Prognosis of Bell's Palsy

The prognosis of Bell's palsy is quite positive, at least for most patients. A mild case of Bell’s palsy usually goes away in about a month or so, though the exact extent of recovery depends entirely on the extent of the nerve damage. Given below are some of the facts on the prognosis of Bell’s palsy:

Patients, who are suffering from mild Bell's palsy, will probably begin to see an improvement in their symptoms within 2 weeks from when the disorder first appeared. They should resume their normal life and activities within 3 to 4 months of the onset of the condition.
For patients suffering from moderate cases of Bell's Palsy, the improvement takes place gradually and the recovery time could take up to 6 months or so.
In a few patients, some of the symptoms of Bell's palsy may be present for as long as they live.
In some rare instances, patients may suffer from a relapse of the disorder. This condition may affect the same, or even the opposite side of the face.

Though the symptoms do improve without any treatment, it is important to ensure that the condition is monitored at all times. At times, Bell's palsy could lead to certain complications, such as:

Irreversible damage to the facial nerve
Partial or complete blindness in the affected eye because of corneal damage
Involuntary contractions of facial muscles, due to misdirected nerve fiber re-growth

Therefore, as you can see, the prognosis of Bell's palsy may vary from one individual to the other. Do consult your doctor to determine the severity of your condition and the amount of time it could take you to recover from it completely.

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