Will it still be an option?

[AllTheRightShades]

I have my new neurologist appt. in Oklahoma City next Wednesday (March 5th) I will hopefully be going through more testing. As some may know, I am severely symptomatic. What if the CSF flow is normal or minimally restricted. Will decompression surgery still be an option? I have already chosen Dr. Oro as the doctor I would like to see. Has he operated on anyone without blockage of the CSF? I know that surgery can also be based off of symptom severity but I am worried I will not be eligible.

[selmaS]

  The thing is even tho their herniation was less they may have had a CSF obstruction....surgery restores flow that is how u get relief...surgery when u have flow does not make sense unless surgery is for something like a fusion...
I know u want to feel better...but making sure what the cause of ur pain is , is more important then having surgery at this point.

Hope u get answers with the CINE.

[AllTheRightShades]

Recently I have touched base with some people who had chiari (some with even less herniation than mine) who had severe symptoms like mine with normal flow and no related conditions. They all have gotteb the surgery and said they have been worlds better. I have not had a cine mri yet. I will be asking for one at my next appt. But I am hoping that even if it is normal, I am able to find someone to operate. It is a scary thing but I feel it will help. Hopefully the years of painful symptoms with be over soon.

[selmaS]

  I do not think surgery would be done as surgery ...the decompression surgery is done to restore CSF flow, so if the flow is ok, surgery would not help....

However, they may find that u have other issues and may require a diff surgery....a fusion, or something like that due to CCI, or mayb u have a retroflexed odontoid....and surgery for that would help with some of ur symptoms..

[kwalker0004]

I do believe I have read a couple of people stories that they did have the surgery even though they did not have a problem with their CSF but this was from back in the 1990's, they didn't have all technology available to them as we do now. So whose to say they didn't have a problem with CSF. But from my understanding is that you must have CSF problems/Syrinx's, headaches which get worse with coughing/ sneezing. Sometimes they consider surgery on how severe the symptoms is and I just found this out from a friend who suffers from cluster headaches, you as a patient has the right to either have a surgery or refuse it if you feel this is truly what will help you and all else has failed. But keep in mind just because a surgery is out there this doesn't mean that might fix all of your symptoms. Make sure you are making a wise decision. Once it is done it can't be undone and make sure you are ready for this!!