Justin Bieber revealed last week that he’s been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, causing one side of his face to be paralyzed. In a video posted to Instagram, the pop star discussed his symptoms and announced that he’d have to continue postponing stops on his 2022 Justice World Tour until he recovers.
As you can see, this eye is not blinking. I can’t smile on this side of my face, this nostril will not move, so there’s full paralysis in this side of my face, Bieber explained.
Bieber’s diagnosis has led to several of his fans questioning what Ramsay Hunt syndrome is, what causes it and if the singer is going to be ok. Dr. Teresa O, the director of the Facial Nerve Center at Lenox Hill and Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat hospitals in New York, explained in a video that Ramsay Hunt syndrome is essentially shingles of the ear.
It’s caused by a reactivation of the chickenpox virus and all adults essentially have been infected with chickenpox at some point in their lives. The patient may get better but the virus stays in our body and it actually lives in the nerves. It remains dormant, the physician, who is not currently treating Bieber, said. At some point in time, the virus is reactivated and travels along the nerve and causes nerve damage or swelling.
Symptoms of Ramsay Hunt syndrome include facial paralysis on the affected side, shingles of the ear, pain, hearing loss, ringing of the ears, and balance issues, according to the facial nerve disorders expert.
Dr. O said anybody who has previously been infected with chickenpox could come down with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. However, the doctor stressed that it’s typically more prevalent in people over the age of 50 and those who have weakened immune systems.
Although it’s difficult to know for certain what may have caused Bieber, 28, to come down with the syndrome, the doctor theorized that a busy tour schedule, high-stress situations and anxiety may have been contributing factors.
On Monday, June 13, Bieber shared a positive update for his fans, revealing on Instagram that he’s been getting better each day. Dr. O shared that early treatment is essential to decrease the severity of the disease.
Medical therapy involves essentially two components. One is an antiviral medication such as Valacyclovir, which targets the virus. The second component is high dose steroids like Prednisone, which decrease the inflammation of the nerve itself.
60% of Ramsay Hunt patients recover fully, Dr. O added. The remaining 40% may suffer from residual weakness or residual tightness, known as synkinesis. It’s also possible that patients may experience lingering symptoms, known as post-herpetic neuralgia. In these cases, pain can be managed through neuromuscular retraining, surgeries, and more.
The expert called Bieber brave for sharing his story on social media to inform others about the disease and said it appears through his videos that the singer will be ok.
Remember that the majority of patients with Ramsay Hunt syndrome will recover fully, Dr. O said. [Bieber’s] young, he’s healthy. Also, at the beginning of this process [he] had a little bit of facial tone in the videos that I saw, so I think he should have a good prognosis. If he’s started to recover quickly, which apparently he has, that also gives us a good prognosis that he should come back fully.
