What are the residual effects of Bell's Palsy?!

What are the residual effects of Bell's Palsy?

I had Bell's Palsy in 1999 and have residual effects now. However, by all accounts it seems that I am in the minority. Other people who have had it seem to recover completely within a few weeks.

I have to add that it is not a problem having residual effects. I can eat and speak okay (and others can vouch for that!). Also problems related to my eye not closing are okay because I can blink okay. I do have a 'synchineses' so my eye and mouth go 'in synch' but that just means people think I am winking at them across the dinner table.

If you have it after 6 weeks then I guess you may be left with something residual. I eventually got referred to a physio who said I should have seen her from the beginning. She said the synchinesis wouldn't have been so bad if I had. So, if you have had it for a few weeks and it's not improving then you should push for physio now.

I think accupuncture is also a good therapy.

I also think the perception and treatment is appalling. All people seem to think about is how you look. But your face is so functional and I wasn't bothered about how I looked because I felt so bad physically. I waited weeks to see a 'specialist' who deigned to advise me on my hair and make-up and had nothing to say about the actual illness!! You should have seen the state of her too!