Balance Testing pre surgery?

[debraclark]

Its me again. I forgot to mention before when I had my appointment with the ENT he also mentioned besides meeting with the neurosurgeon that I would need to get some balance testing done which takes close to 2 hours. Have not been scheduled yet but was curious if anyone else has had that done before surgery. He said it is to see how dizziness and off balance I would be after surgery if at all?  Thank you.

[CHD63]

Hi Debra .....

It is rather common to do balance testing during the diagnosing phase ..... but I'm puzzled by the reason being to tell how off balance you will be after surgery.

Yes, the tests will give some degree of knowledge as to how your vestibular nerves are functioning (or not functioning) now, but I've never heard that used to determine how you will be post-op.  I am not a doctor so just curious here.

Perhaps he is saying that if the tests show poor to no functioning of your vestibular nerve now (on your AN side) ..... and if you are having no particular balance issues right now, that is an indicator that your brain has probably already compensated by shifting the balance job over to your good vestibular nerve ..... and you would have less balance issues post-op when they remove the damaged vestibular nerve.  If the AN has not particularly affected the function of the vestibular nerve to this point, then you potentially will have considerably more balance issues post-op.

Just my thoughts .....

Clarice

[debraclark]

Thank you Clarice you are probably right.

[millie]

Debra and Clarice-
Is the balance testing more than a walking test heel to toe and a few other simple exercises?  I am just wondering if I will be given one prior to surgery. Thanks Millie

[debraclark]

Millie, I am still new to this Journey and don't have a surgery date set yet. I see Neurosurgeon next wednesday. But when I just recently met with the ENT Specialist he indicated that I would need to do balance testing prior to surgery, I asked him how long that takes and he told me close to two hours, I guess they do all kind of stuff with rest periods inbetween but the one thing I am told is that they at one point put water in your ears to see if you become dizzy? I don't look forward to that but something I will just have to trudge thru I guess. All the best to you in your upcoming surgery!

[millie]

My prayers are with you too, Debra.  Thanks for the info-I wil have to ask my ENT if my pretests include balance.  I think I would like that.

[lkdowell1]

I am newly diagnosed in July. I had a balance test done. ENT recommended because of the balance issues I have. It took more than 2 hours for me. My dizziness and balance is slightly effected by the neuroma. I had to stop all medicines that might cause dizziness before the test. They did find an artery that is pinched when I look up and to the left. This can cause dizziness and fainting. I understand the doctors are trying to get a baseline of hearing, balance, facial weakness before the treatment starts.

[debraclark]

Thank you Ikdowell1 for your response. Did they do the water in your ears thing? If so how do they do that?

[arizonajack]

You are probably referring to Videonystagmography (VNG) testing.

http://www.stopdizziness.com/services_vng.asp

I had it after my MRI came back with the AN.

It does take an hour or two.

It will give you baseline readings before surgery that can be compared after surgery if your balance issues change.

[It is what it is]

HEI did the balance test with water in the ear before surgery but didn't do it afterwards.  They knew I had vestibular issues afterwards. 

karen

[mk]

Perhaps he is saying that if the tests show poor to no functioning of your vestibular nerve now (on your AN side) ..... and if you are having no particular balance issues right now, that is an indicator that your brain has probably already compensated by shifting the balance job over to your good vestibular nerve ..... and you would have less balance issues post-op when they remove the damaged vestibular nerve.  If the AN has not particularly affected the function of the vestibular nerve to this point, then you potentially will have considerably more balance issues post-op.

Clarice got the explanation exactly right. This is how the neurotologist who ordered my VNG test explained why he was ordering it. He wanted to assess the potential for balance problems post-op. Indeed, the test (water in ears and all) came back with 90% weakness on the AN side, even though I had never experienced balance issues. Obviously my other side had  compensated over the years, and as a result I didn't experience any balance problems post-op either.
My understanding is that this test is not necessary, and not all doctors order it before surgery.

Marianna

[arizonajack]

My understanding is that this test is not necessary, and not all doctors order it before surgery.

Marianna

The people at the VNG test facility were surprised that I had been referred for the test after the MRI found the AN and I already had SSD and balance issues.

The VNG is basically used as a diagnostic tool to evaluate symptoms of balance issues prior to any other diagnostic procedure.

Anyway, my test (paid for by the VA) was was done at a university hearing research center by a professor and a student. At least the student got something out of it.