Need help with pain

[jjohnsonph]

I have been getting massages for 2 years to deal with stress, head aches, and shoulder pain. About 4 months ago the therapist recommended that I see a chiropractor because my headaches were increasing in frequency and intensity. During the 3 months of treatment with the chiro, I was gradually getting better but I would have flare ups. Right at the 3 month mark, I began to have constant headaches that moved all over, along with migraine-like symptoms. I saw a doctor and they gave me a muscle relaxer and NSAID for the inflammation. The intensity of the headaches has gone down with the medication, but they are still pretty constant. I went for an MRI of the brain and C-spine. The doctor's office called to tell me they got the results and that I had arthritis in my neck and "nothing significant" came up on my brain scan. I had sent these to the chiro also, thank goodness, so I now have a copy in my hands. The C-spine impression includes: low-lying cerebellar tonsils (4mm). The brain impression says: Chiari1 malformation. These were written by 2 different radiologists.
When I looked these up, I have most of the symptoms for Chiari1 malformation. Why would the doctor say it is nothing significant? My life has been altered in the past week because of all the symptoms. I am afraid to drive because I get episodes where I come close to blacking out.
What should my next steps be? Is seeing a neurologist the right thing to do? Is there anything that I can do in the meantime to ease the pain? I have been doing heat and ice and resting. I just want to get back to work. Any help would be great

[Nellan12]

Hi and Welcome to one of the best group of people & friends you will find out there when it comes to the Chiari Family!! Selma & Elisaandbucky gave you the best advice... I also have Chiari and when I first found out, the very first MRI that I had done back in 2011 the radiologist wrote I had perfectly normal brain..but my headaches were so bad that I saw neurologist who read the MRI and told me that I had Chiari Malformation 1.. But he said it was fine to leave it alone because he didn't understand much about it!! I have been thru at least 6 neurologist 1 Chiari specialist, I have already gone thru my first decompression( brain surgery) and I am about to go thru a 2sd one next month...the reason I tell you this is not to scare you..it just saw you know that you really need to do your home work...Like Selma said find a good Doctore who specializes with all issues of the Brain and Spine..Chiari, Siringo...and so on let them do all the nessasery test and rule out thing so you have definit answers..  Good luck. :)

[Elisaandbucky]

Hello and welcome to a safe and encouraging place to communicate your thoughts. Selma listed in her post all the significant steps you should take, to which I will add one. Keep a detailed journal - pain levels with various activities, reaction to any medications, date, and a note about anything you experienced right before a flare-up. This documentation will help when you are consulting with doctors as well as keep yourself informed. I hope your pain is bearable today. You are not alone.

[jjohnsonph]

Thank you!

[selmaS]

.....Hi...and....welcome...to...the...Chiari....forum.

...Please...excuse...my...dots...as...my...computer's...space...bar...works.....when...it..wants..to...

...1-...do...not...go...to...a...Chiropractor....or...allow...manipulations...of..your...neck...
...2-..a...NL....can...be...helpful...only...if...they,...are..familiar...with...Chiari...and..related...conditions....

...3-...there...are...more...tests...to...be...done....first...being..a.CINE.MRI....to...check....for...a...CSF...obstruction...
...4-...MRI's....of...the...thoracic...and...lumbar...spine...to...rule...out...disk....issues....tethered...cord...and..Syringomyelia.
..5-.tests...to...rule...out...auto..immune...and...connective...tissue...disorders...as...well...as..vitamin...levels.....etc...

..educate...yourself...so...you...can...research...Drs...as..you..will...want..a.true...Chiari...specialist.

....It....is...possible...a..related...condition...is...causing...your...symptoms...and....not...Chiari...directly....so....do...have...more...testing...to...rule.......things...out.

...Use...our...Health..Pages...for...info...an...ask...questions...then...use...our...list...of..Drs...to..research...Drs...it...may...take...some...time...as..the...medical...professionals....do...not...move..swiftly...this...condition...will......give...us...practice...on...patience....