Acoustic Neuroma Association of Canada

[P Campbell]

I am almost 5 months post op and still don't have any movement in my face. I'm just wondering if this is unusual or did many of you have this wait. I was told the facial nerve wawos intact and uld regenerate. Trisha

[Colleen W]

Hi P Campbell,

I'm sorry you haven't had any replies yet. Has anything changed for you yet? I don't have answers for you but I am 3 1/2 months post op and I also don't have any facial movement. I am interested in experiences of others as well, but also just want to let you know that you are not alone!

Colleen[/quote]

[Nikki R]

I've been reading on the ANA USA web site quite a bit. I have read on there that it can take a long time for facial movement to come back, but there is no set time and some never get full function back.

There have been some that have had delayed onset and they have recovered in 4-6 weeks. There are some who have seemed to passed the 6 month mark and suddenly have some movement. And there are some who are still seeing improvements 2,4,5 years later.

I'm sorry but there seems to be no rhyme or reason. I'd be curious to know who your surgeons were, what size was your tumour, what hospital you went to, what you pre sugery symptoms were...

All the best wishes to both of you for recovery to begin sooner!

[Colleen W]

Thanks Nikki- that is helpful information. I think I have now managed to put the size info, etc in my signature, but just in case. My AN was 2 cm and I had it removed at Sunnybrook Hospital by Drs Chen and Pirouzmand.

Prior to surgery my only symptom was a decrease in hearing.

Colleen
_________________
2 cm AN removed by translab approach
Sept 30, 2009 at Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto

[Vivian B]

I have just read your posts and sorry to hear that you are both having facial paralysis. When I went to my consultation with the surgeon at Sunnybrook, I was told that if I had surgery, that facial paralysis is likely to occur and improve overtime during the first 8 months. Have you guys seen any improvement at all? Can you have your surgeons recommend some type of rehabilitation treatment that may help?

Just one question to the both of you. How disabling is facial paralysis? Are still able to manage with your day to day things and if you work, can you still work?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Vivian
(Toronto)

[Colleen W]

Hi Vivian,

I have seen a bit of improvement with my facial paralysis, in that there is a bit more "tone" in my face so things look more symmetrical than they did originally. But I still have absolutely no voluntary movement. As I understand it, I can't start working with a physiotherapist until I have some kind of movement.

In terms of living with the facial paralysis, it isn't overly bad for me. I am completely able to manage with my day to day things. Pronouncing certain sounds has been hard and I was more garbled post surgery than I am now. I find "f"s fairly hard to do, but I can speak pretty clearly if I put a finger or two against the cheek on my paralyzed side. I don't usually need to do that though. I just do it when I want to sound VERY clear. Eating on that side is a bit challenging at times too. Food can get trapped in between the teeth and cheek. But again, this was worse for me right after surgery than it is now.

I have recently returned to work and am doing quite well. My job involves a lot of interaction so my biggest hurdle has been interacting with others and knowing I look different than I did before surgery, but I tell myself constantly that I am very very lucky to have had a benign tumor and to have had relatively few and minor complications. The truth is, though, that I'm self-conscious of it.

Trying to hold my head high!

Colleen
_________________
2 cm AN removed by translab approach
Sept 30, 2009 at Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto