Bell's Palsy Symptoms

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• QWhen do most people start to notice symptoms of Bell's palsy?

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  A Greenville Health System answered

  At first, most people notice pain behind one of their ears. A few hours to a few days later, they notice a sudden paralysis or weakness of one half of their face. Because Bell's palsy happens so quickly, doctors can often rule out other possible conditions, such as tumors, that take longer to produce symptoms. However, since other conditions like strokes also happen quickly, people who notice sudden facial paralysis should seek emergency medical treatment.
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• QWhat can I do to protect my eyes while I have Bell's palsy symptoms?

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  A Dr. David R. Demartini, MD , Ophthalmology, answered

  Bell's palsy is a, usually, temporary weakness in the nerve (seventh cranial) that moves the muscles of the face. It is usually weakens only one side of the face and can affect the patient's ability to wrinkle their forehead, blink and close their eye, and talk, smile or move their lips, all on the weakened side. Because Bells' palsy is usually self limited (70% fully recover) most patient's need to protect their eyes carefully until the recovery is successful.
  Protection of the eye can be a vary from simple forced blinking (if possible), frequent artificial tears or ointment, a therapeutic contact lens, patching or even temporary surgical closing of the eyelids. Your eye doctor can help make this decision depending on the amount of function of the eyelids during the palsy. This protection is extremely important because permanent scarring can develop if the eye is not moistened and protected by the normal blink mechanism. Because Bell's palsy can last for a long time, your eye doctor needs to monitor the examination of your eye frquently to be sure that the scarring does not develop. Patient's often miss the early signs of the scarring so don't rely on your own observations.

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• QWhat are the symptoms of Bell's palsy?

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  A American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart answered

  You may notice that you cannot smile on one side of your face. Sometimes, patients with Bell’s palsy temporarily cannot close one eyelid completely, which may lead to eye irritation or the feeling of something stuck in the eye.

  People with Bell’s palsy may experience facial numbness, although their skin usually retains some sensation. Pain may occur either before the paralysis begins or as it develops. Other symptoms may include:

  • Decreased tear production
  • Blurriness in your vision
  • Diminished taste sensations
  • Distortions or discomfort in your hearing

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• QShould I talk to my doctor about my Bell's palsy symptoms?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  If you suddenly experience symptoms that look like those of Bell's palsy, such as paralysis on one half of your face, you should go to the emergency room, rather than waiting for a doctor's appointment. It is important to make sure that you are not experiencing a stroke or another illness that is similar to Bell's palsy.

  If you have had Bell's palsy in the past, and especially if it runs in your family, you may wish to talk to your doctor about whether or not you are likely to have Bell's palsy again. Since Bell's palsy often occurs when people have another body condition such as pregnancy, diabetes, or a cold or the flu, you may wish to ask your doctor for more information about your condition and how Bell's palsy might affect you individually.

• QWhat facial complications are related to Bell's palsy?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Nerves must form connections in order to conduct impulses (electrical signals) that tell your muscles when to move. Sometimes, when a nerve becomes inflamed or infected, connections may form that aren't normal. These connections can produce the muscle twitching that some people with Bell's palsy experience long after their other symptoms have disappeared. Dry eyes are also connected to these abnormal links.