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scuba diving with syrinx

My daughter was diagnosed with a Chiari Malformation with a syrinx.  She had a posterior fossa craniectomy to make room for the Chiari.  The hope was that with time, the syrinx would reduce, but it has not (it has been 2 years).  It is not getting worse, but it is fairly severe and is present in almost the entire length of the spinal cord.  Since she is asymptomatic, our neurosurgeon is NOT recommending a stint be used to drain this and she has not had this done.  My son and I are both certified scuba divers, and my daughter very much wants to do this as well, but I'm concerned about the affects of pressure on the syrinx.  She is presently 11.  Any thoughts?
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Avatar universal
I have a thoracic syrinx and scuba dive. My neurologist said because it’s a fluid filled body, underwater pressure will not affect it.
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1 Comments
Thanks for the comment.  I posted this quite some time ago.  She never did pursue diving, went the competitive cheerleading direction instead (which her neurologist did NOT like).  They ended up putting in a small stint from the interior to exterior of the spinal cord which worked initially, but soon stopped.  They then put in a second which drained the fluid all the way into her abdomen.  During this time, she also was experiencing progressive scoliosis and ended up having a partial spinal fusion.  Today she does generally well.  She did have some minor nerve damage as a result of the syrinx (which is why they put in the stint) causing some mild numbness in her left leg.  But she still has full function of it.  When I posted this, I had hoped an actual medical person or knowledgeable diver would answer this.  Thanks!  Don't know that she still has an interest in diving, but I will forward the comment.  Thanks again!
555358 tn?1292532061
I would be VERY hesitant about SCUBA diving, as even air pressure changes in a plane can cause serious syrinx issues as well as Chiari problems.
Helpful - 0
620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER
I agree u need to contact a dr that is well versed on syringomyelia.....mayb the NS that did her surgery can offer an idea about this topic.I am so happy to hear ur DD is able to try things like this and is asymptomatic.

Please post here what u find out as I am curious too : )

"selma"
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1175033 tn?1492201228
I would contact a medical facility that has a barometric chamber. Maybe they might have knowledge of what happens to your spinal cord when under water or under pressure. I wish I knew...   Stacey
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