Okay, the picture sucks. I took a bunch of photos and could not seem to get the lighting right to show the muscle (that, and there isn't much of it.) Also, I don't know the name of the muscle and haven't looked it up yet (I will) so, uh, I apologize.

Check out the two muscles that run along my spine in the center of my back. In photo, the one on the right is significantly larger than the one on the left. Now I took these photos on my MacBook, and it mirror-images them, so it's the left muscle that's larger than the right. i am right handed and would think I favor all things on the right side and that right-sided muscles would be larger, by just a bit. What do you think accounts for the large difference? In life, the difference is clear and significant.

I should note I have Bells Palsy. A disorder that strikes at random times and causes the right side of my body to go paralyzed for about a month or less. I recover and continue. However, I have, since my first bout, always had some vague, ever so vague, numbness in the right side of my back. I wonder if the muscle is permanently partially paralyzed (it happens.)

I think you're referring to the erectors (http://www.exrx.net/Muscles/ErectorSpinae.html).
In all honesty, your back looks perfectly fine. :)

Yeah, this picture is really. perhaps to the point of worthless. These muscles are dramatically different in size. It's very obvious - unless I am photographing it. Then it runs and hides.

I should note I have Bells Palsy. A disorder that strikes at random times and causes the right side of my body to go paralyzed for about a month or less.


That's not "Bell's Palsy". :nono: By definition, Bell's Palsy only affects the facial nerve. I'd get a second opinion on that one!

From www.bellspalsy.ws (http://www.bellspalsy.ws)

"WHAT IS BELL'S PALSY?
Bells palsy is a condition that causes the facial muscles to weaken or become paralyzed. It's caused by trauma to the 7th cranial nerve, and is not permanent.

CAN BELL'S PALSY AFFECT OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY?
Bells palsy should not cause any other part of the body to become paralyzed, weak or numb. If any other areas are affected Bell's palsy is not the cause of the symptoms, and further testing must be done."

That's correct. It is the facial nerve. I am so tired and out of it at the moment that I don't want to argue, but a "facial nerve" does not mean that only the muscles in the face are affected by it.

I live in Austin Texas. Been here for five summers. I lived in Phoenix Arizona for ten summers. People here in Austin like to tell me all the time that the summers here in Austin are hotter than the summers in Phoenix because here in Austin we have humidity. I point out that I have lived in both climates, have experienced a quantity of summers in both, and can say from first person experience that while, yes, the summers in Austin are hot, three days of 105 and 80% humidity is nothing compared to three months of 110+ and no humidity (or clouds, or rain).

But - they've read in a book or saw on tv or heard from a friend or saw it on the net that it gets cool at night in the desert. I point out that Phoenix set an American record for the highest low at 90 (that means at the the coolest, darkest part of the night, it was 90 degrees outside). And people - people who have never been to Phoenix - tell me I'm wrong.

Oh well.

I have Bells Palsy. I've been through MRIs, physical therapy, a slew of medications and doctors and tests. I HAVE it. I'm not reading about it.

You don't have to argue, and you certainly don't have to read about it. I'll just tell you...Bell's Palsy does NOT affect any more than just the face, and it is NOT a recurrent problem. It happens, it goes away. It is a specific process affecting only the face.

If the right side of your body periodically becomes "paralyzed", that is NOT Bell's Palsy. Nothing to argue there.

I don't question whether you have that problem or not, but I know for a fact that it is not called "Bell's Palsy" if it is recurrent or if it affects more than just your face. That's all I'm saying.

I was originally mis-diagnosed with Bell's Palsy... but other body factors pointed out that was wrong. Turns out I have CMT (http://www.charcot-marie-tooth.org/). There was a point in my life where I was really tired, working long hours, taxing certain muscles... and the symptoms initially looked like Bell's.

A foot examine helped point out CMT.

I dunno what you have, but at least my doc was very specific about Bell's being facial only. I then did a fair amount of research on it and have a fair amount of it still around.

"Bell's palsy is self-limiting. Symptoms do not spread beyond the face and do not worsen once they "peak." Between 60% and 80% of patients experience complete recovery within a short time, whether or not they receive treatment. Others are left with varying degrees of facial disfigurement, paralysis, or muscle spasms. "

All I'm saying, you might want a second opinion.

All I'm saying, you might want a second opinion.

I'll second that. If your doctors want to pass off the problem you describe as "Bell's Palsy", I'd cut all ties and start from scratch.