Function of Cerebellar Tonsils

[mama2twobabies]

Out of curiosity, what is the function of the cerebellar tonsils? I can't find their exact function. I can find the cerebellum's function of controlling balance, spacial & fine motor functions. Are the cerebellar tonsils related to the functions of the cerebellum only, or do they have their own specific functions? Just wondering what these things that are causing all of these problems with me actually do in my brain!

[dinee1]

I am 7 yrs. post Chiari I surgery at the age of 60.  It was sucessful in eliminating severe headaches, restoring gait, balance & arm strength.  My gag reflex and eye conversion were partially restored.  My last checkup with Dr. R. was last year, when he found continuing good function of the above.  However, I have never had restored bowel or bladder function (these are well-managed), and my chronic nerve pain & sleep disorder increase as the years go by.  I used to hurt primarily in my arms and legs, but now it has moved to my back.  Headaches are returning.  I've been treating for TMJ, but not much help.  I'm on Tramadol, Tegretol, Gabapentin, Hydrocodone-PRN, Flexaril, Trazadone just to eke out an existance each day.  Is this common, that there is so much nerve damage that I should expect this kind of life?  Thank you,  diana, asheville nc

[ecorb04]

I don't think its a csf leak because i think that would be evident on the mri scans! I had an upright Mri Scan performed in London and it should significant change from the standard Mri scan - it showed the area that was decompressed should significant crowding around the foramen magnum and posterior fossa in an upright position so this is why i believe its positional as the pain up the base of my skull/head resolves almost completely when lying flat! It cant really be anything else for the last 7 years of being told my opinion wasn't correct and it was this that and everything else the medical professionals came up with we have ruled everything out that can possibly be associated with a headache :)  

[selmaS]

  Did they rule out a CSF leak and POTS?

Oh ok, so they either took it from ur scalp ur pericardium....or ur thigh....not sure what that is called or referred to....

It all different with each of us as to how much they retract...but none that I know went up and above the  foreman magnum.....

Not always does this give more room, and ur issues that r positional lead me to think it is either a leak or POTS

[ecorb04]

Well currently i have headaches everyday and worse when I'm in an upright position! I get relief when lying flat so it does suggest its a potential positional obstruction in regards to the tonsils. Im not sure what graft was used but it wasn't a skin graft from myself. The current surgeon I'm now under doesn't use skin grafts he told me he opens the dura and leaves it open without a skin graft as he feels this is more effective etc. When they shrink the tonsills how much do they shrink by? Shrinking the tonsils makes more room for CSF to flow is that correct?

Kind Regards

[selmaS]

  I only have had one surgery for Chiari...I had 2 others related to a fall I had bcuz  of Chiari...I torn the meniscus in my right knee and also had an issue with my right ankle which had to be done b4 my knee as I needed it healed so PT would work for the knee....and then my knee surgeon sent me to another Dr thinking I had Lupus and that is how my Chiari was found and dx'd.

I know with the shrinking of the tonsils they may not go back into place completely but the lamenectomy should provide the space ...unless there is another issue like a retroflexed odontoid, or scar tissue,....

Do u know what type of dura patch was used? And did they rule out Ehlers-Danlos, this is important.

I still get symptoms as my tonsils were still 2mm below the foreman magnum post op...and I do have tethered cord which can continue to pull them down....

Ask about the patch being an issue and find out what was used.....skin grafted from u is best....as there is no risk of rejection.

I feel those that reject a patch develop ICP....many have EDS that is undx'd....and have all sorts of post op issues....just what I have been seeing here on the forum.

I have also seen many Drs that do not shrink the tonsils at all and the person still does well.....so, it may be that urs r wide and causing an issue...but do ask about the other issues too.

[ecorb04]

Yes they did a laminectomy of C1 with a dural graft. I had a csf leak post op and a further csf following corrective surgery and had external lp drain put in and then they just stitched my scar closed from the outside.....
I had a recurrence of headaches 6 months to a year post op and following the operation still cant do any physical exertion as it causes a raised ICP which takes about 6 hours to drain and settle. I had an elevated csf pressure and the neurosurgeons told me i had benign intracranial hypertension which i had little confidence in. Anyway i felt it was a circulation disorder at the base of my skull and proceeded with a vp shunt insertion as i felt it would correct the csf occlusion and it worked reasonably well for about 5 months. The neurosurgeons i was under at the time did not have a speciality in chiari and couldnt understand why i had this recurrent headache on a daily basis. I got myself referred to a specialist who has a specific interest in chiari and had flow studies done etc and he has decided to do a revision as he feels the pressure is developing over the cranial vertebral junction and feels as the  tonsils had not been shrunk in the first op that they are still occluding and sitting within the cranial vertebral junction. Have you more than one chiari surgery or did you just have the one? I have confidence that reducing the cerebellar tonsils will have a great impact on the symptoms.
Regards