Length of operation

[Susan07]

How long does an operation to remove/reduce an acoustic neuroma usually take?

[Moorside89]

Hi My operation took 10 hours.

[Silversmith2000]

Hi, I had a translabyrinthine op and it took 13 hours, very successful. Good luck!

[Steve_04]

Hi, it all depends on size of the AN but also as to how much experience the surgeon has.The general timeframe is 8-10 hours but the bigger it is, it can take 10-14 but then if it’s difficult like mine it could take longer.

Mine was 17 hours and it wasn’t fully removed.

[Kristyll]

They are all very different, rather than size it depends what crucial nerves etc are nearby or hooked up, so many variables and of course the skill of the surgeon. Good luck

[Gardener21]

Hi.. it’s dependent upon lots of variables, each experience seems to be very individual.. mine took 12 hours, trans labyrinthine approach and was debulked by 95%.. (on 23.04.21) very successful, my recovery has been great, make sure you have some vestibular physio in place when you’re discharged if you have balance issues.. I have a few minor side effects but a small price to pay for the removal of a 2.2cm tumour.. good luck! xx

[MichiganPhil in reply to Gardener21]

Hi Gardener21. How long did it take you to over come balance issues?? And what kind of exercises were you doing ??

[Gardener21 in reply to MichiganPhil]

Morning.. post surgery I was very unsteady but didn’t need a walking aid.. I would say it took around 8 weeks to feel less unsteady, I was driving after 7 weeks. I still feel unsteady though, like I’m standing in a small boat on a calm lake, just a slight feeling of motion. It doesn’t affect me day to day, but does make me feel more tired I think. I was experiencing unsteadiness before the op, I think it’s very slightly worse than it was, but it’s bearable. After a 12 hour operation I’m just glad to still be here! I’m back to work part time, which is great! I never feel sick or dizzy or have vertigo, it’s a very slight feeling. I saw a vestibular physio who was amazing. She gave me lots of head/eye/body exercises to do, very simple ones but I did struggle! One was to ‘walk a tightrope’ for 30 seconds, I still find that hard. She said the best exercise was to walk (I walk 3 miles 2/3 times a week) and to look all around me, particularly the op side, as I go. I would certainly recommend you find a specialist physio. I also bought a ‘balance/wobble cushion which I did standing exercises on that I found on YouTube via the BANA website. I feel ok now & cope quite well, total deafness (which I knew would be a result of the op) on my right hand side is a problem in large groups of people & if I get a cold it affects me more. Just forever thankful to the surgeons, the tumour was totally removed, just it’s ‘sac’ is left on my facial nerve that causes random facial tics, again, all bearable. Good luck with your battle! Don’t let it get the better of you! Xx B

[MichiganPhil in reply to Gardener21]

Thank you so much for the prompt response and the valuable information. Your words have definitely gave me another level of confidence and ideals to get better sooner. That tight rope walk is a great addition to me walking now, I’m gonna have to try that. Will also look at the balance cushion. My deafness is on the left and I’ve haven’t got a cold yet so what could you tell me to aspect to happen. I figure the more information the better to be prepared. Thanks again for your time and help.

[Gardener21 in reply to MichiganPhil]

You’re very welcome, happy to share info, it all helps! When I have a cold it just increases my unsteadiness for a while when my head is full of mucous. It’s more tiring. I’ve lots of exercises but it’s difficult to explain what they are, maybe look on you tube for ‘vestibular’ physio? Let me know how you get on.. xBx

[MichiganPhil in reply to Gardener21]

Getting a cold sure doesn’t sound fun, I’ll have to post that when it happens. I’ve got a few exercises that I’m doing that I found online. I was trying to get an ideal of which ones seems to give the the best results the next few days. From my recent experience I would say mine is definitely walking outside whiling moving head side to side and up and down. This improves my unsteadiness little by little.

[LisaBod]

Mine took 12.5 hours. Translab approach. A small bit was left

[Kristyll]

That’s a question and a half as it takes as long as necessary, so many variables size, position, skill of surgeon, patients health history etc, etc

[thetocs]

My operation was 9 hours. Likely the whole tumour was removed. Left with Bell's Pulsey on right side of face. Nothing major.Suprisely no pain or discomfort.

A trip to the dentist much worse.

[MichiganPhil]

Hello Susan. My AN was 1.5 cm. Translab. 8 hour surgery. Dr said tumor completely removed. Main issue post op is unsteadiness.