My MRI

[michelle897]

Hey everyone, my name is Michelle and I'm new here. Long story short, all of my symptoms are in sink with chiaris. I've been tested for MS and some other conditions that have all come up negative. I have my MRI and am waiting to see the results of it. I know none of you are doctors but I would love to hear any of your opinions/thoughts. Thank you in advance and this forum is very great and has been so informative so far.

http://postimg.org/image/4nvuovoa9/

[selmaS]

  Hi michelle and welcome to the Chiari forum.

You are right we are not Drs, but I can see you do have a cerebral tonsil herniation if it is congenital Chiari or acquired low lying tonsils I can not say.

There are other tests you should have at this point to see what all is going on if your Dr says it is congenital Chiari....as it typically comes with other related conditions.

If it is acquired low lying tonsils there are a few tests to do, but you are not looking for the same things as with congenital....

Hope this is helpful.

[michelle897]

Thank you for your input! Hope you're doing well.

[selmaS]

  No worries....thanks for asking I am doing well......

This can be a frustrating journey and we all need to have so much testing as the symptoms are similar to other conditions that are unrelated and then we have related conditions as well that also have the same symptoms.Keep asking questions here on this thread to help keep all your answers easily accessible for you.

If I can be of any help, let me know.

[michelle897]

Hi again, so I got my results back and there was no mention of chiaris or low-lying tonsils although I do have a doctors appointment later this week. Do you guys think going for a second opinion would be worth it? Just so frustrated and confused with what's all going on. Also attached below is another view of the MRI that might be helpful. Thanks!

http://s32.postimg.org/4by61apat/image.jpg

[michelle897]

^ I messed up the above link. Here's a fixed one:

http://s32.postimg.org/6g1cpcaad/image.jpg

[The_beat_goes_on]

I don't know if I see a herniation ... I have the same view uploaded in my album here:

http://www.medhelp.org/user_photos/show/463849

You seem to have csf flow throughout (the bright white) when sometimes that is blocked.  Your sagittal slice (the one from the side) also looks pretty good to me.  Your cerebellum is lit up with csf.  With only a couple slices out of the many that are taken during an MRI, it's impossible to say ... but I'm not sure.  Definitely bring it up with the doctor.  Are you seeing a neurologist? or a neurosurgeon?  What are your symptoms? Second (and third!) opinions are always worth it.  

Also ... one thing I learned early on was to run away from any doctor that looked at scan reports and not the actual scans.  A good doctor, especially one that might potentially recommend cutting your head open, absolutely must take the time to go through a scan with me.

[michelle897]

Thank you! I am seeing a nurologist, a new one for the first time might I add. I recently turned 19 and I've been seeing a pediatric one at a children's hospital the past few years for my symptoms which are migraines (main problem, I can count the number of days I've gone without some form of headache or migraine on 1 hand in the past 5 years) headaches in the back of head, pain which coughing/sneezing, pain when bringing over, poor balance, ringing ears, blacking out, shaking hands, numbness in limbs, tremors, and back pain. The list probably goes on haha.

I appreciate your advice and will bring it up!

[selmaS]

  Sorry I am not familiar with that view as it is not one my Dr pointed things out to me with.....

Good luck with your appointment...I went for a 2nd, 3rd and a 4th opinion and yes they are worth it.

[michelle897]

Hi all, I just realized I forgot to come back and update while I found myself on this form tonight, having a rough night with symptoms and came across my post.

I ended up being told I have "borderline chiaris" and have been managing symptoms with physical therapy and medication. We are just watching closely to make sure the obstruction does not worsen. I have yet to see an actual chiaris specialist but besides the symptoms being difficult everything is going seemingly well.

Hope you all are well!

[selmaS]

  Thanks for the update !

Do you know why they consider you to be " borderline" Chiari is Chiari ....but it may be borderline to treat at this point.....just strange how many Drs refer to Chiari.....

Glad to hear things are going well for you....keep us posted.