Balance Questions

[mandy721]

Is there any correlation between how much balance there is in AN ear and post-surgery balance issues?  My husband balance test on Thursday indicated that he had still has about about  50% of his balance in the AN ear.  He thought it would be much less and thinks he has very bad balance based on his attempts to do certain yoga postures!  From my perspective his current balance isn't so bad.  Now I am worried about balance issues after surgery on Aug.4.

[CHD63]

Mandy ....

I am not a doctor, but from my research on acoustic neuromas (vestibular schwannomas) and the results on one's balance, when removing an AN the vestibular nerve is removed on that side as well.  Normally the opposite side with the good vestibular nerve takes over the entire function and the brain retrains itself to interpret the one-sided good signal.  However, if your husband's AN side vestibular nerve is operating at 50%, it means he is getting erratic signals from that side, which confuses the brain.  Many AN patients have found that their balance is greatly improved after surgery (and after the retraining of the brain) because they have one good signal instead of one and a poor half.

Others will clarify here, I am sure.

Thoughts and prayers for a successful surgery.

Clarice

[Joef]

Balance will actually seems worse after sugery (I'm assuming trans-lab)   I was on a walker for about 3 weeks after surgery... but with re-learning balance with one ear... it does become better... than the mixed up drunkin feeling I had pre-o -  will be gone.  Today.. I enjoy getting out and kayaking every change I get....

[mandy721]

He is having retro.  Based on the size of the tumor he really thought the balance in the ear was shot.  T  Tomorrow when he speaks to the doctor, he is going to ask what he might expect after surgery with the balance issue.  Mandy

[leapyrtwins]

I had retro and my balance wasn't good post op.  It did improve in time though - the body adapts.

My doc gave me vestibular exercises to do before and after surgery and they really helped.  In addition, he offered to send me to a PT post op, but I didn't think I needed that, so I declined.

Jan

[kenneth_k]

Hi,

I think it would be reasonable to expect some balance issues after surgery. But as many have said before. Things will eventually improve. I wish you luck.

Best regards, Kenneth

[Jim Scott]

Mandy ~

Your husband's equilibrium will undoubtedly be impacted by his AN surgery but it can and does improve, with time, (balance) exercises and a lot of patience.  The brain has to re-learn to regulate balance with input from only one side (ear).  We wish him all the best as his surgery date draws near (Tuesday).  He'll be in the thoughts and prayers of many. 

Jim

[epc1970]

Hi Mandy
I has retro as well and though I was a little shaky right after surgery,it greatly improved over time and I think my balance is even better than pre op....even my yoga teacher thinks that!

Erin

[AMD]

my balance was a little off in my AN ear pre-op...especially when on one foot.  my surgeon told me before surgery that i probably wouldn't notice much difference or dizziness since my body had taken the better part of 8 years to adjust to the issue.  He was right on.  My right side had compensated for so long that once my surgery was over, my balance wasn't affected (except a little wobbly for the first month of recovery) and then back to normal for me. Dizziness not an issue either.