WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for December, 2001: Re: bells palsy

Re: bells palsy

From: Patti Tessler, Family Nurse Practitioner (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sun, 30 Dec 2001 23:09:40 -0600 (CST)

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In reply to: amanda: "bells palsy"

At Fri, 21 Dec 2001, amanda wrote: >
>my 55 year old mother recently woke up to find she had complete
>paralysis on one side of her face. one eye will nolonger close & her
>mouth is permanently downturned. she is very upset & alarmed by this.
>she had been suffering with a viral infection & as she is allergic to
>penicillin she was prescribed another antibiotic. could the paralysis
>be due to a reaction to the antibiotic/the viral infection itself or
>another factor?

Your subject line indicates that she's been given a diagnosis of Bell's palsy. Viral infections can go along with Bell's, as can other factors. However, viral infections are not treated with penicillin or its alternatives, so I'm confused by the history you're giving. Has she had a bout of shingles or herpes/cold sores in the facial area?

In my area of the US, Bell's palsy should always prompt a test for Lyme disease, as well. If you're in the Northeast, or some other area with a high incidence of Lyme, please check to see that a Lyme test has been done. Doctors moving into Lyme-endemic areas from other parts of the universe are often unaware of the connection.

>she has been told to 'wait & see' if it subsides & that
>theres nothing else that can be done. is this correct

Some health care providers use steroids for Bells palsy, but it's not clear that their use makes a big difference, and their use has other risks.

>& how likely is
>it that she will make a full/partial recovery?

Most people do, but individual predictions can't be made.

You may find a second opinion by a neurologist gives your mother reassurance that she's received good care from your primary care provider. If you're concerned, I would take that opportunity.

--
Patti Tessler, BSN, MSN, RN, CS
Family Nurse Practitioner

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In reply to: amanda: "bells palsy"

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