[livingwith]

In 1992, i was a sophomore in high school, i developed bells palsy Back then no one new anything about it so i had facial electro therapy and many many shots of vitamin b.(for about 2 years) it is now 2009, and i am still struggling with this. I do not have my smile anymore and although i am able to close my eye, i feel very insecure about what has happened to me. Half of my tongue doesn’t have a sense of taste but i have pretty much gotten used to that. I really would like for some d...Read the full article

[sbarber09]

Alejandra,

I was just recently diagnosed with Bell's Palsy and saw a physical therapist yesterday. She gave me a few different exercises to do to help strengthen the facial muscles. Everything I've read on line about physical therapy indicates it can be very helpful and effective even if you start it long after the original symptoms. Go to www.bellspalsy.ws that has exercises, diagrams, etc. that you may find helpful. Good luck. Hang in there.

Sue

[ElisabethJ]

Dear Alejandra, I had Bells Palsy in 1995, I was 42 years old then; it was so terrible, I could not recover at all and the doctors gave up on me, saying that at my age if I did not recover within 3 months I may as well get used to looking like this for the rest of my life. I was devastated. It was pretty sad because I saw a doctor when only the tingling and some strange feeling to my face was present, before any visual symptoms appeared. I was taking cortisone but still developed fully blown Palsy. Nothing could help me, no acupuncture, no electric shocks ....finally after nearly 2 years of a total despair I took advices of my brother, to start a "so-called Japanese shock treatment"; it meant to put cold and hot compresses on my face, each for 30 sec, at least for 1/2 hour daily as often as possible. I started noticing very slow improvement after a month. It took nearly 2 years to start looking pretty normal; now one can see any asymmetry, only if I smile but I recovered 85%. Now, I’ve done some dental work and started working on my smile again...looking in the mirror and forcing mentally my muscles to move, to match the other side of my face. I've read your stories and know how hard it is to wake up in the morning with a drooping face. Hang on in there, even if no one gives you hope believe that you can recover, even if not totally but nearly there. I am a living prove. Remember “the power of mind”…..Smile Elisabeth