Bell's Palsy Essay

Bell’s Palsy, named after a Scottish anatomist named Charles Bell, is a form of facial paralysis in which one side of the face suddenly cannot be controlled through the normal facial muscles (1). One thing characteristic of the condition is its suddenness and apparent randomness – as with my mother, it can often come along in the middle of the night. Bell’s Palsy is idiopathic, meaning its general cause is unknown. In fact, another name for the disease is “idiopathic facial paralysis.” (2) (You can imagine my frustration at trying to research the known causes and then realizing that by definition it has none). A great deal of diseases may lead to facial paralysis, among them tumors and strokes, but when no preceding physiological disease or condition can be pinpointed, the diagnosis of Bell’s Palsy is given.

It is important to distinguish between Bell’s Palsy and strokes, because most people who experience Palsy at first believe they have gone through some kind of stroke (3). This is understandable, as many of the symptoms are similar, if not identical, but most of the time those with Bell’s Palsy will recover almost immediately, within a matter of weeks (4). George Clooney and Pierce Brosnan, two of the world’s most famously handsome actors, both suffered from Bell’s Palsy in their younger years (5), and if their movies and celebrity status are any indications, they have both made full recoveries. Moreover, Bell’s Palsy is the most common kind of facial paralysis, common enough that 1 in 60 people will experience it at some point, and 40,000 Americans experience it per year (6); these facts I discovered were useful in taking care of my mother and reassuring her that all will be well.

While Bell’s Palsy is technically idiopathi...

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...use there are many more in addition to simple paralysis. Just to review, without the facial nerves functioning properly, literally any movement involving eyes, forehead, and mouth (among other parts) will be hindered. In addition to memory problems there may be balance problems as well. I can personally attest to the fact that Bell’s Palsy makes you feel sicker than just not being able to move part of your face, because observing my mother these last few days, it seems she has come down with more of a flu than anything, which makes a whole lot of sense given these myriad side effects. Most dangerous perhaps of all these symptoms is the potential adverse effects the Palsy can have on the eye. The cornea may become dry from too much exposure and in general the eye could get dirty from lack of closure. As a result, eye drops and often eye patches may be necessary (12).