"Bell's palsy is an idiopathic (of unknown cause) facial paralysis that occurs on one side of the face. It results from damage to some part of the 7th Cranial Nerve (the facial nerve) that arises in the Pons area of the Brainstem. In Multiple Sclerosis, Bell's palsy-like symptoms are usually caused by a lesion in this area."

"No effective treatments have been found although steroids are often prescribed although there use for this condition is controversial. Facial massage is probably the best treatment. Recovery usually takes place without treatment within 3 months and almost certainly with a year."

http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/Bellspalsy.html

Cherie