Your balance is essentially controlled by the interaction of: 1) your cerebellum (through the inner ears), 2) muscles (especially foot muscles), and 3) vision. If your AN destroys one inner ear your cerebellum gets useful information from your good ear, but gets bogus information from your compromised inner ear. Thus, it is difficult to keep your balance when you walk on uneven ground in the dark as most of us have experienced. But if you can “reset” your cerebellum and at the same time retrain your feet to walk more solidly you can regain most of your balance.
I had a 15mm vestibular schwannoma in 2001 that destroyed my left inner ear when it crushed the 8th cranial nerve and blood supply to the left inner ear. I was falling all of the time and in the dark I didn’t even know I was falling until I hit the ground (or whatever I landed on). After a few months of that I decided to retrain my cerebellum using specific exercises to retrain each of the three semicircular canals in the inner ear—it worked!. It took about two months doing the exercises once or twice a day to reset my cerebellum. After that once a week was sufficient and now, 17 years later, once ever month or two does the job. Your daily/weekly/monthly need for these exercises will depend on how compromised your balance is, but you can figure it out.
If you want to use these exercises to improve your balance click on the following link for instructions and a video:
Hi, Did you have the AN removed in 2001? I have a 9mm left sided AN and I am currently on watch and wait with another mri scheduled for February. Best wishes, Damian
Yes, but I used Gamma-Knife surgery since it is quick and I was in and out in a few hours (the actual procedure only took 18 minutes). The AN (vestibular schwannoma...VS) was only 15 mm, but that's all it took to crush my 8th cranial nerve and the blood supply to my left ear. If you do NOT have a VS, just an AN, then time is not of the essence; your ENT and past MRI will tell you whether it is or not.
Many thanks - although I'm nearly 7 years on fr. diagnosis (3 cms VS), surgery and Gamma Knife, and balance is not the big issue for me now, I'm going to do these exercises just to ensure I'm doing all I can for my brain and head. Staying on top of the physical symptoms as much as possible is a huge benefit. Thanks again!
I have a tingling like sensation in my left ear that has been coming and going for awhile now. I also have tmj I wonder if it is related. I also have some bouts of lightheadedness upon waking and need to eat. Is there anything I should be concerned about do u think ?
I am a Doctor of Bioengineering from Carnegie-Mellon U. that has helped organize the health care professions since 1971. In 1980, when I organized the "Holistic Dental Association", the main focus was on TMD (temporomandibular disorder) whose main cause, other than physical trauma, was food allergies. You might try to see what foods trigger your TMJ pain. It also helps to "iron" your TMJ muscles when stiff/painful by pressing hard to massage those temporalis muscles. Do the same for your lower jaw masseter muscles. Do this for about 1-15 seconds each to get rid of the "trigger points" in those muscles that pull on your jaw joint and cause pain.
The lightheadedness and ear tingling can be caused by almost anything and I can't help you with that, but the TMJ massages might help.
Hello, I am 4 years post opt an have started having headaches and dizziness again. feeling like I'm going to pass out. I have seen my neurologist also had a MRI & MRA and all is good.
I diecied to do some research and came across this site. I have never reached out it seemed no one understood. Thanks for the advice i,m going to start the exercises!
Thank you so much for sharing these exercises.
I have been constantly dizzy & partially deaf since Apr 2023. MRI scan found an 11mm VS in August. I am awaiting treatment (will probably be gamma knife)
Before I started doing these exercises I was feeling very down - it seemed like I was going to be dizzy for the rest of my life. But I have been doing them 3 times a day for a week now, and I've noticed a moderate but definite improvement already.
Walking on the spot with eyes closed, and walking heel to toe, are both showing improvements. I'm steadier on my feet and feeling generally more stable.
This has given me a lot of hope that things can improve further. Thank you again!
Hi ! My balance hasn’t been great after surgery removed a 32mm schwanomma , lost my hearing in one ear and have struggled with balance ever since. Something happens to me a year ago where suddenly I was worse than before and it has stayed that way. Can’t go into a shop for more than 5 minutes or I feel sick etc due to my balance and brain doesent like different surroundings now.
My verstibular has quit on me and they couldn’t make it responsive after the operation.
But I will try your excursuses and see how things go.
Thanks for endorsing the benefits of regular vestibular exercises for balance issues following surgery for acoustic neuroma.I had my doubts the brain could be 'rewired' with these exercises as I found myself with severe balance problems after retrosigmoid craniotomy in '22.
I have an excellent supportive MDT in the UK who convinced me repetitive vestibular exercise is the key to retraining the brain and getting back to a new normal. They were right.
Hello Sarah, I have sent a message to the Dr ( in America) for information on how to buy it, but if you have access to this would you please forward to me on how to purchase a copy. Thank you,
Hi ya you don’t purchase it. The link they give directs you to another and that has the instructions.
It’s quite simple have forgotten the details but you walk with head tilted on one side arms in front ? Then return in a particular way… it’s basically getting head & balance mechanism in our ears used to those motions. It’s not an item to purchase
could u please tell me those brain excercises . I’ve had Gamma knife surgery twelve years ago . I’ve been having balance problems. I’m deaf in one ear .
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