AN and Exercise

[golfguy49]

For a number of years now, exercise has been a struggle.   Not because of motivation, age, or pain, but because I would get light-headed and dizzy (seeing stars) and that would eventually cut my work-out short.  Even when I am not feeling any balance issues while resting, once I start rigorous exercise or yard projects, my head goes wonky on me after about 10-15 minutes.  I wonder if anyone else has experienced this sensation, and if you also believe it might have something to do with the AN?  I was diagnosed just a few months ago, but I am starting to put some puzzle pieces together as to why working out may have been so disproportionately difficult in recent years.  Even a 1-2 mile walk gets more difficult toward the end.

[notaclone13]

I have been going through almost the exact same thing as you with an AN measuring 8 x 3 mm.  At first I attributed it to being older and out of shape.  After walking 15 minutes or so I would get so disoriented I would have to sit down until it passed. During a training session at the gym that included some floor exercises, I got so dizzy I had to stop. Judging by the size of your AN it is likely of the intracannalicular variety or in the IAC.  These relatively small IAC tumors are often associated with more dizziness and balance issues than larger tumors outside the canal.  As you look through posts on the forum you will find many people with ANs experience more symptoms upon  exercising or start to experience problems with certain yoga positions. What you are experiencing is quite common with ANs, you are not alone.  Quite a few people in the watch and wait category find running, cycling and walking important to maintaining good balance despite the AN. I have found the forum posts regarding exercise and balance issues to be a very good source of information and shared experiences.

[JD808]

I also suffer from similar symptoms once my exercise level rises to the aerobic level. At 47 and a former competitive cross fitter, regular walking doesn’t affect me. It’s only when I take the intensity level up that I notice a higher level of wonkiness and discomfort.  It’s not necessarily painful, just discomfort that I experience. Tinnitus increases as well.

I am slated for removal of my AN which is in the IAC in 2 weeks due to escalating symptoms so I am hopeful this will get resolved.

[mac84]

Good morning!  I have been running 15-25 miles per week since my diagnosis back in 2014. You'll see that my AN is around 1.4 cm but I suspect that my balance was being taken over by my right side before I had the diagnosis.  I get the 'wonkey head' feeling at other times rather than exercising. About the only thing I can point to is a bit of dizziness on a run but then again that could be from the exertion in the 100% humidity and the heat in Alabama. There are times when it just is a struggle that don't make any sense given my fitness level....maybe I can point to the AN for that.

I'm on the W/W and will remain that way until something changes. I'll run as long as I can! Good luck!

[stevehernes]

How’s it going with your sports routine now? I’ve recently started doing some kettlebell swings after reading this guide on how 100 kettlebell swings a day can help with weight loss https://betterme.world/articles/100-kettlebell-swings-a-day-weight-loss/. I’ve already noticed the scale moving a little, which is motivating! I’ve been trying to stay consistent and keep pushing myself. What’s worked the best for you so far? I’m always looking for new exercises or routines to try! Let me know if you’ve found anything that’s been especially effective for weight loss or overall fitness.

[dominic12345]

I first experience with “wonky head” was while training for a marathon back in 2015.  While cooling down from a long run (18 miles), I experienced a weird balance issue and it scared the crap out of me!  As an 55 year old experienced runner, I had never encountered this sensation before.  I tried to ignore the sensation but it lingered on long after my cool down.  A week later, after my regular Doctor could not find anything wrong with my ears, I went in for my first MRI….. the first of many over the past 10 years….. and it was a week later while I was being put under for removal of a HPV growth on my uvula that the doctor looked at my chart and said “I see you have a brain tumor”.  And that’s how I found out about my Acoustic neuroma!  When I woke up from the minor Surgery,  in my semi conscious state, I started to ask questions because I thought the anesthesia had me hallucinating.  No I was not… he did say “brain tumor”.  Over the next 3 months, I found out there are not a lot of Doctors in my area that knew anything about Acoustic Neuromas.  You can read about my journey in the “Radiation” thread….

I managed to finish my training at that time and ran 2 marathons that fall…. that was the last time I was able to train/run due to my “wonky head”.  My vertigo would come and go at times leaving me unable to walk a straight line without holding on for help.

The good news… I started training again 2 months ago and today I ran 3 miles on my treadmill with zero wonky head… not once in the last 2 months.  It’s a long way from my 70-100 mile a week I used to do… but it’s a start.

Life is like a bank account, you make health deposits when things are good knowing that at some time in your life…. you need to make withdrawals.

Exercise every day!!

by the way…. who invented the MRI scanner, was it a torture chamber expert?

[dominic12345]

Thought you might find this of interest…. got the results from my MRI and it shows no change in my acoustic neuroma…. great news!!… but they are concerned with the other side of my brain that had a TIA.  So my endocrinologist made a referral to a neurologist to review my scans because i’m having symptoms of the TIA I had 5 years ago and they scheduled me in for an appointment on September 25th….. that’s 8 months away.  When I jokingly suggested that I might be dead by then, I was informed that was as soon as they could get me in!   Be sure to bring in you insurance information I was told.  Sorry…. our Medical system is truly horrible and one must have a sense of humor!!

[DanFouratt]

Dominica12345,  do you have the opportunity to travel to another location to move up the appointment? Some one on this site or the other site I am on said people travel 1,000s of miles for vacation why not for health?

Good luck on your journey,

Dan