Neck Pain

[2001ri]

Hi there - So I was diagnosed w/Chiari a couple of months ago (8-9mm herniation). I so far have gone to one NS which was so disappointing and left with more questions than answers...though from reading on here, apparently the NS runaround is all part of the 'Welcome to Chiari' process! I have another appt. scheduled w/a different NS coming up, but I've never been good at waiting so I thought I'd see if anyone here has any answers.

The last week or so, I've been having a feeling of sharp needles suddenly poking me up and down my neck and top of spine. Only lasts for a few seconds and is intermittent, just a few times a day. It's pretty sharp and I've not had anything like this before...or maybe I wasn't paying attention. Wondering if anyone else seems to have this with Chiari...or could it be indicitive of Syringo? My head MRI didn't show Syringomyelia, though of course you only see the top of the neck...

[irislita]

I have to emphasize again get a specialist.so many testing needs to be done before ns and u can decide on further steps!

[selmaS]

  IMHO it is not the length that determines if it is mild, it is ur symptoms and how it is affecting ur overall health.....

5mm is what most Drs use to determine chiari which is outdated and dangerous in MHO.

Get the CINE MRI and spine MRI's and other tests for related issues and then u can say if it is mild or what.....

[2001ri]

Thanks everyone....the bulging discs and the degenerative discs are things I hadnt even thought about! I really hope now that this NS at the very least orders a spinal MRI so that I can get a full picture beyond the chiari. Funny how in two months I have learned all sorts of new terms! Also, is 9mm considered mild?

[jiggle93]

Welcome 2001ri. I'm not sure how much this will help you, but I'll share it anyways. I started with similar feeling a few years ago. I didnt understand it at the time, but figured it must have something to do with the "chrunchy" sounds my neck was making. I learned in 2010 that I have degenerative disc disease as well as CM1, at that time mine was measured at 9mm. I also have bulging and torn discs in my C spine. I was never checked for syrinx, and my MRI was of head only. I now have 24/7 pain, burning, and needles going on as well as numbness and tingling in arms and fingers.
I cant say that this is what your experience is, but would advise you to get it checked out. I also keep a journal of symptoms and possible triggers to see if I notice what makes it worse. Just a thought. Keep us posted, I'm curious what you find out.
Jiggle

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

The Royal Chiari runaround is indeed something we all go thru , sadly it is diff to find NS's and NL's that r well experienced with chiari.Finding the right Dr is key !!

We all tend to experience diff symptoms, and express how they feel diff too, so it is hard to know if it is the same as someone else.....keep in mind, yes this could be from a syrinx and we all do not have them, it could also be from a bulging disk or other chiari related condition, this is y it is so important to rule them all out.

Also keep in mind u can have a syrinx in the thoracic and lumbar spine too, so u need MRI's of those areas too.