How Quickly Can Chiari Symptoms Develop?

[TommieB]

How quickly do the symptoms of Chiari usually develop?  I am still waiting to see a neurologist to find out exactly what is wrong with me, but my symptoms are much like Chiari.  However, they developed VERY rapidly, and I am wondering if this is possible with Chiari.  Please advise!

[chiarigirl11]

hi my names elle, and my sypmtoms like literally came in one day, one day i was fine and then the next in excruciating pain and alot of other chiari symptoms, i mean some took a little while to get worse like me being unbalanced and dizziness and like numbness and stuff like that...but yah ive been like that for about a year! =(

[jorlex137]

I am a beginner in all this but can tell you that my symptoms have occurred over time and with time are getting worse.  I can remember the first noticeable strong headache, it was 13 years ago, I sneezed and I thought my head was going to explode.  This has occurred often ever since.  

With time came the vertigo, tinnitus, numb hands, plugged ears and general pain, there is other odd stuff I'm not sure it related so I won't list.  

Good luck to you!  

[rod44]

Hi,
I was DX with a Cervical Syrinx after an MRI for what doctors thought was an inner ear problem, the syrinx was an incidental finding. I initially went to my GP with vertigo. I was referred to an ENT doctor who organised the MRI.. The ENT has now referred me to an NS and feels there is no inner ear problem.
A Syrinx is a cyst in the spinal cord and is connected in many cases to CM. I have many of the symptoms of CM but as yet have no DX of CM.
I have been experiencing numbness in my feet and hands for many years along with headaches that I thought were Tension headaches witch radiate from my neck up into the back of my head I also have tinnitus, then I started to get episodes of vertigo, witch was the reason I went to my GP in the first place, soon after this I started to have problems with Nystagmus, Dizziness, shoulder pain, numbness across my shoulders and down the centre of my back. The symptoms were infrequent and not bothersome so I ignored them but then when they found the Syrinx It struck me that all these things that are going on could be connected. these Symptoms have gradually got worse over the past few years

If you can get a copy of your old MRI and bring them to the new NL they should be able to see if you have a CM. this is a complex illness and nothing is certain ie some have sudden symptoms others suffer for years before DX, there are many connected illness that have many symptoms that overlap witch makes diagnoses even more complicated . Add to this the inconsistency of the criteria that doctors who are not up to date with CM use for reaching a DX and it can be very difficult to get a proper DX.
Find out as much info as you can so that you know what to ask your NL when you get to see them. Keep an open mind until you get a DX as frustration will not help.  
ROD
  

[selmaS]

Chiari will show on the MRI, it is the radiologist and NS that may not think it necessary to mention as they feel it is an incidential finding...so it may not be mentioned on the report if the herniation is less than 5 mm.

Have u had a fall or been in a MVA lately...6 months or so?

Well, if u put extra strain on ur spine when there was an exsisting condition it may have exacerbated the problem.

Do u have access to ur old MRI?...and the report?

"selma"

[TommieB]

I don't have a diagnosis yet, still waiting to see a neurologist (I'm on a waiting list, as I don't have insurance and have to go through county hospital).  I've had an MRI of my brain, but as I understand it chiari doesn't always show up on a standard MRI, especially if the herniation is under 5mm.  I'm still doing the research, but so far my symptoms seem to match up, only as I said, they developed rather quickly.  I'm trying to recall if I had any of the symptoms in a milder form and just didn't really pay attention until things became excruciating.  Shortly before things began to get crazy, I did severely sprain my ankle, and then (genius that I am) continued to do fairly heavy labor (I'm a gardener), all the while compensating for the sprain through contorted posture, etc.  I was in pretty bad shape before I finally said, hey, idiot, nothing's going to heal if you keep this up.  Shortly thereafter my head "exploded," and I've had pretty severe symptoms ever since.  Any thoughts?

[selmaS]

Hi....as Rod mentioned chiari is a congential condition.
I believe that many of us have had symptoms all along but they do tend to cycle so we think....it was bcuz of this  or that .....and some symptoms we had so long we don't consider them a symptom bcuz then seem normal to us.

But to ur question....chiari herniations and symptoms can progress very rapidly...or very slowly.
A fall or MVA can trigger progression.

Don't u have a dx yet?...do u have an MRI?

"selma"

[rod44]

Hi
I am not an expert and there are people here who can and will give you more info, my understanding is that CM is a congenital condition  (we are born with it)  however an accident or even sneezing or coughing can trigger symptoms. This is a neuro surgical as opposed to a neuro medical speciality as the most successful treatment is surgery.
rod44