Bells Palsy interrupting my comeback

[JBeeBop]

Hello all! I was staging a comeback in 2019 when one November morning I woke up with Bells Palsy. Wow! Talk about making my practice impossible. Inflammation of the 7th cranial nerve left my embouchure in tatters. At 2-1/2 months I could only play up to a middle C. Above that my lips leak air out the left side of my mouth and around the horn rather than through it. I found one YouTube video of a guy in England with the same problem who was back to full strength after a year. I assume paralysis from a stroke may create similar limitations, but I am open to any ideas from anyone who has overcome similar obstacles that have destroyed your embouchure. I am still having some difficulty just drinking liquids where they want to spill out the left side of my mouth.

I welcome helpful suggestions from anyone anywhere!
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1967 Olds Model Super Brass/Silver Plated
Trying to come back after suffering facial paralysis from Bells Palsy.

[TrumpetMD]

Sorry to hear about your situation. Most people start to improve within a month, and paralysis completely resolves in most people within a year. However, as many as 10% of people can have continued weakness after a year, and for some, this weakness may be permanent.

If someone's paralysis isn't resolving, it might help to talk to a doctor. There are 2 reasons for this. First, it may be reasonable to look for other causes for the paralysis. Second, there may be a role for physical therapy to aid in that person's recovery.

Mike
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Bach Stradivarius 43* Trumpet (1974), Bach 6C Mouthpiece.
Bach Stradivarius 184 Cornet (1988), Yamaha 13E4 Mouthpiece
Olds L-12 Flugelhorn (1969), Yamaha 13F4 Mouthpiece.
Plus a few other Bach, Getzen, Olds, Carol, HN White, and Besson horns.

[JBeeBop]

Thanks Mike, my brother is a doctor and I was in the emergency room the day it showed up. I have been seeing a physical therapist, occupational therapist and a massage therapist pretty regularly between my frequent business travel. It has definitely improved, but not enough to play in public.
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1967 Olds Model Super Brass/Silver Plated
Trying to come back after suffering facial paralysis from Bells Palsy.

[TrumpetMD]

[SSmith1226]

I had his occur to me in high school. While I was recovering, i took up the Baritone Horn for a few months due to the leakage. This became my form of physical therapy. As the motor function returned I switched back to the trumpet. My embrasure moved to the left of center and the following year I was able to advance to first trumpet, second seat from second trumpet. This was not easy, but had a satisfactory outcome.

Six years later due to other obligations and circumstances I quit the trumpet for 44 years. My comeback started 4 years ago. I consciously started with central mouthpiece placement and had leakage. Mouthpiece placement gradually moved to the left and leakage stopped.

Good luck with your recovery. It is at first very discouraging, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Don’t give up.
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Steve Smith

[JBeeBop]

Thank you Steve!
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1967 Olds Model Super Brass/Silver Plated
Trying to come back after suffering facial paralysis from Bells Palsy.

[swthiel]

You might be interested in this thread. You can also search the forum for Bells Palsy. Be sure to require the search to find both terms so you don't also get discussions of trumpet bells, etc.
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Steve Thiel