subject: Bell's Palsy And Your Life [print this page] Bell's palsy is a condition where the nerves in the face become so inflamed that one side of a person's face is paralyzed. The disease is most common in younger and older people. The paralysis usually happens suddenly and only lasts for a few weeks before going away on its own.
Symptoms for Bell's palsy usually include noticing that one side of your face is droopy and you cannot close your eye. Other symptoms include drooling or excessive tearing of one eye. You could feel numbness in the side of your face that's drooping, or you could even lose some of your ability to taste. You could have an increased sensitivity to sound, or even pain in or behind your ear.
Anti-inflammatory drugs are usually prescribed for this condition, because doctors aren't exactly sure why it happens or what the cure is. It works for them to cure the symptoms for the duration of the disease, which is generally thought to be viral. In the United States, 1 in 6,800 people suffer from Bell's palsy annually. This number makes the disease seem quite rare, which it is, but there are 40,000 cases in the U.S. every year. Some patients even get Bell's palsy more than once.
One of the problems most patients complain of when they suffer from Bell's palsy is the way they look. When one side of your face is paralyzed, it is clear to everyone who comes in contact with you. It's frustrating for many patients who are trying to get their facial nerves to work when they simply won't. Patients often feel embarrassed and alone, because there aren't that many people who suffer from the disease. It's normal to feel self-conscious and alone if you just got Bell's palsy, but there are things you can do.
There are a number of support groups and forums on the internet where Bell's palsy sufferers can come together and talk about their experience with the disease. Families of those suffering from Bell's palsy can get involved too. There are topics up for discussion, such as how long the disease lasts for different patients, whether they've had it more than once or not, and how they are self-conscious and miss their smile.
The National Organization for Rare Disorders supports the research and development of rare diseases, such as Bell's palsy. There are a number of other organizations that deal with conditions associated with nerve damage. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke also support the research that is being done to understand the nervous system better and how it misfires and doesn't work properly from time to time.
If you're suffering from Bell's palsy, it's important to know you're not alone. There are people out there who are feeling the same way as you. These people have tips and tricks on how to alleviate the pain you feel every day, and how to hide your symptoms and your self-consciousness.
by: Cory Ross
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