What part of brain is injured for balance to be effected?

[keeley24]

Just wondering what part of cv going brain I had injured. The injuries were my left side totally. Left side of my head left side was weaker. I know it's usually the opposite side of body effected to what side of brain. A doctor said only explanation could be my head being shook and my brain moving to right causing the damage to my brain on right side. My balance was the main thing effected needed physio and short term memory a bit.

[StrawberryCream]

The inner ears, brain messaging and eyes are all involved in balance. If one of those is damaged, we can compensate for balance. If two are affected then ongoing balance problems. Have you been referred to a neuro ontology/balance clinic because there are vestibular exercises that can help.

[keeley24 in reply to StrawberryCream]

No it was like just have physio get back walking then nothing. I'm fine walking and doing daily stuff but my balance on one leg is still rubbish but as it's something I don't need daily it's never been dealt with.

[StrawberryCream in reply to keeley24]

Similar for me that ordinary physio got me walking again - frame, to 2 sticks etc. But although I got back to being able to walk ok, I kept having falls as I would lose my balance and couldn't regain it etc. That's when physio referred me to neuro otology. Was under that clinic for 2-3 years and had vestibular exercises to do each day which included balance such as standing on one leg etc. My balance did improve but now been told it will never be 100% and is affected by environmental factors such as low light/dark, uneven surfaces, cognitive overwhelm and fatigue. When my balance deteriorates I have to keep doing vestibular exercises. I still lose my balance and have falls. It is neuro otology that would be needed for your balance problems.

[RogerCMerriman]

For myself it was front and back, though not huge bleeds.

As StrawberryCream has said it’s a collection of systems that work, my vestibule system is damaged and I rely on sight at lot. It’s also worse on my left leg which also doent respond as well, I couldn’t keep up with the physo tapping her foot with that side.

Since it’s a collection of systems, you can have quite varied differences for example I can MTB across and down literally mountains with skill that I haven’t lost, yet fall or more likely have to cling on for dear life on the bus, on a dark evening etc!

[StrawberryCream in reply to RogerCMerriman]

Roger your balance problems sound similar to mine in that if my vision is lessened by dim light/night darkness then I become extremely unbalanced and depending on the darkness sometimes can't even move as would fall! I use a walking stick if walking in the dark. If I go out when light and forget it will be dark by the time I am heading back home, I use my son for support! I try to always keep a walking stick in my bag but still seem to sometimes end up without it when its needed. Winter is worse because the evenings draw in so more likely to be out in darkness. I avoid going out in the dark if at all possible! Have been told by neuro otology that I am very visually dependent for my balance now.

[RogerCMerriman in reply to StrawberryCream]

I have got stuck in parks before now, which where darker than I had expected and reached the point that, couldn’t walk forward or go back all I could do was stand! I take a torch now, and on the bike I have a light that has a wide spread so I can pick up detail around me.

[StrawberryCream in reply to RogerCMerriman]

Yep Roger I been in similar situations too. I can't use a torch because the movement of the beam as I walk also unbalances me!

[RogerCMerriman in reply to StrawberryCream]

The torch is though quite old, powerful ie it’s not just a small spot of light, the bike lights are Intended for MTB so it lights from my wheel to road signs getting on for a mile away, the downside is I have to be careful that I don’t blind others.

[StrawberryCream in reply to RogerCMerriman]

I would probably do better with a big beam torch but then it isn't small enough to put in bag or pocket. I tend avoid being out in the dark as much as possible.

[RogerCMerriman in reply to StrawberryCream]

modern powerful torches are remarkably small, mine which is getting on for 10 years old now, is I guess the size of a marker pen? but either way easy enough to slip in to a pocket/bag.

I bought mine to use on the bike as well, in all weathers so it wasn't cheap. though it has lasted and is still a good powerful torch even now. but there are cheaper eBay type things out there.

I take it with me if I know or suspect I may have to walk in the pitch dark from the car say?

[jentwistle]

When you're brain gets shaken about these crystals in your ear can dislodge and this causes problems with your balance. This happened to me but luckily they slotted back into place over time!

[sospan]

Balance is a combination of many things - ears, visual feed back from your eyes and also senses from your limbs - especially feet.

One of the main problems for people whom have had head trauma is that the brain takes a fraction longer to process the information coming from the senses. This can cause people difficulties especially when tired.

The standing on one foot is a good test of where you are - you have 50% of the feed back from you feet and because you will be tilted to one side the ears and eyes have to send corrective messages back to the brain. If there is a slight impairment in processing these messages the it will affect your overall balance.

As mentioned previously have a look at non invasive treatment like the Epley manoeuvre that can reset the inner ear crystals. This is a simple procedure that most OT/Physio departments can do.

Also have a look out for behavioural Optometrist whom do visual therapy and testing. These aren't like the normal high street Opticians but are more specialist and higher trained - have a look at this link childopt.co.uk/behavioural-...

Wishing the best on your journey

[StrawberryCream in reply to sospan]

The Epley manoeuvre was done on me by the neuro otolgy consultant but it didn't help my balance problem as it wasn't the cause. Think what this thread is highlighting is that there isn't one cause and therefore Keeley you would be best helped by asking for a neuro otology/balance clinic referral.

[lcd8]

I think I would be right in saying the part of the brain most responsible for balance is the Cerebellum. I have an AVM here and it affects my balance. I agree though that ears, eyes etc also affect balance due to the signals they pass to the brain.

[Padmeister]

Whilst sitting few experience balance issues, in examining the importance of acceleration and rotational force directions on behavioural and molecular outcomes. It is believed that many symptoms associated with concussive forms of TBI are related to white matter and fibre tract damage. Therefore changes in acceleration/rotational force directionality do alter outcomes? In the molecular biology of brain injury proves that walking is a controlled falling over and it is learnt as none born can walk. Albeit other sensory input like vision and the inner-ear does assist in this learning curve, neural and synaptic pathways become experienced in this process and they fire to cause controlled responses, in this combination of sensory input. In any damage to this neuron chain sensory change spacial awareness. I find I have hearing issues and visual impairment, epilepsy and a lot of sensory damage. I am in my 16 year of recovery and have spent a lot of time investigating why I cannot function as once I did.

[Padmeister in reply to Padmeister]

In addition to my post here I did not recall to mention this;

In the molecular biology of brain injury it can be seen that the in the Locus Coeruleus that Norepinephrine is responsible for

Numbness, weakness, or cold feeling anywhere in your body.

Slow or uneven heart rate.

Trouble breathing.

Vision, speech, or balance difficulties.

I know this as I have atrophy in my right hemisphere and a significant loss in my

Locus Coeruleus and experience the above in varying degrees and albeit different problems its all associated in molecular deficiencies.

[Matt2584]

Hi,

I couldn't believe no one had mentioned it before apart from lcd8 about the cerabellum. Different parts of the brain manage certain parts of the body ie, hyppocampus stores memory, hyperthalamus regulates body temperature, brain stem manages speech/swallowing and cerabellum is the part of the brain that operates mobility.

Like what others have said, vision and hearing does play a major role with balance but I beleive these also work hand in hand with the cerabellum too.

I had a brain tumour on the brain stem, I have problems with speech and I think part of that problem is because I have nerve damage which makes it worse.

I had a second brain tumour next door to the first. I had radiotherapy on it and due to complications the tumour was swelling and caused pressure to the cerabellum. This was also the time of my life where my balance became very, very bad.

So I can safely say that the cerabellum is the biggest reason for balance.

[RogerCMerriman in reply to Matt2584]

The Cerebellum is more motor control ie how you move and such rather than balance proper etc.

[Matt2584 in reply to RogerCMerriman]

I was waiting for you to comment Roger :).

So if the cerabellum was more to do with how you move and such, then how come my BALANCE became very very bad at the time of my life my cerabellum was damaged?

See, I am a simple kind of person. I am not so complex like a lot of people can be and when it comes to cerabellum being damaged and as a result my balance was even worse, I put two and two together.

See. Simplicity. That is how everything should be in life really :).

[RogerCMerriman in reply to Matt2584]

I shouldn’t post when tired, your mostly correct in that the Cerebellum does the majority of the balance thinking if not all of it.

But there are people who probably haven’t damaged theirs I for example have no evidence that mine is damaged, and there are people who where born with out one walking about, not many.

The brain doesn’t do simple it would seem!

[Matt2584 in reply to RogerCMerriman]

Yes, the brain is a very complex tool and I know the brain itself is not so simple but I am :).

In my case, the damaged cerabellum is what caused/es MOST of my balance problems.

Other people here may not have damaged their cerabellum but still have balance problems and that would be down to what they said, vision and hearing problems as these also contribute to balance.

I had hydrocephalus as well which can add pressure to most of the brain as the CSF circulates the brain. Added CSF with nowhere to go = squeezing and constricting the brain.

One of the symptoms of having a blocked shunt ,and CSF building up, is blurred vision/vision problems. In 2010 was the last time my shunt blocked up and my vision was out of whack.

[keeley24]

Thanks for all replies well I will guess my cerebellum was damaged. If that's the case it just shows how BI is impossible to tell what effects will be til person comes round as I've looked on a brain map and it says the cerebellum is at back of brain. There was no damage to the back of my head it was all on left side which I assume didn't do any damage to my brain there.