Can you describe your symptoms of Chiari and/or Syringomyelia?

I have been having MS-type symptoms for a few weeks and someone mentioned that they had similar symptoms but were diagnosed with Syringomyelia, i was wondering if any of my symptoms sound familiar to anyone as I am hoping that it could be this and not MS. I was also wondering if either Chiari or Syringomyelia could cause a high rhematoid factor or ANA in bloodwork? Some on my symptoms are:
tingling/numbness feet/legs/face/hands
fatigue
weak muscles
memory loss/concentration problems
mild neck pain that comes and goes
Any ideas would be really helpful :)
God Bless

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the chiari forum.

  Many with chiari have been mis dx'd with MS...so most of us do get tested for MS to rule it out...a few that I know have both.

If I had a choice, I would pick none...either of these is life altering....many of us do have a connective tissue disorder which is a related condition which is a rheumatoid condition ...so u might want to rule out Ehlers-Danlos...and many have auto immune issues associated with chiari.....

All of ur symptoms could be from a syrinx , chiari, or MS, lymes, lupus, ......there r sooooo many conditions with similar symptoms.....so testing is the only way to know for sure.

U would need a brain MRI w/wo contrast- a MRI of the cervical spine....once u have a confirmation of chiari there would be additional tests....but the drs will rule out MS, lymes, lupus etc.....

  "selma"