Playing football with chiari malformation

[itlnbuc]

Hi,
I am a senior in high school and I play football.
During weight training, I was doing squats and in the middle of a rep while going back up, I experienced an excruciating headache and had to stop right there. The headache didn't go away and thought I would just sleep on it. I went through 4 days of this with no practice or anything and the headache never went away. I went to the doctors and they thought it was an aneurysm. I was rushed in for a MRI on my brain and it came back negative but they had discovered chiari. At that time I had never experienced a symptom of chiari except always having bad balance. They told me about what it was and how I could treat it(surgery). they said I could finish my season though so I did and the headache really did not go away but I just learned  to tolerate it. I got another MRI after the season ended and they had concluded that it was now stage 2.
They said that they would recommend surgery but ultimately it was my choice and that I could just deal with whatever pain it brings me. It has been a total of four months now since first being diagnosed with chiari and recently my headaches have gotten noticeably worse and I have been only to sleep very little (I have woken up before 5am for a week straight). At the same time, I have been playing football for the last two weeks in an allstar practice/game. Is this a coincidence?

I have been really stressed out by a lot of things lately and people say that this too can cause symptoms to increase.  

The only dilemma I have is that I have offers to play division one football and receive a free education. Is there something to be worried about? I don't want to miss out on this opportunity that so few can say they experience but at the same time, the health of my brain is more important.

I fear going to the doctor right away because I don't want to hear the horrible sound of him telling me that football is over for me.

[selmaS]

  No worries....keep us  posted on what u find out.

[itlnbuc]

I was told that it was congenital. So I guess the next thing is to go see the doctor again. Thanks for the help.

[selmaS]

  May I ask, were u informed if ur herniation is congenital or acquired?

That is a big factor and is the diff btwn Chiari and low lying tonsils....acquired Chiari tends to have a better response to surgery and what they can do post op....where as those with congenital Chiari tend to have multiple conditions going on...and it helps to know b4 surgery if u do and what they are as they can affect how u feel and heal post op.

I would suggest u see a few Chiari specialists and compare them..... it is a major surgery and it has risks so it is important that u have the right Dr....and the best way to know is see a couple, JMHO

[itlnbuc]

First off thank you for the response. The doctor I have been going to is a specialist. He says he has performed the surgery over 100 times without ever having complications.  The way he described stages or types is determined by how far/big the chiari is. Mine is just past 5mm.
As far as surgery and football. I have had a total of three doctors, including my specialist, tell me that football would be one those things you play by year. I have not had surgery and as if right now don't plan on it if things stay they way they are. They are not comfortable but by no means are disrupting everyday life.  
And for all the other things you listed whether or not they have been ruled out. They have not even been mentioned to me by my specialist. I have read about them trough personal research but have not been told anything by a professional.

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

For many we do not recognize Chiari symptoms until that one day we do something just right or wrong and pow we have been hit by the symptoms we can not ignore. Once u learn more about Chiari u may realize u have had symptoms but that u adjusted to them and considered how u felt to be "normal" and not symptoms....Chiari symptoms can and do cycle so they are many times over looked or considered the result of something else.

As for football....u must be aware of all the pro players having issues as a result of head traumas....for someone with an issue to begin with IMHO I feel it is something that should be avoided...ne contact sport...I know how u feel about this and understand the opportunity u will miss out on....but we do have a list of activities to avoid and it is on there. Now u may find some Drs that will tell u ...once u heal u can go back to playing...that in my opinion is bull...u may feel much better, but surgery is not a cure, it is  a means to restore CSF flow.

It also sounds like u need to find a true Chiari specialist as I never heard of stage 2 Chiari....my Drs never indicated stages....so, u may have a Dr that is not well informed or experienced with this condition,

Have u had a CINE MRI, a MRI of the brain, cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine, did they rule out ICP, POTS,syringomyelia,sleep apnea, disk issues, tethered cord, ehlers-danlos, vitamin and mineral levels?

It also appears u already knew the answer to ur question...but had hopes someone would tell u differently.....some may, I would not....we are all different in how our body's respond to this surgery so no one can tell u what u will be able to do post op until u r post op. again JMHO