Replied By Sue (Chapel Hill, Nc) on 08/30/2011
Hello:
I am a 56 yr old female and contracted Bell's palsy a couple months ago. The entire left side of my face was paralyzed, mouth drooping and could not close my left eye. Also, my hearing was affected - loud noises hurt my ears. I also was concerned about potential damage to the retina from the palsy in my left eye since my eye would not close unless it was taped shut. I went to Dr. Chen at the Chapel Hill Integrative Medicine clinic and had 3 acupuncture treatments once a week for 3 weeks. I am completely healed, with no residual effects. My ears are still sensitive, however, I can say (with a full smile now) that I'm as good as new!
Replied By Anonymous (Las Vegas, Nevada) on 01/08/2012
I've had bells palsy since 11/04/11. I took the steroids and antivirals right away. After six weeks with no improvement I started acupuncture. Ten sessions later I still have no improvement. I'm also taking vitamins B1, B6, and B12 and massaging with castor oil daily. It's been over two months now with no signs of improvement. I can manage the inconvenience of hearing sensitivity, drinking with a straw, and looking like two face from batman. However, I can't stand the eye pain. Severe dry eye is like cutting open an onion and just living with the burning pain all day long. Life sucks.Replied By Julie (Harrison, Arkansas) on 01/09/2012
I just got bells palsy again, well I mean again as in I had it for 7 years and about 1 week ago it came back and it's worse than before. I took medicine which never worked and now I am just dealing with all the same stuff as I did before. I hear people do the acupuncture but I am unsure it will work for me. I am looking into surgery to fix this problem- anyone else heard of this procedure?Replied By Jasonmchicago (Chicago, Il) on 01/12/2012
Keep searching, keep looking, keep positive, keep spiritual.... It may be a long road ahead. My journey started in May 2010 when I had tooth pain. Two teeth got drilled. I had been clenching my teeth nocturnally (TMJ). I finally got a TMJD diagnosis and treatment in July 2010. I felt better right away b/c the joints were put back in the correct place. Unfortunately I could not control my mouth. It would spasm and the muscles didn't work. I thought it was due to the clenching and grinding. I massaged them a little and worked to loosen them up with magnesium, etc. I had severe anxiety (unlike anything I have felt before in my life). I literally felt like I was dying (and I was). I did PT and myofacial trigger point therapy. Months went by... Almost 8 months. I tried to "relax" and be "calm" I "reduced stress" got psychotherapy, etc. After 8months I said something else is definitely going on.... I started going to PT again, went to a DO, chiro, etc. My face was out of control... The nerves, muscles, tissue, everything. I had been taking huge MSM dosages and taking all kinds of supplements/minerals but for some reason things were not getting better - but worse! I really didn't know what was going on. I did acupuncture and it helped... But the muscles would tense up right afterwards or stay tense (the never released). Acupuncture gave some relief but not that much. I didn't know what to do... My world was upside down. I still kept going. There was a little spark in me. I said, Okay maybe I won't be able to eat solid foods again... I'm doing everything I can to figure things out. I can't blame myself. I kept searching. I then went to a fibromyalgia specialist and he finally diagnosed me with Lyme. It's been 3weeks (and eye opening 3 weeks)... And I've been taking huge Vitamin C dosage (30 grams), taking dozens upon dozens of vitamins/minerals especially b-vitamins, oil orgeno, activated charcoal, etc. and changing my entire diet. I've got some of my face back.
Doing more Google work I realize that these are all linked... The facial pain, bell's palsy, TMJD, dental fillings, etc. ALL LINKED. Unliked the field of medicne... The body is one unit. It does not have "specialist" for this or that... they are all linked.
So now I've slowly regained my facial muscles, I still cannot chew but at least I know what is going on!
All throughout I looked at Earthclinic.com... After the initial 8mths of anger/bitterness I tried to think of it more of it as a puzzle. The fact that crying, being angry, bitter, dislike for other, etc. isn't going to get me anywhere.
I'm still confused. I'm still bewildered and how things change so quickly "all of a sudden" but I'm also hopeful. Slowly I'm figuring things out.
I'm going to go see a premier "biological dentist" in Houston to see the amount of bacteria that lies under my teeth. Then I'm gonig back to another southern state to my TMJD specialist... The best in the country to realign my splint (which I've been wearing for 1. 5 years). Will things be perfect? We do not now but I have learned through this experience so much... And most important accepting reality. That doesn't mean that you have to accept the "way you are now" be spiritial, be optimistic, be hopeful... And keep looking for answers. Don't give up. You don't have to accept a "new normal" but you do have to accept reality for the way it is now. You can help shape your destiny. You can help shape your future. You have to have commitment and have that little "spark" in you... And whatever you do keep it alive. Keep the spark alive... and you will be okay.
Replied By Jane (London, Uk) on 01/20/2012
I am trying to work out why no one has tried Homeopathy? I am a homeopath in training and there is no reason why homeopathy shouldnt be able to deal with bells palsy. Providing you see a reputable and fully qualified homeopath. I am in training on a BSc course in London and I know homeopathy is quite unused in the US. Please seek out an experienced homeopath and give it a try. It's not usually a silver bullet in terms of speed. Being a process that takes the whole person into account, sometimes other symptoms that may have appeared before will need to be cleared (although sometimes if an aetiology can be found & correct remedy found, healing can equally be very rapid)
Acupuncture is also good as it works on energy centres, but the practitioner again needs to be very experienced. Did you know up until the 1930s 3 out of every 5 doctors in the USA were homeopaths. Then.... Antibiotics, drug development, politics, big pharma.... They don't want people getting better!!! You do the math. Homepathy is cheap AND no side effects AND you do not need to keep taking pills - Law of the minimum dose. Get discovering....
Replied By Pat (West Chicago, Il) on 02/12/2012
Hello... I have been helping people with homeopathic remedies for over 30 years... It always amazes me the incrediable power of the correct remedy... the problem is that it is very difficult sometimes to figure out the correct remedy.Replied By Tracy (Savage, Minnesota) on 07/05/2012
Bell's Palsy is linked with Lyme Disease, just as your facial pain, TMJ and other dental issues. There are over 365 symptoms associated with Lyme. This website lists many of them: http://www.seranogroup.org//serano_docs/symptom_list_by_group.pdf
I suggest you get to a LLMD (Lyme Literate MD) and have yourself worked up for Lyme. It can be helped and thus your palsy can be resolved. Check out ilads.org for LLMD
Replied By Lou (Tyler, Tx) on 10/16/2015
My husband's Bells Palsy is linked to shingles. I don't think there is just one cause.
Jasonmchicago - If you have TMJ, why not have your dentist give you a mouth appliance? They are around $50-$100 (or they were back in the 90's). Also, I saw a post on EC about drinking 1/2 tsp. sea salt in a glass of water a day to cure Lyme's. Search for it.
Replied By Kendra (Maui) on 08/05/2016
@ Jasonmchicago - Thank you for your positive and encouraging words, they have shone a light on some of my own personal frustration. I admire that you have not given up and I find strength in hearing your journey.Replied By Pam (Nyc) on 01/18/2017
Wow! One session is a dream come true. I had a similar situation- walked out of the ER (thought I had had a stroke) with no answers or solutions and went (literally) straight to the acupuncturist. She told me she would get my face moving again in about 10 sessions and she definitely did. After session 10, I got home and the corner of my mouth was moving ever so slightly and when I woke up the next morning, 80% of the movement in my face came back. Make sure to find an acupuncturist who specializes in neurological disorders and good luck!!Replied By Chris K. (Atlanta) on 12/21/2017
Jason, that's so inspiring!
I'm impatient for medical care to catch up to Lyme, toxic mold, and environmental illnesses.
My bells palsy isn't very severe, but I'm trying to heal it as part of the overall picture of how Lyme and living in a toxic apartment for two years have affected me.
Thank you for staying hopeful, and sharing your story with us.
