Lil Nas X was recently hospitalized due to a condition that left the right side of his face paralyzed.
The 26-year-old rapper, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, posted an Instagram video of himself in a hospital gown on Monday, writing in the caption: “Soooo lost control of the right side of my face.”
He seemed to be in good spirits, joking with his fans that “this is me doing a full smile right now by the way” as he showed off his crooked grimace.
Fans and fellow celebrities expressed concern in the comments, with actress Holly Robinson Peete writing, “Is it Bell’s palsy? If so, that’s not funny. 😢I hope you get better soon.”
Nas reassured everyone he was doing fine in follow-up Instagram stories, writing, “Guys I am OK!! Stop being sad for me!”
His most recent video shows the Grammy winner walking outside in a floppy hat, saying ,”It’s getting better y’all, I promise! It’s going to take a lot more than that to keep a bad b*tch down!”
While he did not specify the name of his condition, the general consensus among commenters was that it was likely Bell’s palsy.
What is Bell’s palsy?
Bell’s palsy is a sudden, temporary weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles, usually on just one side of the face. It happens when the facial nerve — which controls movement of the face — gets inflamed, swollen or compressed.
The condition can come on overnight, making it look like the person has had a stroke. But unlike a stroke, Bell’s palsy only affects the face and isn’t life-threatening.
What causes Bell’s palsy?
While the exact cause is often unknown, Bell’s palsy can be brought on by viral infections like the herpes simplex virus, which causes cold sores; herpes zoster, which causes shingles and chickenpox; and the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes mono.
Recent studies note an uptick in Bell’s palsy cases following the outbreak of COVID-19, suggesting a potential link between the two.
What are the symptoms?
The most obvious symptom of Bell’s palsy is a drooping appearance on one side of the face. Other symptoms include:
- Inability to smile, blink or raise an eyebrow on one side
- Drooling or dry mouth
- Loss of taste
- Tearing or dry eye
- Pain behind the ear or around the jaw
- Sensitivity to sound
Symptoms typically come on suddenly — sometimes within hours.
Is it permanent?
The good news is Bell’s palsy is not permanent, and most people fully recover within a few weeks to months.
Treatment often includes steroids, antiviral medication and physical therapy — as well as eye protection if the patient can’t blink properly.
A small number of people may have lingering effects, like slight facial weakness or muscle twitches.
In a rare number of severe cases, complications could lead to irreversible facial nerve damage and partial or complete blindness in one eye.
How common is it?
Bell’s palsy is a relatively common condition, affecting roughly 15 to 30 people out of 100,000 every year.
About 1 in 60 people will develop it at some point in their life.
Who gets Bell’s palsy?
Bell’s palsy can affect anyone, but it’s most common in:
- People aged 15 to 45
- Pregnant women
- People with diabetes or upper respiratory infections
- People who have high blood pressure or obesity
Stress and immune system issues can also increase the risk.
