facial paralysis and balance after surgery

[claireb]

i would like to know whether anyone on this forum suffered facial paralysis after removing a large AN. Also if you suffer from balance before surgery (my mum needs help to walk or else she loses her balance every time) is it solved after the operation, does it remain the same or does it get worse.  Her AN is in her left ear so I don't know whether that makes a difference.  Up to January her balance wasn't that bad but since she got diagnosed, it has got really bad.  So I don't know whether it is happening to her subconsiously.

[nancyann]

Hi Claire:  Most all post ANer's experience balance problems - I don't know of one after surgery who didn't.   It takes awhile for the opposite side to compensate the loss of balance, months to walk better.   I also have facial paralysis - it's not necessarily the size of the tumor - people have had surgery on larger ones than mine & have no facial paralysis.  The problem is the condition of the facial nerve, & the docs won't know that until they get in there.  I didn't have any balance problems before the surgery, just after - it does get better, but like I said takes months - I'm almost a year out & still am not back to normal, but getting there.   Wishing you & your mom all the best.  Nancy

[Jim Scott]

Hi, claireb:

Nancyann is correct. 

To my knowledge, there is no precise or definite linkage between the size of the acoustic neuroma tumor and post-operative facial paralysis.  It's the positioning of the tumor and the surgeon's skill in removing it that have the greatest influence on possible facial paralysis following the AN removal surgery.  For your encouragement: my AN was relatively huge (4.5 cm) and I had no facial paralysis, before or after surgery.  However, as no ethical surgeon can guarantee the outcome of a surgery that holds real possibilities for post-operative complications, I won't presume to do so either, for the sake of being realistic.

I'm not a physician or a psychoanalyst, but I doubt your mums recent loss of balance is psychosomatic or has manifested itself simply due to the power of suggestion generated by her AN diagnosis.  Like most AN patients, my balance before my AN surgery was poor.  I could not walk a straight line and absolutely had to grasp the handrail when ascending or descending stairs - or risk stumbling on them.  I suffered these symptoms for weeks before I was diagnosed (or had even been examined by a doctor).  Following my surgery and subsequent radiation, my balance has slowly but steadily returned as my brain compensates for the hearing loss on my left side.  I can walk a straight line and have no trouble walking up or down stairs.  Grasping the handrail is now optional for me.  Although my initial recovery was fairly rapid, it has taken me a year to feel as if I've recovered completely.  FYI: I'm now 64. 

Jim

[chrissmom]

Hi Claire,

Chris had a huge 5.3cm tumor.  His balance problem was becoming noticable before the surgery.  His first surgery related to the tumor (of 6) was to position a shunt on the opposite side.  It was after the shunt surgery that Chris experienced extreme balance and walking issues.  The Neuro-Surgeon attributed this to the fact that the cerebral-spinal fluid (CSF) was somehow cushioning the pressure on the brain stem.  At this point, he was like your mum but unable to care for himself or to walk.  I got him a walker and a wheel chair.

Following surgery, the pressure was released from the brain stem and his balance and walking rapidly returned.  Now, I need to mention that Chris had just turned 22 at this point.  His youth may have had an effect on how rapidly he recovered.  I might also mention that he had a very strong will, his determination and strength to beat the effects of the tumor had more influence than anything.  My advice is to keep a very positive attitude.  It makes all the difference.

Chris has facial paralysis.  He has a gold weight in his right eyelid.  He drinks with a straw.  He has had the jump graft surgery and we are beginning to see some improvement.  He can raise his eyebrows now.  The Facial Nerve specialist attributes this to regereration of his own facial nerve which was stretched and flattened by the tumor.  It was not cut and is beginning to repair itself in this part of the face.  The anastomosis is helping the area around the mouth.

Things do get better after the surgery.  Slowly.....but they do improve.  Chris can run now, drive a car again and is planning to return to college in the fall.

It's hard being the caregiver...I know.  It's hard to watch and it's down right scary at times.  Things get better and the support of this forum is wonderful.
Rita

[Joef]

a AN surgery is a test of one's inner strength !! I too had a walker in the beginning, drank with a straw... even had lunch with my father-in-law .. had a beer... realized I could not drink it.. so I asked the bar keep for a straw.. and enjoyed it !!!!  today... I am driving (and even broke some land speed records on a trip to Italy!) ..my face is still getting better..(but far from perfect) ... its been almost 2 years, my recovery is still on going, but I'm making the best of things.. and enjoying it even more    ....

[OTO]

I'm 4 weeks post-surgery and my face is still recovering.   My facial nerve was stressed, and so my face is a little numb.  The docs say that as I came of the anesthishia, my face was okay, so they don't think the nerve was permanently damaged.   It should recover in several months.   Balance takes exercise and time.   I'm still very dizzy when walking especially outdoors.   I haven't been very diligent in doing the exercises.