My uncle went deer hunting with his brother and he came back disfigured and paralysed in one side of the face. He has to put eyedrops because one eye will not close and he feels like he got a shot from the dentist. It appeared brutally while hunting. Apparently it was cold and windy and they think it's the cause. I wonder how he was dressed and if it could have made a difference. I'm familiar with hypothermia, frosbites, snow blindness and trench foot, but Bell's Palsy is a new one for me. I think it's in the same family as stiffneck but it's worst and lasts longer. He was kind of embarrassed to show up at Christmas party. Do you have any experience or knowledge about this weird possibly cold related syndrome? It shows how fragile we are despite our desire to be tough.

Thanks

Googling "Bell's Palsy" came up with this link: http://www.bellspalsy.ws/
It has nothing to do with cold, but is caused by trauma to the 7th cranial nerve, and is not usually permanent. The National Institutes of Health http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/bells/bells.htm says that most scientists think a viral infection is the usual cause. I hope he gets better soon.

I had Bell's Palsy when I was about 12 or 13. Mine was caused from an ear infection that began to infect the bone near my left ear. They ended up having to remove the bone (I believe it was the mastoid). Took me into surgery at 1am and didn't get out until 5am. As long as he has been to a doctor to get checked out I'm sure he'll be fine. Growing up I had such a high threashold for pain that no one ever knew I had an ear infection until it was really bad. That's how I ended up with it. I guess there isn't any real help in my post but I figured I'd share my experience.

Hey, it is nice to see someone local here ... I live a bit NW of Mundelein. Welcome aboard!!

Thanks Ken, I've been trolling the boards for a few weeks just looking around. Figured I had to comment on this topic.

Thanks HokieX, thanks everyone. It gives me a better idea. So it's not really related to exposure.

Frankie

Incorrectly, any facial nerve palsy is often referred to as Bell's palsy.

The current thought is that it is caused by a viral infection resulting in swelling of the facial nerve in the temporal bone and compression of the nerve resulting in paralysis. Most ENT's will treat with a course of an antiviral (Valtrex) and steroids.

You uncle needs to go have it evaluated ASAP, since early treatment **MAY** influence prognosis. The sudden onset is a good sign. Slower onset could be a parotid gland tumor or a brainstem tumor. He needs to go to and ENT ASAP as well as an eye doc. The #1 long term problem is eye related since the eye can be unprotected for months while the paralysis resolves.

There's a book on Bell's Palsy:

Surviving Bell's Palsy: A Patient's Guide to Facial Paralysis Management (Paperback) by J. P. Dambrach

A public library may be able to get it on an Interlibrary Loan. It's kind of expensive to buy.

Sue

I have heard good results can be achieved with acupuncture, but it needs to be done ASAP

I've seen Bell's Palsy from tick bites/Lyme Disease. Is it possible he got bit by something living in the deer camp, like a spider?