Muscular and Nerve Disorders Forum - Bell's palsy or nerve failure / paralysis?

Conditions and Diseases > Muscular and Nerve Disorders Forum > Bell's palsy or nerve failure / paralysis?

Q: Bell's palsy or nerve failure / paralysis?

asked by: DoctorQuestion on March 20th, 2007

For the last few days my mums left hand side of her mouth has been gradually drooping down. At first she showed me that when she smiles she can't raise that side fully.

On mothers day (sunday) she said that her left hand side of her mouth was now completely numb and feltlike when you're given an injection at the dentists.

Yesterday when she came round I noticed her speech was lisping and the drooping was obvious even when she was still.

Now this morning she has just rang me up to say that it is much worse so she is going to the drop-in clinic at the doctors.

I'm soooooooooooo worried about her. It's getting worse by the day. could this be bells palsy?

Replies(1)

Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov , MD

replied on April 2nd, 2007

Muscular & Nerve Disorders Answer A2517

In cases of peripheral facial nerve failure (Bell’s paralysis), the mouth, the eyelids AND the mimic musculature on the frontal head are affected. In case of central facial nerve failure, only the mouth is affected. Central facial nerve failure is a condition for a neurologist while the peripheral nerves and Bell’s paralysis are under the domain of an ORL-specialist.

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