About Me: Male, Redwood City, CA, member since Jun 2009
I had my Chiari surgery on Feb. 27, 2009
My Chiari Symptoms
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[More] My first symptom was tingling on my bottom right foot through out the sole. The tingling increased to having some pain. As the heavy tingling was going on I noticed that my right foot was swollen just a bit compared from my right foot.
I then started getting headaches in the back of my head near my cerebellum. I started to get some small swelling type of pain on my right arm. At this point I noticed that the right side of my body was swollen which continues to this point but not as swollen as before.
My headaches continued more severe within a months period. I couldn't sleep. I take some heavy meds for another and they didn't really do much. The headache feelings felt like I was going to have a stoke any minute. I went to my primary care Dr. and told him about my symptoms.
He referred me to a neurologist which was rather brash. He didn't take my symptoms to seriously but he did refer me to a neurosurgeon, Dr. Paul Jackson (Stanford Hospital via the Palo Alto Medical Foundation-5 stars). He ordered an MRI of the spine and the brain. It came back with a 4mm drop of the cerebral tonsils out of the skull. He was great he explained everything to and the options. My symptoms were getting worse by the week. I wanted the surgery.
On Feb. 27, 2008 I had a Chiari decompression surgery. I was in the hospital for 3 night. They broke away a piece of my skull and the diameter of the base. When they opened up my dura and looked in there was more scar tissue on my cerebrel tonsils then they expected. The surgery took a bit longer due to removing the scar tissue. They burned it off with a laser. What side effects I'll have from that I don't know. They shaved a bit of the C1 to make more room for the cerebral tonsils which hang down above them. The put a patch on my dura (the covering of the brain)
They closed the dura. They stitched me up from the inside which I am currently dealing with possible stitches that are pushing out. They used some type of glue to close me up which is great because I don't have the staple scar or the stitch scar from the outside. It doesn't look to bad
Just a quick note to say hi! I am interested in your surgery? You said it was laser and quick? Where and who was your Dr if you dont mind. Was it for Chiari? I am still doing my research. Thanks for any info.