Balancing nerver cut during operation, will my balance recover?

[Frederic]

Hi all,

I already had balancing issues before my AN operation as the AN was damaging my balancing nerve and the balancing nerve was cut off during the operation.

I was under the impression that my balance would return to normal after some vestibular rehabilitation seeing that the damaged balancing nerve was completely cut off but this doesn't seem to be the case?

The reason for asking is that there is a 50/50 possibility that I also have inherited a genetic disorder from which my dad and all his brothers and sisters suffer from called COCH which also causes hearing loss and balancing issues. Unfortunately it is very expensive to have this tested and I cannot have the tests done here.

Regards,
Frederic

[Greece Lover]

I don't know for certain, but in most cases the balance nerves are removed on purpose during the surgery.  This is so the AN will not come back, as it is growing on one of the two balance nerves.  The nerves do not grow back, but the brain eventually learns to compensate for the missing nerves.  With time, your balance should recover.  But it will probably always be somewhat compromised. 

this is based on my own experience, but I"m pretty sure what I've described is fairly standard.

[tsaff88]

Post surgery the rehab specialist told me that everyone's balance degrades as they age and that this type of surgery usually adds about 10 years to your "balance" age.  I had some post op balance therapy but my balance never recovered to pre surgery levels.

[ANSydney]

I've never heard of balance naturally degrading with age; hearing yes, but not balance. If someone has time and inclination it would be good to check this out.

Let's assume that balance does degrade with age. And hearing. This means that those of us that are diagnosed with an AN must do everything we can do to preserve functionality. We know that the vestibular nerve is cut during surgery and that most loose hearing during surgery. I would think that we should go to surgery only if absolutely proven to be necessary. This means significant growth as documented on serial MRIs and significant sustained symptom progression. Remember, as we age things get worse, so symptom progression must be significantly worse than age related symptom progression and sustained, since during your life you'll get all sorts of infections or problems that are not related to an AN.

Look after your body, it's the only one you get.

[LakeErie]

Frederic, my balance never returned to normal but I think we all learn to compensate. I gradually challenged my balance system over time and it improved. I tried walking while moving my head right and left and up and down. I walked figure eights in a hallway so a wall was always nearby. Even if never normal again, balance can improve and with time the deficits that remain simply become less noticeable.
How long since your surgery? Often a year or more is required in some aspects of recovery. 

[Frederic]

Hi LakeErie,

My surgery was on 16 August 2016, just over a year ago.

Regards

[Cheryl R]

The time it takes for the other side of the brain to learn to compensate for the lost balance nerve varies in everyone.    For some it has already even before the surgery, for others takes awhile and keeping up with being active helps.   Others take a very long time or it never quite returns.      Your situation of an another health issue may or may not be the cause.      I would think just time and being active will tell.                         Cheryl R