Hello everyone! I just signed up to this forum because I feel like I need to address the long-term sufferers of Bell's Palsy. I was diagnosed around 5 years ago at the age of 14. It took me 9 months to see any noticeable improvements and I was left with a 75% recovery from complete paralysis. If you're like me, you will also have been left with synkenesis on the affected side which means my right eye closes when I do certain facial expressions or when I'm tired. Also it constantly feels like there is a buildup of pressure in the right side of my neck and I can hear scratching and my heartbeat violently most of the time. I wonder if anybody else has that after BP.

The reason I'm making this post is because recently I've been struggling massively with anxiety and depression and since then I've been really massively self conscious of my lasting Bell's Palsy. Last week I went for my first acupuncture session after reading on here that it could be beneficial not only for my BP, but for my health in general. I wasn't expecting anything but I'm willing to try anything at this point. Not only have I started to feel the tingling sensation above my right ear like I did when I first started to recover (which, to me, is a good sign), but I have noticed a difference in my face itself. It's no longer as saggy or droopy as the other one and my smile extends further and brighter on the affected side. I'm going in this week for another acupuncture session and I'll let you all know how things pan out if you're interested.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is after 5 years without complete recovery, I had given up thinking that things were going to get better but I suppose I was wrong. If you're suffering with long-term BP (1 year+), don't give up hope just yet, and please try acupuncture if you haven't already.