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Activities to avoid with Chiari...
I am posting this here as it seems not many utilize the Health Pages and I want this to be seen by ALL!!
The subject no one wants to hear about, but chiari and syringomyelia are life-altering conditions and you WILL have to face that and change some major things in your life. You will find people with these conditions who continue to do some of these things, but they do so with the knowledge that it can severely alter their current condition for the worse. The following are just some of those No-No’s:
NO neck stressing activities, such as roller-coasters, 4-wheelers, skateboards, horseback riding, motorcycles, wave pools, backpacking, falling asleep in chairs, extended reading with head bent ect.. Anything that “jars” your head and/or spine is a definite no-no.
NO neck stressing sports, such as water skiing, snow skiing, snow boarding, sky diving, bungee jumping, diving, playing tennis, basketball, soccer, football ect (Just trying to cover all the basics – you get the idea.)
NO contact sports.
NO Chiropractor!- Especially at the neck for chiarians and for those with a syrinx, no deep tissue in the area of ur syrinx.(The chiro should be well versed on Both CM/SM)
NO straining which includes straining to reach something, or even straining during a bowel movement. Take a fiber supplement every day if you tend to get blocked up.
NO moving furniture or heavy objects around by pushing, pulling, lifting, or any other way. Pick up nothing heavier than a gallon of milk. I know – that sounds impossible, but keep that gallon of milk in the back of your mind.
NO moving around in the dark!
NO putting yourself into stressful situations or relationships. Try to relax, avoid noise and keep your neck muscles relaxed.
NO twisting your spine – try to keep a good posture with your spine lined up and straight.
NO bending over. lower yourself to the floor by bending your knees – not your back.
NO sudden spinal/neck movements.
NO using the hair wash sink at the hair salon.Instead ask for the special try that most hair salons have that are designed to accommodate people who are unable to bend their head/necks backward.
NO Lifting more than 15 lbs when strength training or backpacking.Heavy lifting is generally not recommended especially if you have a syrinx.
AVOID sleeping in a head down position.
Avoid cervical traction.
Avoid lumbar punctures, spinal taps or epidurals, unless it is a well informed chiari dr....if a LP is drawn too quick it can cause the tonsils to herniate even further.Done incorrectly, this can be very dangerous for a chiarian.
AVOID doing any kind of activity that causes you to bend your head backwards, such as: bending back to gargle, washing hair in the shower ect.
AVOID food with too much salt.Especially for woman during their premenstrual period.
DON'T participate in any physical activity that puts you in jeopardy of falling and or creating trauma of any kind.
DON’T try to keep commitments when you’re feeling badly. Listen to your body.
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Neurological-Disorders/Activities-to-avoid-with-Chiari-and-Syringomyelia/show/986?cid=186
The subject no one wants to hear about, but chiari and syringomyelia are life-altering conditions and you WILL have to face that and change some major things in your life. You will find people with these conditions who continue to do some of these things, but they do so with the knowledge that it can severely alter their current condition for the worse. The following are just some of those No-No’s:
NO neck stressing activities, such as roller-coasters, 4-wheelers, skateboards, horseback riding, motorcycles, wave pools, backpacking, falling asleep in chairs, extended reading with head bent ect.. Anything that “jars” your head and/or spine is a definite no-no.
NO neck stressing sports, such as water skiing, snow skiing, snow boarding, sky diving, bungee jumping, diving, playing tennis, basketball, soccer, football ect (Just trying to cover all the basics – you get the idea.)
NO contact sports.
NO Chiropractor!- Especially at the neck for chiarians and for those with a syrinx, no deep tissue in the area of ur syrinx.(The chiro should be well versed on Both CM/SM)
NO straining which includes straining to reach something, or even straining during a bowel movement. Take a fiber supplement every day if you tend to get blocked up.
NO moving furniture or heavy objects around by pushing, pulling, lifting, or any other way. Pick up nothing heavier than a gallon of milk. I know – that sounds impossible, but keep that gallon of milk in the back of your mind.
NO moving around in the dark!
NO putting yourself into stressful situations or relationships. Try to relax, avoid noise and keep your neck muscles relaxed.
NO twisting your spine – try to keep a good posture with your spine lined up and straight.
NO bending over. lower yourself to the floor by bending your knees – not your back.
NO sudden spinal/neck movements.
NO using the hair wash sink at the hair salon.Instead ask for the special try that most hair salons have that are designed to accommodate people who are unable to bend their head/necks backward.
NO Lifting more than 15 lbs when strength training or backpacking.Heavy lifting is generally not recommended especially if you have a syrinx.
AVOID sleeping in a head down position.
Avoid cervical traction.
Avoid lumbar punctures, spinal taps or epidurals, unless it is a well informed chiari dr....if a LP is drawn too quick it can cause the tonsils to herniate even further.Done incorrectly, this can be very dangerous for a chiarian.
AVOID doing any kind of activity that causes you to bend your head backwards, such as: bending back to gargle, washing hair in the shower ect.
AVOID food with too much salt.Especially for woman during their premenstrual period.
DON'T participate in any physical activity that puts you in jeopardy of falling and or creating trauma of any kind.
DON’T try to keep commitments when you’re feeling badly. Listen to your body.
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Neurological-Disorders/Activities-to-avoid-with-Chiari-and-Syringomyelia/show/986?cid=186
Hi, I had a lumbar puncture that suggests I have ms in 2015 but I have been having nerve damage with ataxia gate so they did mri and found chiari malformation 1 I have been having a lot random attacks that simulate strokes that gets worse each time Dr is sending me to a neuro surgeon how will they know if my problemschedule are from Ms or chiari in deciding surgery or not
1 Comments
Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.
I know symptoms for both MS and Chiari are the same....so it could be difficult to determine which condition they come from, but they can look to see how much CSF is being obstructed due to Chiari and open up that space to help keep things flowing and that should also reduce symptoms due to that issue.
I know symptoms for both MS and Chiari are the same....so it could be difficult to determine which condition they come from, but they can look to see how much CSF is being obstructed due to Chiari and open up that space to help keep things flowing and that should also reduce symptoms due to that issue.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.
When did you get your Chiari DX? AND do you have any other related conditions?
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.
Since Chiari is a congenital condition and we have had it since birth, we also have had symptoms since birth and may not be aware of them as we consider how we feel to be "normal" however it is not normal, but it is OUR "normal"....so not until symptoms increase or worsen do we take notice and even consider that we have symptoms.....
Have you had any other testing? Were related conditions ruled out?
Typically meds do not help with the symptoms of Chiari....if they do the relief is short lived.....
You may want to see a neuosurgeon (NS) as they are more informed on Chiari and related conditions....but make sure it is a true Chiari specialist ...other NL and NS's tend to look for other reasons for the symptoms and most do not believe it is the Chiari causing them....
Not everyone with Chiari will need surgery, but if you are not feeling well...you will want a Dr that is well informed and experienced. If you need a list of Drs to research let us know.
2 Comments
I would love to have a list of doctors in Canada. Ontario specifically if you have any suggestions. I have been brushed off by everyone I have seen. I had my first and only seizure a couple of weeks ago and was told, "you cant possibly have seizures on top of everything else." So i was dismissed again. Would love to see a doctor that has some idea of what might be going on inside my head. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Kim
Kim
Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.
We have a ist compiled by our members here of Drs they have been to, treated by and liked.....the list is not a referral nor an endorsement of those listed.....
It is possible to have seizures along with Chiari....I know a few that have had them prior to decompression surgery and a few that developed them post op.
https://www.medhelp.org/posts/Chiari-Malformation/CHIARI-DRS-LIST-CANADA/show/1270605
Keep in mind you may have to travel....I have no idea how close any of the Drs listed are to the area you mentioned.
We have a ist compiled by our members here of Drs they have been to, treated by and liked.....the list is not a referral nor an endorsement of those listed.....
It is possible to have seizures along with Chiari....I know a few that have had them prior to decompression surgery and a few that developed them post op.
https://www.medhelp.org/posts/Chiari-Malformation/CHIARI-DRS-LIST-CANADA/show/1270605
Keep in mind you may have to travel....I have no idea how close any of the Drs listed are to the area you mentioned.
I was diagnosed 4 yrs ago with Chiari. I really didn't have symptoms except little headaches in the back of my head until 3 months ago. I have had so many symptoms. Ear pain, dizziness, migraines so bad I thought my head was going to pop. I had a cat scan showing nothing and then an MRI of head and neck where they found 3 bulging discs in C-4 to C-6. I feel like it's getting worse and my neurologist put me on meds for seizures and supposedly decrease the pressure. Well the meds work a sometimes they don't. I have never felt so bad in my life. I get depressed and feel like I am not getting anywhere. I'm going for a 2nd opinion tomorrow to see another neurologist. My 1st one set me off when she said see me again in 6 mths. 6 months! I can't live like this one more day. My quality of life is slowly going. I have always been a strong person but I try to not let it rule me. I am so sorry for everyone of you who have this.If there is no other meds I ready to go under the knife.
2 Comments
How about shooting pool?
Shooting pool would have been difficult for me before surgery and a few years post op.....but I feel I could do it now.....we are all different and how we are affected not only by the condition but also how we are affected by the surgery and how long it takes us to recover.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.
Are you asking if you have Chiari can you have your tongue pierced?
If so, I would look into a related condition EDS before as it can cause you to heal slower and could cause issues with a piercing inside the mouth....
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