Does any one know anything about bellspalsy?

Question: Does any one know anything about bellspalsy!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Signs and Symptoms of bellspalsy
Advertising Disclaimer
The most common symptoms of Bell's palsy are facial weakness or paralysis, a dry eye or mouth, and problems tasting!. The severity of symptoms depends on the extent of facial nerve damage and varies from mild weakness to complete paralysis!. Bell's palsy usually affects both the upper and lower parts on one side of the face!. Both sides of the face are affected in less than 1% of cases!.
Symptoms usually come on suddenly; in about 60% of cases, patients are recovering from a recent upper respiratory infection or other viral infection!. Several hours before the onset of facial weakness, many people experience pain behind the ear or in the back of the head!. In addition to paralysis of the face, other symptoms include the following:
Dizziness
Drooling
Dry mouth
Facial twitching
Hypersensitivity to sound
Inability to blink or close the eye, tearing, and dry eyes
Impaired sense of taste
Impaired speaking

Bell's palsy is self-limiting!. Symptoms do not spread beyond the face and do not worsen once they "peak!." Between 60% and 80% of patients experience complete recovery within a short time, whether or not they receive treatment!. Others are left with varying degrees of facial disfigurement, paralysis, or muscle spasms!.
Recovery time varies from a few days to a few months, depending on the amount of damage to the facial nerve!. Approximately 7–10% of patients experience a recurrence!.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of Bell's palsy is often based on symptoms and by ruling out other disorders!. Other conditions that may cause facial paralysis include facial tumors, certain cancers, and autoimmune diseases!. The physician can usually exclude other disorders by taking the patient's history of symptoms, and by examining the head, neck, ears, and eyes!.
Advertising Disclaimer
During the physical examination, the doctor observes the patient's range of movement in different parts of the face (e!.g!., raising and lowering the eyebrows, closing both eyes)!. If one eyebrow cannot be raised or can only be lifted slightly, it suggests that one side of the face is weaker!. Similarly, if one eye cannot be closed tightly, it indicates a problem with the controlling muscles!. If paralysis or muscle weakness is noted in another part of the body, Bell's palsy may be ruled out through diagnostic testing!.
Imaging tests such as computerized tomography (CT scan) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scan) are used to detect infection, tumor, bone fracture, or other abnormality in and around the facial nerve!.
Hearing and balance tests are used to determine if the nerve responsible for hearing is also damaged and assess injury to the inner ear!. Tests can be performed to evaluate the eye's ability to produce tears!. The sense of taste also can be evaluated to determine the location and severity of a facial nerve lesion!.
Electromyography (EMG) assesses injury by electrically stimulating the facial nerve!. Electrical current is applied to the skin over the nerve and nerve function is determined by the amount of current needed to cause contraction of the facial muscles!. The test is often repeated to assess disease progression and the extent of injury!.
Laboratory tests can help the physician determine the underlying cause!. For example, a blood test for Lyme disease may be ordered if there is a chance that the patient was bitten by a deer tick, or a blood glucose test may be obtained to determine if the patient has undiagnosed diabetes!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Bell's Palsy, or facial palsy is an unexplained self limiting paralysis of the facial nerve!. Facial nerve paralysis can be consequence of several pathologies!. When there aren't specific and identified causes , it is called Bell's palsy, from the name of the Scottish doctor who first observed it!.
The onset is very fast (within one day) and after it there is no worsening of the palsy!.
Today researches believe it can be linked to a virus of the herpes' family (HSV1 or herpes zoster) : that is why anti-viral and anti and anti inflammatory are often prescribed!.
In the 85% of cases, it will disappear within 3 weeks by itself (for the 15 per cent of cases, complete recovery can take 3 to 6 months)!.
Pierce Brosnan, George Clooney and Katie Holmes had it
You may find more detailed info at the following links:Www@QuestionHome@Com

Katie, check out moonie's answer, pretty on the spot correct!.
The only other thing I have recently found out, via our daughter getting this, is:
MRI will show you any cranial (brain) nerves that are not happy!. Her's showed not only the 7th, but also her acoustic nerve!.
Her neurologist had an eye specialist measure the pressure in her eyes!.!.!.IF it had been elevated, the would have done a spinal tap to check for other issues too!. She had a screaming headache, which the MRI showed some "encephalopathy"!.!.!.fancy word for an angry brain too!.
She ws treated with Prednisone (a steroid) and anti-viral medications (like acyclovir)!. It has been 6 weeks, and she is fully back to normal!. She had a very bad case of it, we had to tape her eye shut at one point!.
The other thing that was really interesting to me, she was 10 months post partum!. I heard of 3 other cases of women less than 1 year after giving birth who had this!. (someone out there wanna do a study!?!?)
Good luck!Www@QuestionHome@Com

I copied this from www!.webmd!.com More specifically: http://www!.webmd!.com/brain/tc/bells-pals!.!.!.
It has some links you can check out for more information!. the topics that are available are listed as questions at the end of this article!.

"Bell's Palsy - Topic Overview
What is Bell's palsy!?
Bell's palsy is a paralysis or weakness of the muscles on one side of your face!. Damage to the facial nerve that controls muscles on one side of the face causes that side of your face to droop!. The nerve damage may also affect your sense of taste and how you make tears and saliva!. This condition comes on suddenly, often overnight, and usually gets better on its own within a few weeks!.

Bell's palsy is not the result of a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA)!. While stroke and TIA can cause facial paralysis, there is no link between Bell's palsy and either of these conditions!. Palsy simply means weakness or paralysis!.

What causes Bell's palsy!?
The cause of Bell's palsy is not clear!. Experts believe some cases may be linked to the herpes virus that causes cold sores!.1

In most cases of Bell's palsy, the nerve that controls muscles on one side of the face is damaged by inflammation!.

Many health problems can cause weakness or paralysis of the face!. If a specific reason cannot be found for the weakness, the condition is called Bell's palsy!.

What are the symptoms!?
The main symptom of Bell's palsy is a sudden weakness or paralysis in one side of your face that causes it to droop!. This may make it hard for you to close your eye on that side of your face!.

Other symptoms include:

Drooling!.
Eye problems, such as excessive tearing or a dry eye!.
Loss of ability to taste!.
Pain in or behind your ear!.
Numbness in the affected side of your face!.
Increased sensitivity to sound!.
How is Bell's palsy diagnosed!?
Your doctor may diagnose Bell's palsy by asking you questions, such as about how your symptoms developed!. He or she will also give you a physical and neurological exam to check facial nerve function and rule out more serious causes of facial paralysis!.

How is it treated!?
Most people who have Bell's palsy recover on their own within one to two months!.2 But a small number of people may have permanent weakness of the muscles on the affected side of the face!.

Your doctor may prescribe antiviral drugs, such as acyclovir, if he or she believes that Bell's palsy is caused by a virus!. If your doctor suspects that Bell's palsy is caused by inflammation from another disease, you may be given corticosteroids, such as prednisone, to reduce the inflammation!.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learning about Bell's palsy:
What is Bell's palsy!?
What causes Bell's palsy!?
What are the symptoms!?
Who gets Bell's palsy!?

Being diagnosed:
How is Bell's palsy diagnosed!?

Getting treatment:
How is Bell's palsy treated!?
Do I need special care at home!?
How is permanent facial paralysis treated!?"Www@QuestionHome@Com

It's a form of facial paralysis!. I had it for a while, thanks to Lyme Disease!. My right side of my face was half-paralyzed for a while!. It's due to damage of the Peripheral Nervous System!. It's rarely apparent now (14 years later) unless I am very tired!. The damage was pretty much temporary!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I had a mild case of it last fall!. When I smiled only half of my mouth moved and my speech was somewhat affected!. It took about three to four weeks for it to resolve itself!. I took L-lysine an amino acid for it!. My case was caused by a bad virus!.Www@QuestionHome@Com