Types of therapy after surgery

[Denise S]

I posted this just under general post treatment because I was wondering what types of therapies did people have after surgies, AND why........ALSO  what doctor prescribed it?

I've had Middle Fossa a month ago and due to having other health issues, I thing some things are going slow and maybe iI'd be better off in some kind of therapy.   It is so cold and getting snowy here in MI that I don't like the walks outside.     I also have the delayed paralyss, so my eye don't close yet etc.

I forgot to ask my neurotologist about it yesterday.   He said my healing/recovery is goingi to take longer due to the extra swelling my body has endured in my head, plus some additional spinal issues I'm having.

I did tell him I got the Wii Fit Plus because I read that could help.   He started to laugh......my husband  & I looked at each ther like 'what the heck?'    He said he was so sorry and that YES the Wii fit will help very well with the balance, etc.  "If you use it"giggle again..  (he procedeed to tell us his wife wanted one so bad,  of course got one a while ago.........and it just sits there, like a lot of exerciise equipement.     (Now we understood why he laughed)

Thanks for any inputs, and let me know if you truly think anything helps!
Denise S.

[leapyrtwins]

Denise -

therapy after surgery is usually vestibular therapy - helps with balance.  My neurotologist offered to refer me to a physical therapist post op if I felt I needed it.  I declined, because I was doing just fine with the vestibular exercises he gave me to do.  

Some go to a PT, some don't.  It pretty much depends on you.  If you feel you need it, I'd ask the doctor you've been seeing for your post op followup appts. to refer you to one.

Good luck,

Jan

[CHD63]

Denise .....

A lot depends upon how quickly you regain your balance post-surgery.  Walking, walking, walking (safely, of course) is the best exercise.  Walk in different situations (with a companion beside you), e.g. grocery stores, up and down hallways, parking lots, exercise tracks, up and down hills, etc.  Progress to moving your head back and forth as you do these ..... again have someone with you who understands that you may leer sideways at first.  Beyond this, a good vestibular therapist is excellent (I went to one for many months) if you feel you need more.

Do not overdo any of this at first ...... rest bunches between and only do in tolerable bursts.  Let your body tell you when you are ready to push forward.  This may be too soon for you with all of your swelling and spinal issues.

Best thoughts.

Clarice

[cindyj]

Just as Jan and Clarice both said, it's vestibular therapy that some do post-op, some don't.  I walked just fine (relatively speaking) post-op, but had major dizziness.  I always felt it would go away on its own, especially with me being such an active person.  I did do the Wii Fit within 2 weeks of surgery and kept it up for a short time (similar to your doc's wife ).  My dizziness certainly did improve dramatically, but never completely went away.  Dizziness is really not the right word, it's more of a temporary seasick feeling.  I very rarely feel as though I might fall, but I have this yucky feeling a lot.  I notice it is particularly bad in stores, on uneven pavement, playing tennis (which I refuse to stop playing!), etc.  Anyway, I finally did start some vestibular exercises about 8 months after surgery...she actually spoke at our support group meeting - she indicated that they try to get their AN patients doing these exercises as soon post-op as possible.  In other words, I should not have waited so long (silly me).

It certainly wouldn't hurt to be evaluated by a vestibular therapist...

Cindy

[Nickittynic]

Okay, well, I've had / continue to have the whole gamut of therapy.

PT (Vestibular PT) started in the hospital and still see 2x/week on an outpatient basis. Since it was started in the hospital (couldn't walk when I first came out of surgery d/t the dizziness and left sided weakness), I had the prescription for it to continue from the resident that discharged me.

OT - I had full body left sided weakness, which I suspect is from the chunk of cerebellum they took with the tumor, so my left hand didn't do much and shook pretty bad. I had to get the prescription from the neurosurgeon with some urging by my PT. Did about a month of that.

Speech-Language Pathology - This is a new thing for me. My PT and I were noticing some issues with attention, memory, and multitasking so she suggested I see SLP for an Executive Function Test. I got the prescription from my general practitioner/family doc since my neurosurgeon was kind of grumpy about writing for the OT. Just started that about a week and a half ago and am scheduled through the month to work on the identified issues and also on some facial stuff.

Psychotherapy - Emotionally I've been a wreck so after about 6 or 7 weeks of "going it alone" I called my hospital's (where I work) employee assistance program to get hooked up with a licensed counselor.

Uhh, and I think that's it unless you count the corneal specialist/eye surgeon team as therapy. 

[Denise S]

Hey guys thanks for alll the input.   I really don't think it would be a bad iidea to try vestibular therapy even for a few weeks.     It's so cold and snowy here ,I don't want to walk outside....to nervous.

I wiill have to call around and even see  if anyone is traiined in that kind of therapy here (in a smaller town) an if so maybe ask my doctor for it.

I'm waiting to find out better answers on my spine stuff though, cause maybe full therapry would helpl

Thanks again, good thoughts and GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!

Denise S.