Lele’s Guide to Bell’s Palsy

4/13/2024

As I navigate Bell’s palsy for the second time, I feel compelled to document my notes and advice. Should I have to face this challenge again (though I pray I don't), I want to have a resource at hand. Also, I want to make this information accessible to others who may find themselves in a similar situation.

Some background info: I had Bell’s palsy in 2015 for six weeks. I woke up one morning and realized half my face was paralyzed. I went to the ER, where they determined I didn’t have a stroke, it was “just Bell’s palsy,” and they sent me on my way. I was confused and didn’t know what to do, so the doctor told me, “Don’t worry, most people get better.” Then I cried in my car.

This time around, armed with some of the information I’ll share below, the experience has been somewhat better. (I am currently two weeks into the process, and I’ll update the below if I learn anything new.) While it's hard to pinpoint exactly what helps, if anything, these strategies at least provide comfort and support. I regained full movement between 6-7 weeks last time, and I am hoping recovery is faster this time.

Western Medicine

When you realize you have Bell’s palsy, go to the ER or Urgent Care as soon as possible. It’s doubtful they’ll make you feel better about the situation, but they will prescribe Prednisone and an antiviral like Acyclovir or Valtrex. They don’t know the exact cause of Bell’s palsy, but these medications have proven to work, and the sooner you start taking them, the better. Note: the side effects are not the best. Prednisone makes my skin crawl. Both times I’ve had Bell’s palsy, I’ve mostly stayed home until the Prednisone is finished because it makes me feel terrible.

Eastern Medicine

It’s frustrating that Western Medicine seems to know nothing about Bell’s palsy, nor do they seem to care. Fortunately, Eastern Medicine offers valuable insights and care. I recommend seeing an Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbalist as soon as possible. They typically possess deep understanding and confidence in treating Bell’s palsy.

Last time, my Acupuncturist/Herbalist had me drink a gross Bell’s palsy tea. However, my current practitioner doesn't deem it necessary. I'm hopeful she's correct, as choking down that tea was quite a challenge. She believes that acupuncture will be effective on its own to “wake up” the muscles. Starting early this time has given me twitches and movement I didn’t have quite so early last time.

Eye Care

Shopping list: preservative free eye drops, nighttime eye ointment, sensitive skin tape, eye patches, giant sunglasses.

If your case is like mine, and your eye won’t close all the way, you’ll need the above. Your eye will need drops regularly, and it will need to rest. I do this by applying drops and ointment, taping the eyelid closed, and covering it with an eye patch or giant sunglasses. A friend sent me this cooling eye patch that has been a lifesaver to me this time around. I highly recommend it.

Without proper care, your eye will dry out easily and get painful abrasions. Make sure you use enough lubricant and properly protect it. I have been taping it closed when I wash my face, and I’ve also been taking baths instead of showers as a way to better protect my eye.

Blurry vision comes and goes, which is a huge challenge, but once you get your eye care regimen down, this won’t be so bad. However, I recommend having lots of podcasts/audiobooks/soothing music to listen to so that your eyes can rest during this time.

Vitamins/Supplements/Diet

Shopping list: B, C, D vitamins, Zinc, L-Lysine (Bell’s palsy may be a result of deficiencies.) I also take MSM, Glucosamine, Hyaluronic acid, and Turmeric for joint health and inflammation.

B-12 injections have proven to be beneficial. I am currently getting weekly B-12 injections from my Acupuncturist.

A high Lysine low Arginine diet may also benefit people with Bell’s palsy since it may be linked to the herpes simplex virus. I’ve been referring to this chart as a simple guide. Here’s a more in-depth one.

Mental Health/Community Support

Bell’s palsy is isolating, frustrating, and incredibly difficult on your mental health. It is such a HUGE lesson in humility and patience. If you are prone to depression, I recommend asking your doctor for antidepressants early on. They won’t take effect for a couple of weeks, but that may be the time you feel most desperate. You can always stop taking them if you don’t think you need them. This time around, I’ve decided not to take antidepressants because I don’t like the side effects. I am working with a coach on alternative ways to battle depression.

Having support from friends, family, and pets has been invaluable. I share my progress, and they cheer me on. But having mental strength through this is probably the most difficult part. If you’re reading this and feeling hopeless, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Stress Management/Meditation/Massage/Exercises/Muscle Stimulation

Stress is most likely the cause of Bell’s palsy, so let yourself rest! Cancel your meetings and appointments, delegate work tasks, see if you can rid yourself of stress and anxiety. I’ve been using the Insight Timer app for a series of stress management meditations. I especially like one called “Relax, Restore and Heal” that talks about a golden light healing your body.

I am doing every kind of massage treatment: Shiatsu, Reflexology, Facial Massage, and Western Massage. I am doing light self-massage on my face, and plan to increase the pressure when I’m feeling more movement. Last time, I bought a “personal massager” for my face, and this time I am using a TENS Muscle Stimulator that a friend gave me. Another friend gave me a jade facial roller, and I’m also trying to find out more about the NuFace microcurrent device to see if that will help (Update: no definitive information, so I did not purchase it).

I do daily facial exercises: lift brow, widen eyes, flare nostrils, smile, frown, with a little assistance from my hands on the paralyzed side of my face.

I have found that daily treatments help my mental health immensely.

Be patient with yourself. Thank your body for what it can do, and forgive it for what is currently out of reach.

I’m still only two weeks into this episode of Bell’s palsy so I plan to update this guide as I move forward. I hope it is helpful for anyone dealing with this! If you want to talk, please send me a note.

4/17/2024

Movement!

I am starting to get a lot of movement! It has been 2.5 weeks. Last time, at 3.5 weeks, I wrote that I was frustrated nothing seemed to be happening. Then, at 4 weeks, movement started and progressed fairly quickly over the 2.5 weeks that followed.

I attribute this to starting all my treatments early: going to urgent care as soon as I felt my mouth start to freeze up (a Saturday), going to acupuncture two days later (on Monday), and getting my first B-12 shot then. I started all the vitamins and supplements the day after urgent care, as well. I’m wondering if the muscle stimulator also helped, plus all the massage, and all the love and support, too.

I haven’t yet seen my primary care doctor, but we have a telehealth appointment today. I will be bringing up something my dentist mentioned: that my TMJ condition (condylar hyperplasia) could be causing nerve compression, causing Bell’s palsy. I hope he will refer me to a specialist to look into this, because I DO NOT want to get Bell’s palsy a third time.

I am so grateful for this movement now, though. I will update more soon!

4/25/2024

Blinking!

I am finally blinking again. Not 100%: I still need eye drops and rest, but I’m very close. The rest of my face is very close to being back to normal, too. So grateful.

I’ll be getting an MRI on 5/5 to see if the condylar hyperplasia is causing nerve compression. There’s a chance the MRI won’t show the inflammation now that I’ve had my full round of Prednisone and the Bell’s palsy has improved. Even if it does show, that doesn’t mean I’ll opt for surgery, so I just need to find ways to keep the inflammation down.

5/12/2024

I was very close to 100% at 4-5 weeks this time, and I think I am 100% now. My right eye has been getting tired more easily than my left eye, but my facial movements seem completely back. My MRI results simply show: “Asymmetric enhancement of the genu of the 7th nerve on the right. Correlate clinically for Bell's palsy.” I haven’t found a doctor who can tell me if the condylar hyperplasia is causing nerve impingement, and if so, if there’s anything we can do about it. So: I am trying to keep stress low, and I put my box of Bell’s palsy supplies into my closet. There’s a chance I’ll need them again, though I hope I will not. For now, I am grateful for my recovery. Thank you so much for your support, and please, if you’re going through this and need support, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

6/19/2024

Update, mostly for myself: Saw the neurologist today. After reviewing the MRI, he doesn’t believe my jaw is causing nerve impingement. He mentioned that past episodes of Bell’s palsy and possibly facial trauma related to condylar hyperplasia could make me more susceptible to future occurrences. Stress management and maintaining good health are crucial moving forward. I’ve been experiencing ongoing eye quivering, possibly due to ongoing nerve healing. He recommended increasing magnesium intake and ensuring I get adequate rest, as this might be a recurring issue for me. Oh! And he discovered I have an Essential Tremor, which is new to me. Fun! So, I suppose I just continue on, keeping stress as low as possible and hoping Bell’s palsy doesn’t come for me again. Please wish me luck, and again, feel free to message me if you’re reading this and would like to chat.