Herniation question

[shesabstrakt]

I had a cervical spine mri done a week ago...got the results back and it was normal
didnt get my brain mri one yet but would the cervical have showed herniation at all?


my necks been numb past couple days and iv felt like gagging obviously im worried
that my brain is going to herniate...if they did not find a reason 8 months ago
what are the chances it would?

[shesabstrakt]

and also does it happen over time or is it instantly...my doctors are no help.

[kristy12]

It would have showed but It could have been missed by the radiologist also.

[selmaS]

  If u have a herniation that falls into ur cervical region of the spine....it would have been seen on the cervical spine....UNLESS u do not have a herniation that falls that low....or as the above poster mentioned...the radiologist may have missed or omitted something.

Either way, u need to relax...I know u do not feel well, but u r way  way to upset over this and it will only cause u to feel worse...please try to relax.


    "selma"

[shesabstrakt]

That is true, its hard for me everyda its getting worse and worse...more numbness in my throat/neck etc. i wanna go to the er, but  doubt theyd do anything but write it off as a headache or stress...welll iiam stressed but for a reason

[shesabstrakt]

what are certian signs i should look for aas far as an emergency because i dont know whats going on in my body? i know u are not a doctor but i dont know whats normal

[shesabstrakt]

and i meant full brain herniation, im not as afraid if it is just hind-herniation.

[selmaS]

  I am not sure there is a full brain herniation that could happen...I never heard of it...other than it having the same meaning as hindbrain...tonsilar herniation,....etc

Drop attacks, heart palps, breathing issues r reasons to go to the ER


'selma"

[shesabstrakt]

I guess brain herniation as where it goes so far into the canal that you die? But I have only heard of this with a csf leak ( brain sag ) and or increased icp. So far they say there is no findings such as a tumor or mass affect that would cause it...

wasnt sure if that could happen with CM.

Sorry if im annoying lol.

[shesabstrakt]

Is this rare? My Dr thinks I may have intercranial hyptotension waiting to get my mri done

[shesabstrakt]

ANd I guess neck going numb and that is not 'severe' enuff for the er lol

[jenshead]

Worrying that you're going to die (or worrying at all, for that matter), will only make your symptoms 10x worse.  Doctors will NOT take you seriously if they think you are freaking out.  

I'm not even sure what your symptoms are vs what you are worried about from reading!  Please calm down so people can answer your questions better.

[selmaS]

  IH or intercranial hypertension  also known as pusedo tumor cerebri is basically when u have too much CSF ur body either is over producing it, or it is not absorbing it....an obstruction can also make it appear that u may have this and y a CINE MRI is done. This is a related condition to Chiari and is not rare...Drs that understand is rare.

  As I have been saying, u need to relax....and  get to a true chiari specialist.


         "selma"

[shesabstrakt]

so finally i had the MRI done, and the radiologist sent the report and I saw my neuro today..he said that they looked fine. ugh really? i didnt get a CINE MRI Which really upsets me because It took me forever to get thru that one. He mentioned Chiari, but said that the tonsils looked fine and not even 5mm ....I really dont know hes a NS but not a chiari specialist per say...not even sure if it shows any brain sag..I would compare the two mris one from this year and last year but Im no good at that.

Report says no abnormalities or lesions..UGH i have to live with this pain forver.im not for sure i dont have low pressure or anything than jsut migraines, its just way to much to just be that imo. i also thot he was a decent Dr. and popular around my area...he also said CM would show more oin the cervical spine and he doesnt really see that there. I asked about csf leak he said unlikely.

[shesabstrakt]

Okay, yeah now I do have anxiety,,, Ive been feeling bad for almost 2 years now
and Im tired of it. I am afraid of brain herniation because, I feel terrible and in severe
pain 24/7 and they never know why.

[shesabstrakt]

My symptoms when it all started about 1 1/2 years ago...randomly got pain in my head and neck and passed out...then i had tingling in my face, hands, lips,...

when I cough it hurts when i sing it hurts...straining hurts at times.
sensitive to lights, facial pain, neck is always killing me and burning
back of my neck hurts so bad I gag when its stiff etc.

[selmaS]

  Hi...try to relax...first off the report is only the opinion of the radiologist and a good NS will not read that , they look right at the films of the MRI's to make their own assessment.

Next, the size of the herniation is not important for u to be having issues....but the right dr to know that is important....

For u to understand what I mean...imagine ur cerebellum as a funnel and the spout is ur spinal cord...if u had a long piece of shoe string licorice hanging down thru the spout it would not obstruct flow of fluid...how ever, place an upside down gumdrop at the opening of the spout and it will cork it up.....

The lordosis will cause u pain when the curve is lost due to the muscles around it being twisted....or in spasm. And u could have an issue with ur odontoid...who knows until u get to a better Dr.

Ur fears of herniation r unfounded at this point, but stress can cause many of these pains....so u do need to relax and find a chiari specialist to get answers.

      "selma"

[shesabstrakt]

What does unfounded mean?

Ive seen 4 nuerologist in the 1 1/2 years, I cant get to the CM dr. in bethesda yet..
one would think gettning a "normal" mri would be great news but
for me it is not the case.

[shesabstrakt]

And also,I would be less afraid of herniation * the type that instantly causes death, if I understood it more I guess.  Most people dont walk around and randomly  have brain herniation that does not have a cause so....

[selmaS]

  There is no reason for the fears to be as extreme as they r...we all r worried with these dx's....and I know u r afraid, but u seem to be looking where there is nothing to find...so, I used the term unfounded.

I may be totally wrong...but, I know u need to relax in order to feel a bit better...

  Does ur Ins require a referral to go to the NS in Bethesda? If not, just send the MRI's to him urself....that is one way to get the answers.

  I am not sure what type of herniation causes instant death u r referring to...sorry...mayb it is just  a communication issue...but I am confused as to what u r referring to and y u keep going back to it .....

  Granted u have symptoms and u feel lousey....but u r stressing ur self out to the max causing even more issues for urself.

  This is just my opinion and  again I may not be understanding what u r referring to.

   "selma"

  

[shesabstrakt]

Sorry, Herniation from increased icp and decreased icp...which cause brain death and such is what I mean...not from chiari..like brain sag and all of those things. Herniation happends instantly I guess from increased icp...things my dr was looking for awhile ago and some things were dissmissed that is all.


I would be a lot less fearful IF i knew what was wrong with me.

[selmaS]

  Did they do a LP on u?

[shesabstrakt]

They did one 1 1/2 ago at the hospital im pretty sure it was like 20 or 22 but the subtance was clear.

[selmaS]

Normal values typically range as follows:

Pressure: 70 - 180 mm H20
Appearance: clear, colorless
CSF total protein: 15 - 60 mg/100 mL
Gamma globulin: 3 - 12% of the total protein
CSF glucose: 50 - 80 mg/100 mL (or greater than 2/3 of blood sugar level)
CSF cell count: 0 - 5 white blood cells (all mononuclear), and no red blood cells
Chloride: 110 - 125 mEq/L
Note: mg/mL = milligrams per milliliter; mEq/L = milliequivalents per liter

Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

  From all that I have read on LP opening pressure urs seems to be in range as to where it should be,.....

[shesabstrakt]

Thanks, I might as well stop searching for the reason and put it in Gods hands.