Facial paralysis / weakness in the facial nerve and muscles

Has anyone here dealt with facial palsy before?
My two-year-old was just diagnosed with it.

Matthew Kelly3 said:Has anyone here dealt with facial palsy before?
My two-year-old was just diagnosed with it.

I know a boy who developed it at age seven, apparently due to some kind of exposure to the elements...

Generally speaking, physical therapy and daily exercises resolved the issue within two to three weeks.👍

Matthew Kelly3 said:Has anyone here dealt with facial palsy before?
My two-year-old was just diagnosed with it.

My little cousin dealt with this back in the spring—it was an inflammation of the facial nerve—and his entire side was just paralyzed; he couldn't even close one eye... it cleared up completely in about a month, but let me tell you, no doctor out there is ever going to give you a 100% guarantee on a full recovery.😉

Even my guy can’t keep his eyes closed, so I’m stuck constantly using eye drops. They told me it’s actually a huge deal if that facial paralysis kicks back in—apparently, every time it happens, the recovery process just gets harder and harder to manage

Matthew Kelly3 said:Even my guy can’t keep his eyes closed, so I’m stuck constantly using eye drops. They told me it’s actually a huge deal if that facial paralysis kicks back in—apparently, every time it happens, the recovery process just gets harder and harder to manage

...honestly, I'm not sure if they put her on antibiotics or not... her little one was actually on corticosteroids.

He didn't actually get any antibiotics—it was just some steroids—plus a massive amount of gummy candy since he’s way too tiny for an electric stim machine yet!

Matthew Kelly3 said:Has anyone here dealt with facial palsy before?
My two-year-old was just diagnosed with it.

Hey,
I went through Facialis paralysis myself... caught it from a nasty draft. The doctors over at Salat told me it can also be triggered by massive stress. I had to get 21 different injections (nerve blocks) behind my ear... man, the doctor has to go super slow with those because it feels like your entire face is about to explode.

Plus, since I was stuck in the hospital at the time, they did some imaging on my ear and found out I’d been dealing with several chronic ear infections without even knowing it (I didn't feel a thing... while other people are absolutely dying from them). Now, my hearing in that ear is a bit muffled... the docs say I have to be extremely careful (stay away from drafts!) because it could come back.
Because of all that, I'm constantly bugging my pediatricians and my primary doctor to check my ears... it's non-negotiable!!!! They often find infections that I don't even feel.

Wishing the little one the best of luck... my heart really goes out to you!

Thanks so much for the kind words, lonehound18! Honestly, there’s a massive silver lining to being this little—the doctor actually mentioned that kids who deal with facial palsy later on can really struggle with their self-image because, let's be real, it’s not exactly pretty to look at. We went in to get the ear checked out, but everything came back totally clear. There's this thing where a tiny bone fragment in the ear can press against a nerve and trigger the palsy, but the doctors already ruled that out for my little one.

Matthew Kelly3 said:He didn't actually get any antibiotics—it was just some steroids—plus a massive amount of gummy candy since he’s way too tiny for an electric stim machine yet!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything turns out fine👍... BTW: tell them to find some doctors to check his ear once the therapy is done just to ensure there isn't any permanent damage😉...... oh, and let those big ol' chewable tablets do their job if they're actually safe to use—that is, if he isn't too little for them yet.😉

My aunt actually went through this... she got hit pretty hard by the wind while riding her motorcycle out in a storm...
She ended up having to deal with injections for a month and doing facial exercises just to get her expressions back—she honestly looked a bit like my grandpa used to after his stroke...
She’s doing great now, though. That was a few years ago.

I went through this myself
Last November, right when the cold weather started setting in, I woke up one morning feeling this weird tightness on the left side of my face.
The diagnosis was Facialis palsy.
My treatment plan was pretty intense: I took plenty of Vitamin B complex, went in for electrotherapy sessions, and did light therapy with a photolamp. They actually suggested I get as much sun exposure as possible—specifically targeting my left cheek—which was a bit awkward given how freezing it was outside. I also spent time doing facial exercises, like practicing smiling and frowning...
I also drank a herbal tea blend that actually helped quite a bit. It was a mix of yarrow, chamomile, and the star ingredient, thyme.
While I was at the hospital for my treatments, I noticed this condition affects everyone from kids and pregnant women to the elderly. From what I could tell, the treatment for children seems almost identical to adults, though maybe the electrotherapy sessions are just shorter.
As for me, everything is back to normal now. I have full control over the left side of my face again, and the whole process took about two months.
It’s worth noting that for some people, it never fully clears up, while for others, it tends to recur.
During my recovery, I was also given block injections and Burizon (if I recall correctly).
If you're looking for advice for a child, I'd recommend using warm compresses on the tight area and sticking to that herbal tea I mentioned. It really works—they can drink it and even use it as a rinse to wash their face.

Matthew Kelly3 said:Has anyone here dealt with facial palsy before?
My two-year-old was just diagnosed with it.

Hey there,
I am honestly so sorry about what your little one is going through... but listen, it isn't as catastrophic as it feels right now.
I just wanted to reach out here—try to lighten the load a bit and offer some comfort.
I know it looks pretty scary... but since your child is still so young, this kind of thing won't leave a lasting mark on their psyche in today's world.
I’m saying this because I went through it myself when I was twelve—not to ramble, but you know how kids can be... and don't even get me started on the names people used to call us back then.
Treatment methods are lightyears ahead of where they used to be, too. If you've done any digging online, you'll see that in 99% of cases, things return almost to normal—usually without heavy meds, just B-complex vitamins and physical therapy. When I had facial paralysis, it hit the left side of my face... and I have to admit, looking back after 28 years, I looked pretty terrible for a while. Back then, they used neck injections combined with B-complex shots in the hip—it lasted seven months, every other day. But thank God, everything eventually moved back into place.
To be totally honest, it would be a lie to say it disappeared 100%... there are tiny traces left, though you barely notice them. Even now, I feel a slight tightness on that side of my face sometimes—so I try to stay out of drafts and cold weather as much as possible. I’m rambling here, and I haven't even told you the stupid way I actually caught it... basically, we were on a road trip one winter, I leaned my head against the window and fell asleep, and when I woke up, I couldn't talk—just sort of mumbled nonsense.
Anyway, dear, I hope this helps soothe you at least a little. It’s hard to find the right words when a child is sick... I have three of my own, so I can only imagine what you're feeling.
Best regards, and give the baby a kiss for me.🙂🙂🙂

I know she’s going through quite a bit right now... I am just sending all my love and wishing that little one the fastest recovery possible!

Sadly, I dealt with Bell's Palsy when I was six months pregnant, and let me tell you, it was incredibly painful and such a frightening experience to go through... For me, it was pretty severe; I couldn't even close my eye, and my mouth felt like it was being pulled all the way up toward my ear. Since I was pregnant, the doctors wouldn't prescribe any specific medication other than standard pain relievers, so they just advised me to do facial exercises as much as possible. I actually ended up using medical tape to keep my eye closed at night, which wasn't exactly glamorous, but it was totally worth it because everything finally returned to normal within about a month...

I am once again wishing that sweet baby a very speedy recovery! 👍

Woke up this morning and my right side feels completely numb. It’s been going on for a few hours now. My right eye won't stop tearing up and the blinking feels sluggish. I can't taste anything on the right side of my tongue, and I can't even purse my lips properly. Does anyone know what this could be? Should I head straight to the ER? Please answer ASAP. THANKS!😕

Go see a doctor immediately. You might be having a stroke.

I’m pretty sure my brain is stuck at age 15.

Jamie Turner8 said:Woke up this morning and my right side feels completely numb. It’s been going on for a few hours now. My right eye won't stop tearing up and the blinking feels sluggish. I can't taste anything on the right side of my tongue, and I can't even purse my lips properly. Does anyone know what this could be? Should I head straight to the ER? Please answer ASAP. THANKS!😕

Nah, just take it easy... hang out here on the forum, don't let anyone get to you👍

Whatever it turns out to be, it isn't good news. Get yourself to a doctor immediately!

I'll wait another hour or so, then I'm heading to the doctor since it looks like this is finally clearing up.

Don't be an idiot. Even if you think you're getting by, it isn't normal for that to be happening to you. Get yourself to a doctor immediately.
Honestly, you men... you wouldn't even show up at the doctor if you were on your deathbed.