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What kind of medications can you take for chiari?
I'm currently not on any medications other than natural supplements. I was on Keppra, but it changed my personality drastically.
Has anyone decided to take medications instead of surgery? What I'm trying to say is to control the symptoms rather than opt for such a drastic measure such as surgery.
I'm one of those people who do not like to take medications because of the side effects and what the meds may do to my health down the road.
What kind of medications are available to treat chiari? Is it better to treat symptoms, or have the surgery and hope this eliminates the symptoms?
When do you know it's time to have surgery verses controlling symptoms with medicatons?
I hope I'm making sense...
Has anyone decided to take medications instead of surgery? What I'm trying to say is to control the symptoms rather than opt for such a drastic measure such as surgery.
I'm one of those people who do not like to take medications because of the side effects and what the meds may do to my health down the road.
What kind of medications are available to treat chiari? Is it better to treat symptoms, or have the surgery and hope this eliminates the symptoms?
When do you know it's time to have surgery verses controlling symptoms with medicatons?
I hope I'm making sense...
COMMUNITY LEADER
I have to agree with you jiggle......we are all different and will need to see what works for us....
In all fairness, I will say that I did not read all the above comments. I just saw the original post and question and thought I'd share my own experience.
I was placed on a good number of meds before being DX. I had what I felt to be horrible experiences. I worked with my Dr. and after getting Dx, I began going off my meds. In almost 4 years now, I have not been on any. I only would use ibuprofen when I could no longer take the pain. But taking it also sends my stomach into an uproar, so I tend to just tolerate the pain. I have a childhood friend that broke her back and has suffered her own physical and mental illnesses because of her injury. She contacted me and told me that she made a change in her meds and at the time of typing this has been off her meds for 3 years now. I am open minded, but hugely skeptical and very slow to make any changes to my life. After a pretty bad phase of pain and health issues, my husband encouraged me to call her back. "What could it hurt" was his response. I didn't call. My DH finally got in touch with her and I agreed to having her send me a package. What I did not expect was to find my miracle in a box. ( I say "my" because I realize this is not for everyone!) She sent me a box of essential oils and called me to explain what each one was for and how to use them. She too was skeptical at the beginning of her own use. I shook my head thinking, what have I just gotten myself into, but knowing I hate meds, having problems with my chiari/ eds/ thyroid/ and IBS, and a hubby giving me the "eye", I did what anyone would do.....I put them on my sick kid instead!! 3 of our 4 have lung issues and certain times of the year we deal with extreme flare ups and end up in the hospital for care. I rubbed the oil on his chest, back, and feet like my friend instructed and placed my son comfortably on the couch. The next morning the same kid that was miserable and in pain was up and walking around and telling me he was feeling better. I laughed at him and said "sure you do buddy" and winked at my husband and said "placebo affect". When he returned to school and had no issues that day I said, "hmm". My husband decided he would give it try to see if it worked. Hubby has horrible sleep and never feels rested so he rubbed lavender on his feet and went to bed. The next morning I woke up and saw he was still in bed, (he normally rises around 3am) and he was in a panic. For the first time ever, he slept through his alarm! "Hmmm" I said....and thought, ok, I'll use them and prove everyone that the "placebo" hype was just that! ......I had to hang my head in shame. They WORKED for me too! Gasp! How could something so easy and natural actually work? Sad but true! We are now an oil rubbing and inhaling homeopathic home! I have had no issue that the oils didn't help me with. They will not heal me or fix my head, or any other of my medical issues, but they DO help me with my symptoms and have helped me have a bit more of a normal life. I am a realist, and know that not everyone is open to this form of care, but for me and my house...they are loving the fact that they can first try an oil before they reach for a pill and we love that we haven't found a single side effect. Well, I guess you could call smelling like grandma a side effect- LOL as my sons friends informed him at lunch one day. I am giving them a fair shot, and if I find out something that doesnt work or a reaction of any sort I will honestly report that as well, but darn it all - as of now, I only have positive response at this time. In closing, if you need meds and can take them then by all means follow the doctors orders! But some people can find another option, and it can work...even when you want to prove it wrong ;)
I was placed on a good number of meds before being DX. I had what I felt to be horrible experiences. I worked with my Dr. and after getting Dx, I began going off my meds. In almost 4 years now, I have not been on any. I only would use ibuprofen when I could no longer take the pain. But taking it also sends my stomach into an uproar, so I tend to just tolerate the pain. I have a childhood friend that broke her back and has suffered her own physical and mental illnesses because of her injury. She contacted me and told me that she made a change in her meds and at the time of typing this has been off her meds for 3 years now. I am open minded, but hugely skeptical and very slow to make any changes to my life. After a pretty bad phase of pain and health issues, my husband encouraged me to call her back. "What could it hurt" was his response. I didn't call. My DH finally got in touch with her and I agreed to having her send me a package. What I did not expect was to find my miracle in a box. ( I say "my" because I realize this is not for everyone!) She sent me a box of essential oils and called me to explain what each one was for and how to use them. She too was skeptical at the beginning of her own use. I shook my head thinking, what have I just gotten myself into, but knowing I hate meds, having problems with my chiari/ eds/ thyroid/ and IBS, and a hubby giving me the "eye", I did what anyone would do.....I put them on my sick kid instead!! 3 of our 4 have lung issues and certain times of the year we deal with extreme flare ups and end up in the hospital for care. I rubbed the oil on his chest, back, and feet like my friend instructed and placed my son comfortably on the couch. The next morning the same kid that was miserable and in pain was up and walking around and telling me he was feeling better. I laughed at him and said "sure you do buddy" and winked at my husband and said "placebo affect". When he returned to school and had no issues that day I said, "hmm". My husband decided he would give it try to see if it worked. Hubby has horrible sleep and never feels rested so he rubbed lavender on his feet and went to bed. The next morning I woke up and saw he was still in bed, (he normally rises around 3am) and he was in a panic. For the first time ever, he slept through his alarm! "Hmmm" I said....and thought, ok, I'll use them and prove everyone that the "placebo" hype was just that! ......I had to hang my head in shame. They WORKED for me too! Gasp! How could something so easy and natural actually work? Sad but true! We are now an oil rubbing and inhaling homeopathic home! I have had no issue that the oils didn't help me with. They will not heal me or fix my head, or any other of my medical issues, but they DO help me with my symptoms and have helped me have a bit more of a normal life. I am a realist, and know that not everyone is open to this form of care, but for me and my house...they are loving the fact that they can first try an oil before they reach for a pill and we love that we haven't found a single side effect. Well, I guess you could call smelling like grandma a side effect- LOL as my sons friends informed him at lunch one day. I am giving them a fair shot, and if I find out something that doesnt work or a reaction of any sort I will honestly report that as well, but darn it all - as of now, I only have positive response at this time. In closing, if you need meds and can take them then by all means follow the doctors orders! But some people can find another option, and it can work...even when you want to prove it wrong ;)
I was diagnosed in 2008 with ACM after 8 months of illness and losing over 20 lbs. the doctors sent me home from the hospital with MS and on klonopin, neurton and meclizine 3 times a day but after a different MRI they found the 5mm hernia and the neurosurgeon told me I had ACM. But the meds I was taking obviously we're helping and he did not want to see me have surgery if the meds were helping. And they are!!!! Even down to taking my meds 1 time a day, yeah! And yes a very thin pillow helps me a lot!
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.
It is not if I had been DX'd as a child if I would have required surgery then....we are all different and some may go longer periods without surgery.
May I ask what symptoms she is having and what testing was done.....I was 48 when I got a DX...but I did try to get a DX for as long as I could remember.....my surgery was 5 yrs ago...and I do not regret it.....but not sure I would have required surgery when I was younger....
Do not rush into surgery...find a true Chiari specialist, rule out ALL related conditions....and have more testing to see just how her Chiari is affecting her and her overall health.
Hello. My daughter is 6 and was recently diagnosed with CM. I am reading your posts and I want to ask you whether you wish you'd been diagnosed early and gone through surgery as a child. I am so scared to begin the process of neurosurgery on her tiny body but I would be so grateful to avoid migraines, meds, family stress and the other things you have had to go through. This is not a condition I had ever heard of and I want to learn all that I can in order to make an informed decision on her behalf. Please share your thoughts with me if you're up to it. Thank you all and best of luck finding the relief you all deserve. Blessings
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.
I am so happy to hear u were able to get off the meds....most times meds do not help with the Chiari pain....and is used post op for surgical pain....
And I am also glad to hear ur Chiari is not bothering for some time....Chiari symptoms cycle and they can go for days, weeks, months and yrs and then for no apparent reason return.
I pray urs do not return, but would caution u to have a MRI to make sure the reason u have no pain is nerve impingement.....
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