any difference between this attack and your first?
And also getting bell's Palsy twice is a good sign to visit a specialist to get an idea of what could be causing it. Most people who get Bell's Palsy suffer once but as I said it is not uncommon for reoccurring incidents but in these cases there is usually an underlying cause. Like a nerve disorder or perhaps even a vitamin B deficiency.
3 weeks is still early so give it another week and take the prescribed treatment. The dose can be increased if your doctor feels it necessary.
Just remember to stay positive and keep the face warm as you can.
Mark
Hello thanks so much for your reply. I'm starting to see more improvement now. My smile isn't the same and my eye still doesn't close all the way. This time I experienced more pain with my eye and also nerve pain in my face. The first time I had Bells Paksu I only remember my tongue hurting and feeling like it was swollen.
I am experiencing my second time of Bell's Palsy, but no recovery. I have had it for 13 weeks.
Hello,
I have had bi-lateral Bell's palsy (rare). It tends to be caused because we get too run down - I was. It's a little like a facial stroke - you have rapid homework to do - time will be running - You need to "wake up" your face as fast as possible - so you sit on a towel facing a mirror, use ice water & hot water & flannel to stimulate the face. Massage the face - firmly but gently - chew (try to) chewing gum / toast. Try to suck through a straw. Do anything that stimulates the muscles / nerves of your face. Do it little & often. If you get pain or tingling, that's a sign that your face is waking up. If not, keep going. Visiting an acupuncturist could be helpful. Good luck.
Hello Massage.
Good and specific suggestions I think I will try. My son is a massage therapist and mentioned chewing gum to me. I have been able to drink thru a straw (but on the other side)...will try it on the affected side. I had it on the other side of my face and exercises helped a great deal. Thank you for your suggestions.
So sorry that you're experiencing this condition twice! I pray that you start to recover. Everyone recovers at different rates so the main thing is to NOT get discouraged if you see other people recovering at a faster rate. I know a lady that didn't start to recover until after 4 months so I don't believe the doctors when they say that there's no hope after the 3 month mark. I was really bad at first but I'm starting to see s lot of improvement now. I believe that the second time around people typically takes longer to recover, I'm not a doctor I'm just going off of my experience and other people that had it twice. Hope you see recovery soon please keep me updated and I will be praying for you.
I saw my doctor yesterday for a med. check. She told me it could be up to 6 months before I see improvement to my Bell's Palsy.. She has one patient who has it 'chronically' (whick I take to mean it never went away). I feel you are correct that everyone's process of healing is different. I have a great many other health issues going on and can't help but wonder how that affects me and healing. I have been desperately discouraged, however, she (my doc) gave the go ahead to try stimulation....saying it can't hurt. I plan on trying the suggestions Massage posted. Very grateful for the prayers and praying as well for you and others afflicted.
Dear Valerie,
I feel your isolation & fear - not being able to smile (& the rest) was a very lonely experience. Luckily after leaving hospital, and being told "good luck", I went to a traditional acupuncturist (British Acupuncture Council) where they can help & I understood that I had to take responsibility. Your doctor said "it can't hurt" - meaning it can't do any harm - it can't. But it can do more than a lot of good. Please try to wake-up your face as fast as possible. I was sitting on a towel squeezing, gently pinching, using heat, ice, trying to suck, chew, massaging around my eyes and so on, 5 or 6 times a day. If you think / research about rehabilitation for strokes, hands-on physio should be a huge part of regaining movement. The same is the case here - but because it's the face, we can do it ourselves. I don't know why the doctors don't seem to advocate self stimulation - but yours has said it can't do harm, so please try it. Best wishes.
Thank you Massage. My son is a massage therapist and has made suggestions such as facial exercises, chewing gum. I'm happy to report this morning I was able to suck thru a straw on the affected side (L). To me, this is progress! My son told me I need to manually move my face so those muscles will not atrophy. Thanks for the encouragement. I had Bell's Palsy on the right side of my face in 1992. I mentioned to the dr. I've had some strange feelings in that cheek. She suggested it might be overflow. Comforted me a bit. Regarding your comments on hot/cold stimulation:years ago I worked with (at my job) an OT (Occupational Therapist) and it is consistent with her informtion in providing sensory stimulation (to our in common sensory deprived individuals). Paralysis is pretty 'sensory deprived'. Thank you for the encouragement. Best wishes to you as well.
Great. Good news on the straw! Thankyou for trying - keep going. I don't know what 'overflow' means, but any sensation is good news. It means the nerves are "waking up". Keep encouraging them with stimulation. Please tell your doctor to stress the importance of self-massage for rehabilitation. Just allowing / watching the nerves/muscles to atrophy & die is awful.
Best wishes.
I have encountered the condition twice. Once at the age of 13 and the second time at the age of 28. Both took over a year to subside. Both were at random non stressful times. I have tried steroids but only made me restless and of course the Dr. Wanted me to take the big viral pill for kicks. No dice. Acupuncture and a well trained massage therapist was the best outcome to deal with the matter. Mine was quite painful from constant twitching and muscle spasms which still occurs every so often. My face is mostly symmetrical in recovery buy I still feel and notice a difference.
Thanks for your reply I've had a lot of pain this time also. I'm starting to notice things coming back little by little each day thank God. I see the wrinkles coming back on my forehead but I still can't raise my eyebrow as much as the other one. How long did it take your smile to come back? I've noticed that my smile and also my eye are taking the longest to come back. My eye is better but it still looks bigger than the other one and doesn't blink the same way my other one does. Also my smile doesn't curl if that makes any sense.. When I smile the curve goes up instead of curling did you experience that.
How are you doing any improvements yet? Have you felt any movements?
Regarding the pain - primarily it's good news, because it means that the life is returning. The self massage shouldn't be forceful - (the massage shouldn't be painful), it is your face afterall. There is no need to attack it. Just gentle stimulation little and often, the massage will be releasing blockages, stimulating blood flow and so help reduce the pain. I get confused by the advice with people being told to wait. Both in China & the States some protocols advise physio / massage intervention for strokes to be typically introduced after just a few days - it makes sense. Perhaps what doctors are concerned about is the inflammation, but once it has calmed, then it should be ok - you're after week 3. So keep gently going.
Massage now is a little pointless, nerve stimulation is no longer necessary as compression is released. You now need to give the nerve time to heal, keep your face warm and try not to apply pressure to your ear, so no swimming, headphones/headsets and use a soft pillow when you sleep also try your best not to sleep on your hand. The bony hand will apply unwanted pressure to the face slowing down recovery. Take a vitamin B supplement to help nerve regeneration and most of all relax and take something for the pain.
You'll soon be back to smiling.
Regards
Mark
My husband and son think I am easier to understand when I speak. Still unable to smile, move eyebrow or achieve full closure of my eye. However, I am now able to suck thru a straw on the affected side. Also, paralisis of 1/2 of my tongue has improved enough that I am able to lateralize food (move from one side of mouth to other). I'm happy with any improvement. How about yourself?
My teen daughter has it for the 2nd time on the same side of her face. Have u heard of this before
Hello, im fairly new to this website so a bit unfamiliar as to how these types of forums operate, nevertheless, i will try my best. 
I first got Bell's Palsy about 7 months ago, it lasted about 2-3 weeks and i had managed to recover without any lasting damage to my muscles. just four days ago, unfortunately, i contracted it again, and this time it seems to be worse. I went to local hospital where a doctor he had given me prednisone and acyclovir, two drugs that, from the extensive research that i had done on them, seem to cause severe side effects that could damage my body, even more so than Bell's Palsy. I guess what im trying to ask you all is this: What should I do? Should i trust the doctor who had given me these drugs and hope that they don't mess with my body, or should I look for alternative ways for seek treatment that don't involve strong drugs? Do be honest, im absolutely terrified right now, and i could really use some advice right now. Thanks
Hello e64767,
I have had Bell's Palsy twice. I had it first in 1992 on the right side of my face. That time it lasted approx. 6 weeks. I have it now on the left side of my face since Aug. 26, 2016. It is improved, but not gone. I can now close my eye....chew on the left side, can move my cheek on the left. Still unable to smile and sometimes, people have a difficult understanding what I say. I have done facial exercises which has helped. Good Luck to you. I hope you have made progress. I understand how frustrating it is.