Can little signs of Chiari cause symptoms?

[Caity10]

so, recently (past year or so) I've really started to notice some strange things going on with me. Normal headaches started to turn into slightly debilitating headaches, though most were not of the migraine kind. Not only that but incredible fatigue (even though I changed my diet to foods that supposedly help with that) and also balance issues. It wasn't until I really started having dizzy spells that I decided to go to the doctor. (I also had slight ringing in my left ear which wasn't too big of a deal but my headaches were the biggest reason along with dizziness) Which, obviously turned into a date with an MRI. So, once that happened they told me that I had just barely had what looked like a Chiari Malformation. I had no idea what exactly this was, but once explained, I still kind of have no idea if these symptoms really could be caused by a Chiari Malformation that could have been overlooked on the MRI results.

Now, I know that it's like herniation at the bottom of the skull and after a lot of reading on this site- I'm starting to get the idea of it. However, since then, my headaches have also started to change
-a creeping headache from the base of my skull to the top (kind of like fingers sliding up)
-sometimes it's sharp (like a 6-7 on pain scale sometimes more or less)
-sometimes it's constant sharp pains (kind of electric-ee if you know what i mean)
-sometimes just a dull constant droning pain throughout my head

I really kind of don't know what's going on. With *people* that I've talked to, I've heard different things ranging from "take magnesium supplements" or "just drink more water". I say *people* because my neurologist appointment is a week from today and I have an ENT appointment tomorrow morning for the "vertigo" and "tinnitus".

My question is- can this relate to the Chiari or can it really be something simple as needing to take a vitamin supplement every day (which I do)? Also, what are your headaches like with your CM? I'm also curious to know what others struggled with (like dizziness, balance, brain fog(?))

I just would like to know if I should look into this more or not :)

[stactheacetx]

Once I was diagnosed with Chiari and went over symptoms with my neurosurgeon I realized every symptom I had was related to Chiari- headache at the back left side (where my chiari is) of my head, tingling on left side of body (nerve damage) vision problems in left eye, ringing in left ear. I always made up excuses as to why I was having that symptom and never realized they were all related to one thing. I just found my chiari in April and had surgery on Sept 18.
How big is your herniation?

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

Everyone here can relate to how u feel and also know how frustrated it can be to get answers and treatment so u can actually feel better.....

Chiari can cause and create all diff types of pain for each of us , so not all of us will have the same symptoms exactly.....if u have Chiari and were DX'd u will want to meet with a Chiari specialist to rule out related conditions as many of them can cause the same symptoms as Chiari and there are non related conditions that can have the same or similar symptoms.

Keep us posted on how ur ENT visit goes.

[Caity10]

Thank you so much everyone! Appointment with the ENT went well :) you all are very encouraging and just wonderful! Will definitely keep all this in mind when talking to the neuologist!

[katydee]

By the way, you should connect with SarahRaye2 on this forum.  She's going through the same thing and is about your age.

[katydee]

My daughter's headaches were exactly as you described, even "electric-ee."
Her herniation was only 5mm which doesn't sound like much but it was shallow and wide enough to block CSF flow to the brain and cause all the symptoms. Some patients with longer but more narrow "tonsils" have no symptoms because CSF can flow around them more freely.  As far as the vertigo and ringing in the ears, these are common problems with Chiari patients as my daughter also experienced.  If the ENT can't find anything you should still mention it to the neurologist.

[desertstorm2009]

How could I forget....

Points of pain and pressure on sides of head as well behind ears
Constant crackling/fullness in ears

[desertstorm2009]

Great description of your headaches, mine are the same but I would add to that;

Includes scalp tenderness/pain to the point my hair hurts
Pressure pain in head sometimes so severe it feels like top of head will explode
This is debilitating, always there to varying degrees
Makes me feel like I am dying

You are not alone my friend, hang in there;-) Lisa