Balance is easy to take for granted until it stops functioning properly. New balance issues and clumsiness have a far-reaching effect on a person’s mobility, everyday function, and quality of life. Fortunately, medical treatment is often able to address these concerns. Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics (CNSO) is New Jersey’s most comprehensive brain and spine center. Here, the medical team at CNSO discusses what causes balance issues and how they can be treated.
Quick Facts About Balance Issues
- Most balance disorders are caused by an underlying health condition that affects the brain, vestibular nerve, or inner ear.
- Symptoms of balance disorders include dizziness, vertigo, lightheadedness, floating sensations, unsteadiness, vision changes, and disorientation.
- Causes of balance disorders include inner ear infections, neurological conditions, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), aneurysms, and brain tumors.
- Patients should seek medical treatment when new balance problems develop that affect their safety or quality of life.
Understanding Balance and Coordination
Normal balance depends on multiple body systems working together. The following all impact balance:
- Vestibular system: Inner ear canals sense motion and gravity, which is communicated to the brain through the vestibular nerve.
- Vision: The eyes track a person’s surroundings, helping the brain know where the body is in space and its relationship with other objects.
- Proprioception: The skin, muscles, and joints contain nerve receptors that provide information about pressure, weight, and movement.
The brain processes all this input together to interpret how the body is balanced. It responds with quick, automatic adjustments to help parts of the body work together and to keep the body’s mass centered.
Common Causes of Balance Problems
Most balance disorders are indicators of an underlying health problem, typically affecting the inner ear. Identifying the cause is crucial to restoring a patient’s normal balance and coordination. Common causes include:
Inner Ear Disorders
Most balance disorders are related to problems with the inner ear. Labyrinthitis, a type of inner ear infection, causes inflammation of the inner ear canals. This can disrupt the ear’s ability to sense gravity correctly. Ménière’s disease is another inner ear condition that is caused by a buildup of inner ear fluid, called endolymph. The fluid buildup similarly disrupts nerve signals related to balance.
Neurological Conditions
Balance disorders may also be caused by a problem with the brain’s processing. Neurological disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease can affect balance control. An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) presses against brain tissues, causing coordination problems, depending on its location. A ruptured aneurysm or stroke may cause nerve damage that impacts a person’s balance. A Chiari malformation, a congenital malformation of the back of the brain, can cause severe, strain-related posterior headaches, dizziness, and balance problems.
Tumors and Growths
A vestibular schwannoma, also called an acoustic neuroma, is a type of tumor that forms on the vestibular nerve. As the tumor grows, it presses against the nerve. This can interrupt the flow of information between the brain and the inner ear, causing problems with balance. Patients may also experience hearing loss, tinnitus (sounds in the ear), or a sense of fullness in the ear.
When to Seek Medical Help for Balance Problems
Temporary balance problems are not usually causes for concern. A persistent issue, however, can interfere with a person’s everyday function and mobility. Patients may experience symptoms such as:
- Persistent vertigo, or a sense of motion or spinning
- Feelings of faintness or lightheadedness
- Floating sensations
- Dizziness
- Loss of balance
- Unsteadiness and frequent falling
- Vision changes, such as blurriness
- Confusion or disorientation
These symptoms may come on suddenly or slowly. For some patients, they are constantly present. For others, they may appear only in specific situations, such as when standing up quickly. Symptoms may also range in severity. If a person is experiencing balance problems that are severe enough to affect their quality of life, then it is time to seek treatment.
Diagnosis and Testing for Balance Disorders
Because balance disorders have so many potential causes, a medical diagnosis is crucial to planning an effective treatment. The patient’s primary care physician (PCP) will begin with a physical examination. They will also request other tests, which may be performed by the PCP or a specialist:
- Vestibular tests: These tests evaluate how well a person’s eyes, ears, and brain work together. The patient may be asked to read while in motion, wear special goggles, sit in a turning chair, or stand on various surfaces with their eyes open and closed.
- Medical imaging: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan is used to check for an AVM, aneurysm, or brain tumor that could be causing symptoms.
- Blood pressure tests: Tests to measure blood pressure and heart rate may be used to rule out possible causes of balance issues. The patient’s blood pressure may be checked while sitting, after standing for two to three minutes, or during physical exertion.
These tests help to rule out possible causes and arrive at a conclusive diagnosis.
Treatment Options for Balance Disorders
The best treatment for a balance disorder depends on its cause. After diagnosing the problem, the physician will help their patient understand what options are available to them. Options include:
- Physical therapy: A customized physical therapy program helps patients adapt to less balance, compensate for imbalance, and maintain physical ability with a balance disorder.
- Lifestyle changes: Lifestyle adjustments may be recommended to avoid situations or foods that trigger imbalance, or to reduce the risk of serious injury caused by a fall.
- Medication: Prescription medication may help to manage severe dizziness or nausea that lasts for days, helping patients with balance disorders maintain a higher quality of life.
Balance problems or dizziness may also be due to a serious underlying issue in the brain. Treatment is, therefore, focused on the underlying condition:
- Brain tumor surgery: A vestibular neuroma, other types of brain tumors, AVM, or aneurysm may be surgically removed or treated to relieve balance problems and prevent new symptoms from developing.
- Chiari malformation decompression: This neurosurgical procedure helps to relieve pressure on the brain and spinal cord caused by a Chiari malformation.
- Radiation therapy: If balance problems are caused by a vestibular schwannoma or another tumor, small AVM radiation therapy may be used to kill the tumor or shrink and occlude the AVM and stop symptoms from worsening.
Why Choose CNSO?
Patients who struggle with balance problems can access comprehensive care at Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics. One of the leading brain and spine treatment centers in New Jersey, CNSO is led by an award-winning team of neurosurgeons, physiatrists, rehabilitation specialists, and more. These knowledgeable professionals provide coordinated care and emphasize personalized, conservative treatments whenever possible to achieve the best outcomes for patients.
Find Expert Care for Balance Disorders Near You in New Jersey
Balance issues have a far-reaching impact on a person’s life, but they are not inescapable. Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics offers treatment for common balance disorder causes, including those caused by brain tumors, vascular malformations, or Chiari malformations, at convenient locations near you in New Jersey. To learn more, contact CNSO today.
FAQ About Balance Issues
What causes balance problems?
Most balance problems are caused by conditions in the brain, nervous system, or inner ear. Common causes include inner ear infections, Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), and vestibular schwannoma tumors.
Can clumsiness be a sign of a brain tumor?
Chronic clumsiness may be caused by a brain tumor, but this is rare. Other causes, such as an infection, are more likely.
When should I see a doctor for balance issues?
Patients should speak to their doctor about balance issues if symptoms are affecting their everyday function or quality of life, or when balance problems create a high risk of injury.
Can balance be restored?
Whether balance can be restored depends on what causes the balance disorder. Some conditions can be cured. Others, like vestibular schwannoma, may cause permanent issues even after treatment.
