Arnold Chiari?

[kamusick1]

Hi I was looking at my MRI and noticed something didn't look right to me with my cerebellum,  It looked like it curved into my spinal canal.  I have had terrible occipital headaches along with lots of pressure constantly at the base of my skull.  I have gone to my FP several times for the headaches.  I have had a headache for 6 days straight now.  Tried Motrin, Lortab, heat, ice, went to dr got a shot of Toradol, mederol dose pack steroids, and maxalt to try if nothing else helped today.  Still no relief.  Seems to bother me more when I get up. I am attaching mri photo. I was just wondering if it looked like a Tonsil herniation to anyone else or was it just me.  The radiologist did not mention it at all in my report.  Any suggestions and comments would be appreciated.  Also have had some mental fogginess and ringing in ears almost all the time.  Have been a little clumsy also.

[selmaS]

  Well I will tell u , U R NOT CRAZY !! Like I said we all feel just like u do, and it is hard bcuz we can feel so isolated when the Drs do not listen or offer help.

Chiari specialists r out there, we just have to travel to get to them....

[kamusick1]

Thank you Selma.  I really needed some encouragement.  I know Dr. Oro is a very busy man and am just grateful to be able to have him look at my MRI.  If it is Chiari then he will tell me.  That will be a huge relief to have confirmation of why I have been feeling like I have been feeling.  I didn't even know what Chiari was or had heard of it until I saw my cervical mri and it looked odd.  So i googled cerebellum going down into spinal canal because that is what i saw.  That is when I read about Chiari and Wow did it open my eyes to a lot.  I will start searching for another NS in case I need one.  Dr. Oro was the closest specialist to where I live and he is 9 hours away so Ill try him first.  Again I know you are not a Dr but you have great knowledge and experience with this and I value your opinion.  Thank you for the support.  I know I am not imagining what I am seeing or feeling so it is nice to have someone else tell you you are not crazy!!!!!!

[selmaS]

  Hi, it is not if the tonsils r below the foramen magnum but if it is creating an  obstruction of CSF and it looks like it may be doing just that. U may have what some NS's refer to as Chiari 0 as the herniation is less then 5mm, but like I said that has no  bearing on if u have symptoms or not.

I also noticed what looks like some compression to ur brain stem....ur tonsils look more like a cork....

  Keep in mind I am not a Dr....

And I would suggest a CINE MRI...a thoracic and lumbar MRI, and testing for ehlers-danlos, and ICP...

  Try to relax so many of us have been given the "Royal Chiari Runaround" and u r not alone.....do not rush to get a Dr that wants to do surgery, look for a Dr that is willing to take the time to rule all relates issues out so u have a better chance to heal.

  Dr Oro is a good place to send ur MRI, but if ur herniation is not 5mm or larger he will not see u...so be advised and research another Dr....as I said I am not a Dr so I am not sure , but I am not sure ur herniation is 5 mm.

That does not mean u do not need help, it just means he is one person and can only handle so much and this was his way to cut back on the demand for his time.

  I pray he sees what I do and takes u neway....but be prepared to try another NS.

[kamusick1]

So I got my brain MRI report and radiologist says it is normal.  I have sent copy of MRI on disc to Dr. Oro to review.  They should recieve them today.  I am so frustrated.   I need answers.  I have had a headache for 2 1/2 weeks now.  The intensity of headache changes but never completely goes away.  Lots of pressure and dizziness.  Started having trouble with low and high blood pressures.  I have put 2 pics of my mri up on my photos.  I need some reassurance that I am not just crazy!!!  Does it look like the cerebellar tonsils are below foramen magnum to you?  I would greatly appreciate your opinion and realize it is just that but you have been on the chiari merry go round andare very informed about it.   Im stressed about it.    Thank you for listening.

[selmaS]

  Hi...well, first of all u should not be lifting something that heavy, that will cause u to have a HA, plus many of us do have issues with the florescent lights in the store which add to the issues.

We r to avoid bending ...water is usually on the bottom shelves so u have to bend, We r not to lift either....so u did 2 things in one fell swoop.

Take someone with u to do the bending and lifting so u do not have to do it.

Hope u feel better today.

[kamusick1]

So I ended up going to the ER Wed for my headache.  I had the headache for 10 days at this point.  Tues night went to walmart and picked up a 30 pack of bottled water and instantly throbbing in my head and felt like it was going to explode.  I got very dizzy and felt drunk.  I could not finish my grocery shopping.  The next day was terrible.  I do not normally have high blood pressure but when I was being triaged in ER my bp was 177/102.  I really felt like my head was gonna blow out in the back.  I had pain and pressure behind my left eye as well.  I could not focus, dizzy, couldnt concentrate, hands shaking terribly.  It scared me.  They started IV and gave me some meds not even sure what it was.  Made me where I could hardly lift my arms but just took a little edge off the pain.  Later gave me another dose and did help my pain some but never completely took pain away.  The lowest it got was about a 4.  
I cant look up or down I get dizzy and feel pressure in base of skull.  ringing in my ears is terrible.  I also noticed when dr asked me to follow his pen i had trouble keeping up with it.  It really scared me.