Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
1587684 tn?1296927270

Is there such thing as Borderline Chiari Malformation?

I am 21 years old and I was recently diagnosed with borderline Chiari Malformation. It was an accidental finding from and MRI that I had done to check for pituitary tumors. I have been having severe headaches for about 4 years, stiffness in my legs, irregular menstrual cycle, neck pain, tingling in my feet, and severe back pain over the same period of time, which actually started when I was in high school. I had been running back and forth to the doctor and to the emergency room. The only testing that I was getting was blood work, because the doctors thought it was my hormones, they mainly concerned about my gestural cycle and headaches, so everything else went unnoticed. The doctor finally decided for me to get an MRI in November for the pituatary tumors, which came out negative. As I said earlier, the finding was a borderline Chiari Malformation. I was first told by one doctor that this was normal. But, I believe the symptoms I am having are not normal. I would like to know, can Chiari Malformations be considered borderline, Should I go to a Neurologist? What should I do?
5 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
1435895 tn?1304291241
Hello and welcome.  I am also in NC and I see Dr Rosner that Selma has mentioned.  I went through many NL's and NS's before getting to see him and it has made all the difference in the world.  

I have been told that mine is borderline too.  I have an 11mm herniation.  As Selma said you really need additional test done to find out if you have a blockage or associated conditions.  Getting to the right doc will save you alot of stress and frustration.  I have had so many test done because it seemed they were just guessing what to do next.  

If you need any additional information about Dr Rosner feel free to PM me.  

Welcome and best of luck to you.  I hope you find the help that you need.  

Pam
Helpful - 0
620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER


  Oh yeah, laughing , coughing...it all will make u hurt....even singing u can get a strange sensation and lose ur voice...In fact laughing for me used to make me cough then  gag until I would vomit...it got bad....it is all very weird how it affects u.

Well there is a Dr in NC a Dr Rosner very well informed on Chiari...u might want to check him out.

Trust me I totally understand how u feel and what u r going thru, u r not alone there r plenty of others here that can tell u the same.

  "selma"
Helpful - 0
1587684 tn?1296927270
I forgot to mention that my headaches are made worse when I laugh, smile, and bend forward. Its like someone is taking an axe and chopping on the back of my neck.My neck constantly hurts, I am just ready for relief because this has been a four year ordeal.
Helpful - 0
1587684 tn?1296927270
Hi SelmaS, Thank u for your advice, Like I said, they really were just concerned about my headaches and menstrual cycle. As for the other symptoms, I was told I was not exercising enough, which I am active, so in my mind I didnt believe that was the case. I had to convince the doctor to give me and MRI but he ordered a check on my Pituitary Gland and no other part of the brain. I eventually changed doctors, he is the one who actually gave the results of the MRI because I refused to go back to my other doctor. I actually live in North Carolina, when I do see a neurologist I believe I will go to UNC Chapel Hill
Helpful - 0
620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER


  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

The term borderline is a term for drs to try to put something in a category...but r they looking at a MRI and putting what they see in a category or the whole picture?Symptoms are just as important as the chiari itself and if u have chiari u have chiari...how u feel and how it is affecting ur health will determine if it is borderline or not....

What u need to have done is more testing to see if u have a CSF blockage and a syrinx or ne related chiari conditions

From what u have mentioned so far, u may want to find a ML that is well informed on chiari to do some testing, in the meantime get all copies of ur MRI's and the reports so u can send off to a chiari specialist for review....many will give u an opinion for a nominal fee.

I went thru many of the issues  u mentioned and it took until I was 48 to get my dx.....

My drs told me it was early onset menopause...36...none looked at the pituitary being a possibility for me....and I just think u should push for the answers u know ur body more than they do....if it does not seem right , get a diff dr.....but try until u get someone to listen.

  Not knowing where u live I am not sure which list of drs is the one u will need , so I will include the one for the US and hope u can use that to research drs...the list is not a referral, just to help u get started on researching.http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Chiari-Malformation/LIST-OF-CHIARI-SPECIALISTS/show/1293483

We r happy to have u join us, but not happy with the reasons that bring u.

  "selma"
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Chiari Malformation Community

Top Neurology Answerers
620923 tn?1452915648
Allentown, PA
987762 tn?1671273328
Australia
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease