bells palsy from piercing

[palsytrouble]

In early May I went to a local piercing/tattoo shop to get new earrings put into my ears. My ears had already been pierced somewhere else years ago, but I needed new rings and they can be difficult to put in. A guy who worked at this chain sold me earrings for $5 but with no receipt, then he put them in my ears. Within a few weeks I developed a terrible infection in one ear, and within days the infection grew to be so big that it blocked off the nerve behind my ear, causing bells palsy. In other words, half my face was paralyzed. I went to 4 different doctors who all agreed that the infection and the palsy was definitely a result of a bacterial infection that was caused when the piercing guy touched my ears (for the record, he WAS wearing gloves, but obviously they were dirty or the earrings themselves were dirty). My face was half paralyzed for about a month. For a few weeks I couldn't work (I work in food service), and the physical damage is still somewhat present since I still can't sleep on that side of my face or put any pressure on it without pain. I also can't drink alcohol without severe consequences, so I don't. My biggest concern is how much my medical bills are. Between the neurologist and EMT there must be over a thousand dollars if not much more. I am a young college student with weak insurance that is covered under my parents, who are poor and struggling enough--they can't afford to pay my medical bills every month for x number of years because of this. I want to sue the piercing shop but I can only assume that they don't give receipts exactly for that reason. I have heard from another person who got an infection from going to the same place. Is there anything I can do to get them to cover my medical bills?

 

[LillianX]

You can ask them. They'll probably say no. After that, your only option is to sue them. In order to be successful, you'll need proof that the piercing shop is responsible, and frankly, you don't have that. There's simply no way for a doctor to pinpoint your swollen ear to an exact point in time a few weeks earlier. The infection could have been from any number of things... not necessarily the employee of the store where you bought your earrings.

 

[ecmst12]

1. Infection is a known risk of getting a piercing.

2. Developing an infection several WEEKS after getting new earrings placed in a HEALED piercing was not caused by anything the piercer did. Once the infection started you saw how quickly it progressed, it could not have been present for weeks without you knowing it.

3. It sounds like you contributed to the problem by not seeking treatment sooner.

 

[Lezlie]

bells

Bells palsy secoundary due to herpes! not piercing

 

[LillianX]

Bells palsy secoundary due to herpes! not piercing

Bells palsy can be caused by any number of things. It's not just herpes.

 

[stealth2]

How do you intend to prove that it was his fault your piercing got infected, rather than a lack of proper hygiene on your part?

 

[csi7]

Having had three separate episodes of Bell's Palsy, I can verify that Bell's Palsy can occur through a lot of different causes.

Yes, any type of infection can bring on the facial paralysis. Several people had an episode of Bell's Palsy after recovering from the flu.

Some of the symptoms you are mentioning are possibly from other medical conditions becoming active. Stress is going to be a factor in healing of Bell's Palsy.