possible chiari

[Social_Butterfly678]

Hi everyone, I am new to this so please bare with me.  I have been dealing with chronic migraines and pain in my neck for years, 4 years ago after my mri of my c spine I was told I need to eat right and exercise and eat right, I gave up on seeing any more doctors when I knew there was something wrong. Even though nothing was going away, headaches getting worse and so on. Recently this year I got sent home from work because I had this sharp pain started in the back of my head and went up the side of my head and I went blurry and couldn't see. I finally went to my pcp(different doctor)he ordered another mri, in between that time I had gotten my report from 4 years ago and it said that I had mild chiari malformation 6 mm. This last mri did not say anything to that sort. After taking this report in to my doctor he is now ordering a brain mri and had talked to a neuro surgeon about this last mri and that doctor said he could not see any chiari! My pcp is sending me to the chiari care center. My question is why is one saying one thing and the other not saying it!? Can chiari come and then go?

[selmaS]

  Keep an open mind and do not expect nething.....many times we go and expect we will be told we need surgery then get mad that the Dr has suggested some more testing or some form of PT first.

But this is so the Dr can see how u r being affected and know just the right way to proceed. So, be open, especially when u have a specialist and trust what he is telling u is what u need, not what others have had.

Good luck

[Social_Butterfly678]

That's what I thought.  I did not think it could do that. So my best bet is to go to this Chiari Care Center and let the drs that specialize in chiari deal with it? Any word of advice I am so scared of what I am going to find out!

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum,

If u were to ask 10 diff Drs u might get 10 diff answers....Chiari is not something that Drs were well trained in while in MedSchool....so, not many are up on the newer info and ways to classify Chiari.

Chiari is the malformation of the skull and is congenital....however, it is possible to have low lying tonsils as a result of an injury and this is considered to be acquired Chiari.

One Dr may use the length of herniation to determine a Chiari  DX....while another will look to the skull....

What needs to be done is a CINE MRI to see if u have a CSF obstruction...and MRI's of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine to rule out other related conditions.

Chiari symptoms can cycle, but if u have Chiari u have it, it can not go away. Even surgery can not correct the malformed skull, it can only create more room to allow CSF to flow and help slow progression.