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Decimpression surgery fear

Hello all. Like many of you I have Chiari along with headache pain and intense head pain when straining. I have just been told that I need decompression surgery and I am terrified. Any help, suggestions, Amy information on personal experiences would greatly be appreciated.
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620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum. This May I will be 10 years post op....it's amazing how much time has passed and what  changes I have had since. Surgery is not a cure or a fix and it is VERY IMPORTANT that ALL related conditions are ruled out PRIOR to having surgery.

MAY I ask why they feel surgery is needed?

Many Drs are willing to do surgery , but do not look at the entire picture, so make sure you have a true Chiari specialist.

Once you have the right Dr, things will fall into place and your fears relieved.
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He says that my symptoms are neurological... headaches and such and that it will only get worse in time.
I may not the best for advise other than to say to make sure you have the right dr. As Selma always says, it is so important. I didn’t have the best experience the first time and I’m 7werks post op from surgery no. 2

This one was a lot more difficult and I had a lot going on but if you follow drs orders and take things slow, recovery will follow. It’s not an easy surgery but most do very well with it.

I have a few other issues at play that need to be addressed but I’m still very hopeful for relief of some of the symptoms
Thank you very  much.
Just because the symptoms are neurological does not mean you will benefit from surgery. Surgery is done when you have an obstruction to CSF flow, surgery is done to restore flow....have you had a CINE MRI?
PLUS surgery may not relieve you of your symptoms. So, if you do not have an obstruction why do surgery.

I strongly suggest you see a true Chiari specialist....at least a few more to see what they say.
Thank you. The is my second neurosurgeon. The first took the wait and see approach, which was fine with me. But I didn’t care for him too much. This one is great, but is suggesting surgery now rather than waiting.  
You may like him now, but will you like him post op? Do more research and make sure his track record is good with this surgery......just because he offered surgery does not make him better then the first NS. JMHO
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