Recovery is unique to each individual. No two tumors are precisely the same and no recoveries are either. Your doctor can’t tell you precisely what your recovery will look like, just give you broad strokes. It is good to be prepared for a variety of outcomes. That said, for some, knowing all the possibilities is helpful and lets them plan. For others, it is overwhelming and anxiety inducing. Know what is right for you.

When you talk to doctors about recovery time they often quote about 6-8 weeks of recovery. What they typically mean by that is how long you will need off of work, and that is a reasonably accurate estimate. They don’t mean that you will be entirely healed and at your new normal at week 8, though it may sound that way.

I believe 12-18 months of healing is pretty typical after an Acoustic Neuroma surgery. That may sound really daunting, but the good news is that if you are unhappy with where you are at week 12, you probably aren’t staying in that place for the long term. And I don’t mean that 12-18 months are full of acute pain and suffering, but nerves heal slowly and healing takes energy and resources from you. Remember to give yourself space and grace to heal. It is so important.

I personally took the first few weeks very easy. My husband was home with me the first few days. Then when he went back to work my two year old went to childcare as I couldn’t lift or bend. I went back to work part time around 5 weeks post op. I was back full time at work about 7 weeks after surgery. By six months after surgery I felt well enough to enjoy an overseas vacation. I felt I finally was done healing around 18 months.

Obviously, the time in the hospital right after surgery is pretty miserable. Many folks are extremely nauseated when they wake up from AN surgery- I definitely was. Vomiting after brain surgery is about as fun as it sounds. Hopefully the nausea and pain is under control very quickly.

Depending on your surgeon and situation, it seems most people are discharged in the 2-5 day range after surgery, unless there are complications.

When I first got home from the hospital, I literally slept 18 hours out of the first 24. Brain surgery is exhausting. There was a fair amount of pain for me (though I had a painful complication called a cerebrospinal fluid leak). Just taking short walks and the basic care of my body was about what I could manage the first few days at home.

Most people struggle with balance immediately after surgery. I could walk, but if you had me stand on one leg on a pillow I fell right over. Others need a walker or cane immediately after surgery. I would definitely recommend planning your balance will not be top notch when you get home. A shower seat is a huge help. Planning to stay on one floor of the house is great if possible. Installing night lights to help you safely move around in the dark is a great idea.

Also when you are ready to venture out and about you may find that riding in a car or even walking and looking at shelves in the grocery store makes you dizzy or off balance. It can take some time for your vestibular system to figure out life without a balance nerve.

One of the best things I did during my recovery was vestibular therapy. I had 6 weeks of therapy after I left the hospital and with my therapist’s help I went from wobbly walking to successfully riding my bicycle. It really helped me feel more like myself and get back on my feet again.

Bending is challenging for a time after surgery (and prohibited). I recommend moving commonly used items to a height and place where they are easy to access and don’t require bending.

For me, headaches were all the time at first. Then over time it slowly grew less and less. First daily, then weekly, and so on until more than a year after surgery I landed where I am now. These days I am just more headache prone than I was beforehand, so if I am sick or under the weather I always have a headache too.

Some complications, such as facial paralysis, can be short term in your recovery because of inflammation after the surgery. Talk with your doctor on your prognosis for any complications you have, as they can vary widely. If you do have facial paralysis and your eye is not closing all the way it is super important to either tape it shut at night or to use a moisture chamber.

I wish that everyone’s recovery was simple and smooth, but the reality often has some bumps in the road. Plan for help. Try to take it easy. It literally is brain surgery and you need to give your body the space it needs to heal. It does get better, one day at a time.