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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Bells Palsy
Answered by
This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis.
Bells Palsy
by palsygirl, Feb 03, 2004 12:00AM
Recently I had been diagnosed with bells palsy,It scared me to death when I saw my whole left side of my face starting to droop. Thinking I was having a stroke I went to the emergency room and there they told me what the cause was. However ,before and still now 2 months later I am having wierd feelings in my chest that feel like it may be my nerve endings also and headaches on a regular bases. I was wondering if there might be some kind of connection?They didn't give me much information about bells palsy and why it happens so I'm feeling a little stumped.I also went to a neurologist but really recieved the same info there ,Supposedly it's all caused due to a virus.
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Feb 10, 2004 12:00AM
, Feb 10, 2004 12:00AM
Bell’s palsy is paralysis of one side of the face and this may include not being able to close the eye on that side of the face. This is caused by damage to the facial nerve. Most commonly this damage is due to a virus. Other symptoms may include pain, tearing, drooling, a decreased ability to taste, and being sensitive to sound in the ear on that side of your face.
With or without treatment generally people with Bell’s palsy start to get better within 2 weeks and are completely better within 3 months. Sometimes the symptoms last longer. However it is also possible that the symptoms will never completely disappear.
At this time the treatment is an antiviral medicine called Zovirax® (acyclovir) and an anti-inflammatory medicine called prednisone. Together these medicines return function to that side of the face. It is also important that the eye is protected from drying at nighttime.
Please post your question with the Neurology Forum at http://www.MedHelp.org. The neurologists at the Cleveland Clinic answer these questions. They have more experience with Bell’s palsy. A pulmonologist would be the type of specialist to let you know if your weird feeling in your chest is due to a lung problem.
With or without treatment generally people with Bell’s palsy start to get better within 2 weeks and are completely better within 3 months. Sometimes the symptoms last longer. However it is also possible that the symptoms will never completely disappear.
At this time the treatment is an antiviral medicine called Zovirax® (acyclovir) and an anti-inflammatory medicine called prednisone. Together these medicines return function to that side of the face. It is also important that the eye is protected from drying at nighttime.
Please post your question with the Neurology Forum at http://www.MedHelp.org. The neurologists at the Cleveland Clinic answer these questions. They have more experience with Bell’s palsy. A pulmonologist would be the type of specialist to let you know if your weird feeling in your chest is due to a lung problem.
Member Comments (2)
by palsygirl, Feb 06, 2004 12:00AM
It's Palsygirl here again . I just wanted to add that I also smoked a little marijauna a couple of months before and had horrible chest pains ,so I have quit since then but that's when the whole not feeling well really began.I was wondering if maybe it had something in it that might have caused nerve damage or if anyone knows of anything like this I would appreciate all comments. THANKS!
