Chiari Malformation type 1

Has anyone on here had surgery for chiari malformation??

Anorwalk, I know what you are going through!! I had and was diagnosed with the same problem and symptoms back 3 years ago. I couldn't get any answers from my doctors, so I decided to see a specialist. I had this special MRI done on my brain. The next week I had surgery, I had 95% blockage in my brain. They removed part of the back of my scull for circulation. Two weeks after surgery had complications and contracted spinal menengitis, I was very sick, lost 30 pounds in 4 days and was in the hospital for 14. During my menengitis, The back of my head swelled severely and they thought they might have to go back in and remove the pressure. The specialist gave me some sort of antibiotics which brought the swelling down. After the surgery I still have periodic headaches, some short term memory loss, and comprehension which is all normal after surgery. So far I have been OK. I have a friend who had three surgeries from chiari, he went to the same doctor as I did. I do not mean to scare you, I am sorry if I am. If I were you get two opinions from doctors that know about it, and if they both agree, see what hey have to say! If it is bad take care of it right away!! You will be fine!! I was scared at first, but now I am glad I did it! Recovery takes time, but then it's over! If you need to talk about this, I am here for you! I have been there!! I hope this information helps! Let me know, hope to hear from you soon!
trouse

Thank you trouse. I have been to one Nero surgeon and three neurologist in the past year. The worst was that I found out my dx by reading my MRI report not by my dr. So I got sick of him and found a dr who has dealt with it before. When I saw the surgeon he said I didn't need the surgery, but when I saw my new dr he said that I needed surgery ASAP other wise I was a sneeze away from being paralyzed. So now I'm going to the mayo clinic in AZ. He put me on a bunch of meds and I still get no relief. I have been dealing with severe headaches everyday for over a year. How long did it take you before someone believed you about your pain and symptoms? I'm really glad that your doing so great. Here in AZ there are not a lot of specialist. I guess we will see what mayo has to say.

I was diagnosed with the Chiari back in 2005 and I was already having problems with my right arm and hand. I had so many mris and scans and finally was sent to the doctor that told me what was wrong. I had no idea what this dr was talking about until he told me I was born with it which really made me wonder why it had never been found. Anyway I was really scared to have surgery around my brain but when I ask what would happen and when he told my I would eventually lose the use of my arms and just the thought of never being able to hug my daughter or granddaughters was unbearable I scheduled the surgery. It went fine. I went back in two weeks everything looked good cane back home and the next day I noticed a little bulge in the sight but just figured it was where they had taken the staples out. Well over the next week or two ur got bigger than a orange so I go to my family doctor. He looks at it says he could drain it but wanted my surgeron to look at it. So he calls my surgeron and they tell me to come straight there. So we head there once in the room I don't see the doctor but his intern. She states there us a problem but I needed another mri before they could do anything. So I have the mri now know this thing is getting bigger everyday. Finally they call,me tell me I needed another surgery because the bulge was filling up with spinal fluid. So here I go back to surgery really scared this time and for the 1st time since the 1st surgery I saw the doctor and he finally looked and his only statement was, You do have a problem. Then he turned and walked away. He did get the problem fixed but I still have severe pain at the base of my skull to the point it effects everything I do it feels like my head is to heavy for my neck to hold up. Its worst 0n the left side but I've had 2 more neck surgeries to fix the disc and all but I only hurt at the base 0f my skull down the sight of that one surgery. Could something else be wrong or is this pain normal and something I've got to live with for the rest of my life because I am no some of the strongest pain meds and they just dull it enough so I just get through the day. I didn't hurt like this before the surgery. But when I told this crazy dr he just said there was nothing else he could do but he would make me a appointment to see a psychiatrist. It was like he did his job got his money and washed his hands of me. So all the other dr ive been to just say its scar tissue. But I'm seeing a new pain management dr who is running all kinds of test to find. Out what is really going on. So wish me luck because I hurt before the surgery but this pain is something im finding harder and harder to live with. It now runs my life if I can even call it a life. But will keep u posted as to out come but in meantime if anyone else has this or had these problems any advice as to what I can or need to do to get some relief please let me know. Good luck with your Chiari Anorwalk. Will be praying for you.

I had chiari surgery back in 2005. But for some reason I started looking spinal fluid and to go back in and ride something. The only problems I have is real bad headaches at the base of the skull where the Chiari is. I just think I use the wrong doctor because when I tried to tell him what was happening he wanted to send me to a nut doctor thinking its all in my head. I know I have the pain in nor crazy. But think god my pain management dr isrunning all kind of test to find out just what is going on he is determined to find my problems. Make sure u find a doctor willing to sit down and talk to you.any thing I can help with please let me know I know how painful. They are.

Deb

<p>I have been diagnosed with chiari malformation and I have been having bad headaches for over a year now 24/7. I also have blurred vision that the doctors are not sure why.i am on my 3rd set of botox treatment and it hasnt done nothing. I am nit sure if it is the malformation causing my problems and the doctor is no help with that. Anyone having or has had the same problems? Needing a little advise about this. I cant keep having migraines every day.</p>

I have been diagnosed with Chiari Malformation type 1 8.5 cm and have been having a lot of issues... at this point I am not having surgery until it is better preformed... anyone out here with the same thing.

Hi i am about to see the neurologiat for my chiari malformation what can i expect and does the botox work any advice would be great. I have lots of symptoms and these headaches are horrible

Hi christine. The Botox did not work for me at all but everyone is different. I have had these headaches for over 2 years and i am still the same if not worse. I even went to a head institute in Michigan and all they wantes to do is keep me for 10 days to do iv medication. I dont live anywhere close to them so i wouldnt stay. I figure my doctor can do that here by me. I have been to over 10 doctors and they dont know what to do. I see mine tomorrow so we shall see what he has to say again. I had a spinal fluid leak sealed but now i cant feel some of my hand and fingers from the surgery and it didnt help my headaches. When you go in to see your doctor just make sure you ask him if this will help. Be open minded to what they want to try first. Dont do the physical therapy because igs just a waste of money and time if they want to try that before. Good luck and let me know what they want to do maybe it will help me too.

Good morning. How was your appointment yesterday? I don't know much about<br />
mine. She had me do a 45 min mri of the head and neck to see how severe my<br />
case is. She said that I had a slight less reaction when she would touch<br />
anything on my left side which concerned her. She explained that surgery is<br />
usually the best treatment since my family Dr has already tried most of the<br />
medication that she would have used. She is worried that there could be a<br />
cyst which sometimes does occur with chiari malformation. She will be in<br />
contact by tomorrow to inform which route to go. I hope you got some<br />
answers at your appointment<br />