21 mm chiari

[sangriagarcia]

Is 21 mm a large chiari malformation?

[selmaS]

  U really need to find a Dr that is well experienced with Chiari and related conditions....A MRI of the lumbar may or may not show TCS so, they do have to look at other testing to confirm this...an elongated brain stem, the sacral dimple a urodynamics testing of the bladder...and I am sure a few others I am forgetting.

But to tell them u have pain should be enuff to get a MRI....

And be sure to rule out the other conditions as well especially EDS....as it can affect how u feel and heal post op.

[sangriagarcia]

I have a sacral dimple with tail bone pain. How can get my Doc to do an Mri of my whole spinal cord. These doctors are clueless about chiari and everthing that goes  along with it. I have a 21 mm chiari and fused c4 and c5. Now I'm curious if I have a tethered cord.  

[sangriagarcia]

Thank you

[selmaS]

  All those may be from the chiari....

The most important thing we can all tell u is get copies of all testing and reports...and see a few Drs and compare what they r telling u and make sure u r seeing a true Chiari specialist.

We can help with support and ne info we know from our own journey with this condition..

[sangriagarcia]

I don't know much about my chiari malformation yet. I was referred to a ns. I have chronic headaches, but recent left side tingling,numbness, sluggish arm and leg, blurred vision and trouble swallowing.

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum,

It is long and is considered large...but if it is wide and obstructing CSF is the question u need to ask ur Drs as well as if u have ne other related condition.

BTW- u can add to one thread all the questions u have instead of a new thread for each question, it helps us keep all the info in once place and to back track to see what all u r asking.

[Sara_Jane19]

Yes this is considered a large malformation, but keep in mind it is not how long the cerebral tonsils are that is important. What matters is if the cerebral spinal fluid (csf) is being blocked by the tonsils so it is important to get a CINE MRI done to check the csf flow around the brain.