Neurofibromatosis Type II
Different nerves in the body are affected depending on where each tumor grows. Rate of growth and tumor size are also issues that determine when and what level of damage will occur. Each nerve in the body is associated with different functions; therefore, damage can affect senses, muscles and even organs.
Nerves in the brain are particularly sensitive and have a much less chance to heal correctly than nerves in any other area of the body, even after minimal damage. So when these nerves loose circulation, due to the development of a tumor either to close or on nerves in the brain, the nerve rarely heals and may not recover 100% in the cases when they do heal.
As a result of VS(Vestibular Schwannomas), tumors that grow on the Vestibulocochlear Nerve, hearing loss and facial nerve damage are the most common nerve damage issues for individuals with NF2.
Nerve damage for individuals with NF2 can results in some of the following issues:
Nerves in the brain are particularly sensitive and have a much less chance to heal correctly than nerves in any other area of the body, even after minimal damage. There are 24 Cranial Nerves, 12 pair of Cranial Nerves in the Central Nerve System, a left and a right nerve for each. Each Cranial Nerve controls specific muscles or senses, some control both.
While hearing loss and hearing issues are not the only issue people with NF2 face, it is the one issue 90 percent of people with NF2 develop, with all the other possible issues varying for a variety of reasons. Tumors typically grow on the Vestibular Nerve but growth on either the Vestibular Nerve or the Cochlear Nerve typically results in damage to both and therefore hearing and balance are lost at the same time.
The Facial Nerve primarily controls; eyelid movement, lip movement for eating and talking, as well as facial expression.
The facial nerve can easily be broken or otherwise weakened, during treatment management of Vestibular Schwannoma. There are different treatment techniques surgery, radiation and chemotherapy trials for different approaches to manage tumors. Options are often based on; exact tumor location, tumor size, a tumors shape and rate of growth, in addition to; an individual's age, height, weight and general health. Some of the different treatment options can ultimately lead to damage to the facial nerve.
Spinal Cord Compression results in Spine Damage and can include Loss of Mobility. Tumors in the spine can damage the PNS (Peripheral Nervous System) and depending on how extensive the damage is to the nerves it can result in Spinal Cord Compression. Spinal Cord Compression is damage to nerves in the spine that will result in issues without the Somatic Systems and Autonomic Systems. The Somatic Nervous System is part of the peripheral nervous system, which controls muscles and movement in different parts of the body. The Autonomic Nervous System affects organs.
Problems an individual would develop would be based on the location of the tumor in the spinal cord.
Read more about the Spial Cord Damage and the Peripheral Nervous System
People with NF2 tend to develop balance issues in the following cases:
Read more about Balance Issues
If your body is always cold or doctors have a hard time finding veins for IV injections you may have a circulation problem. Circulation issues are not uncommon amongst people with NF2, it is one of the signs of Peripheral Nerve Damage.
Pain and other issues through the body, lower than the head can be the result of tumors in unexpected locations. These issues could be from tumors on nerves or spine surgical damage. Damage from tumors could be the result of either:
Learn more about Peripheral Neurve Damage.
Spinal Cord Compression results in Spine Damage and can include Loss of Mobility. Tumors in the spine can damage the PNS (Peripheral Nervous System) and depending on how extensive the damage is to the nerves it can result in Spinal Cord Compression. Spinal Cord Compression is damage to nerves in the spine that will result in issues without the Somatic Systems and Autonomic Systems. The Somatic Nervous System is part of the peripheral nervous system, which controls muscles and movement in different parts of the body. The Autonomic Nervous System affects organs.
Problems an individual would develop would be based on the location of the tumor in the spinal cord.
