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Baylor Coach Mulkey Diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy

Sports

March 29th, 2012 by Jim Field

WACO, Texas (AP) — Baylor coach Kim Mulkey has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis she says won’t change her approach going into the NCAA Final Four.

Mulkey said Thursday that her tongue started feeling strange at the NCAA regional in Des Moines last weekend. Before practice Wednesday, she noticed only the left side of her mouth was working when she smiled, her right eye was drooping and she couldn’t hear properly out of her right ear.

Mulkey went to a doctor rather than going to practice Wednesday.

Trainer Alex Olson says Mulkey is being treated with anti-viral medication and oral steroids to reduce the inflammation of the facial nerve that causes the problem.

Baylor plays Stanford on Sunday in the NCAA tournament semifinals.