Reply To: Facial Paralysis

February 13, 2015 at 12:37 am

I too have residual face paralysis on my right side. Initially I couldn’t close my eye, smile or talk without slurring my words. Eating and breathing was affected too. Then there was, and still is, the itching around my eyebrow that can drive me crazy at times.

Most of my facial symptoms have been reduced substantially seven years post GBS/CIDP/MFS. I feel that I’m still improving and am more hopeful after my recent Rituxan treatments.

Funny you mentioned practicing smiling, that is exactly what I did for a long time. It helped me relearn facial expressions and how to close my eye. When I think about it, like just now when reading your post, I can sense the numbness still in my face. But I’m so used to it these days that I normally don’t notice it or even think about it anymore.

There may be some truth in the ‘three year mark’ for many of us. But I’m a “the cup is half full” kind of guy and maybe that helps me stay a little more optimistic about my recovery possibilities.

I wish you and everyone here the best recovery you could dream about!