Bell's Palsy happens suddenly. It may start with pain behind the ear for a day or two and results in a drooping of one side of the face. It is most certainly caused by a virus and is common during periods of stress or hormonal fluctuation, for example, the third trimester of pregnancy. Sometimes the virus is shingles when the whole event is associated with pain (see Ramsey Hunt). For someone with generally good health who manages to see a doctor within the first 24 hours it is usual to be given steroids to decrease the swelling around the nerve. The steroids may be an injection or tablets, generally taken in decreasing doses for 1-2 weeks.

The first 6 weeks determine whether the nerve is merely resting or whether it has decayed and needs to grow back again - the roots will be intact.

Things to do in the first 6 weeks:-

1. Massage the face with strokes towards the ear.
2. Support the cheek with hand whilst talking - this will make the B's and P's clearer.
3. Be extra careful to keep the affected side of the mouth clean. Lodged food, lack of saliva and taste to that side of the mouth compounds the problems.
4. Try not to emphasise movement to the good side of the face.
5. Use a straw to drink if necessary but do try to put it to the centre of the mouth, completing the lip seal with finger pressure.
6. Take plenty of rest when you feel tired - give into it. The sooner your body fights off the virus the quicker things can start to recover.
7. Take good care of the eye, it cannot blink, close or water properly, it is vulnerable to damage. Use eye drops, tape the eye closed at night or whenever it feels sore and protect it from draught by wearing spectacles. Get professional help if ever the eye feels sore or gritty.
8. Mix with people as soon as possible, it does get harder the longer you leave it. Explain what happened, it could happen to anybody, almost as easily as catching a cold, so it certainly is nothing to be ashamed of.

6 weeks from onset:-

If there are no signs of change at 6 weeks you need to be referred to a physiotherapist, preferably one who has experience with facial problems. Our clinic is an international centre for the treatment of facial conditions.

The treatment involves using a small machine at home to mimic the healthy nerve signals. The machine is used for 1 hour per day and helps to maximise on the recovery achieved. Stimulation is supplemented by an appropriate exercise regime.

The first signs of movement in the cheek area will start to occur at 3-4 months and the long wait is over.

Be patient it takes time to grow healthy nerve - continue to look after your total body health and many patients also find it useful to boost the nervous tissue by taking Vitamin B Complex.

If you have had problems for many years and have at last managed to access help don't worry about the lost time. Good results have been achieved with thousands of people world wide who had been told to live with their problems.

Find out the details and give it your best try.