Andrew Lloyd Webber suffers a paralysis scare

PollyJul 30th, 2006 - 09:50:00

The information contained in this article about Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'recent paralysis scare' contains untrue information.

There is NO antidote for Bell's Palsy.

If Mr LW carries steroids and anti-virals that are usually prescribed in cases of BP, then this is NOT an antidote.
It is a treatment. Most people recover from BP without intervention (i.e. medication) or exercise.

Mr LW also states:
'If I hadn't been treated immediately I don't suppose I'd be sitting here talking to you now.' '

Bell's Palsy is NOT life-threatening, if he hadn't received any treatment, he would still have been 'talking to you now'.

Although 85% of people who get BP recover fully within 6 months, the remainder suffer from 'residual' effects, so his comment about it lasting 2 years in some cases is not true. Some people still have some paralysis after many years.

There are a number of Bell's Palsy websites providing accurate information and forums giving advice from people who have experienced this strange, and often frightening condition.
Publishing misinformation does more harm than good.

Incidentally, when I saw this article, I googled it and found an article in the Sunday times magazine dated Nov 13th 2005 which also mentions Lloyd Webber's bout of BP.
The journalist talks about 'meeting in March' so I assume that would have to be March 2005.

I find it a bit strange that a current article starts with his suffering a RECENT paralysis scare that happened at least 18 months ago.

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enigma_foundryAug 6th, 2006 - 18:17:06

I thought that the article was strange, too. His publicists must have been digging deep, or perhaps he had a relapse of Bell's Palsy, but the article isn't clear on the date, which was also odd.

The thinking that anti-virals should be given for Bell's Palsy is actually dated, but still frequently ecountered, even among the medical professions. The studies that have been done do not support the use of anti-virals, as Bell's Palsy occurs after the nerve has already become inflamed, it is thought from the same virus that causes chicken pox, although that is far from certain. The 'antidote' he is refering to also may be an anti-inflamatory, like cortisone.

In any case I had also noted that there was an outbreak of Bell's Palsy in China recently, which they had described as due to stress from many people staying up late, and being stressed out. Given the Chinese governments record with truth telling on matters of public health (think SARS here) That explanation does not hold water. I expect there is some new condition out there.

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