Please pleeeease look at my pre-op scans!

[ajunebug]

So, I am about two weeks away from my decompression (endoscopic with Dr Luciano) at the Cleveland Clinic. I've had a head and cervical MRI before, but never a thoracic till yesterday, which was my pre-op scan. I have chiari 1 with a 15mm herniation, according to my recent brain scan. I'm wondering what you guys think of my scan that I got yesterday. It seems like they zoomed in on this area? Do you see anything out of the ordinary? What are those little dark spots on the far right, in my CSF, anyone know? I don't have the radiology report yet so I'm not sure what the findings are.

Thanks so much! Here are the links, you can cut and paste them in your browser to see. Thank youuuuuuuu! :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/57390409@N08/5708488007/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57390409@N08/5709053676/

[ajunebug]

Thanks for weighing in, that makes sense! :) Hopefully things get better for me post-op. I'm soooo nervous! 2 weeks from tomorrow, eek!

[*Stormy*]

Honestly, I think they are one and the same...JMHO. My theory is that the weakness that Chiari causes is what causes the disc dessication and then bulging. I realized much later that my weakness started earlier than I thought but my body took the brunt of it for awhile so I didn't realize it...I just noticed the pain. I have found that having Chiari has really damaged my musculoskeletal system. If you look at some of the research that has been done the most complained about residual symptom after surgery is musculoskeletal pain. I think that is because the damage has been done and even if the CSF flow is restored, the discs ect..don't just pop back into place and the muscles don't miraculously strengthen. That is why it is SOOO important that Drs give better follow up care!!

Stormy

[ajunebug]

Hi there! I actually got my report released to me today, yay!

Basically, I have no syrnix, the CSF isn't too bad, my chiari is still about 15mm. I do have multilevel disk dessication, straightening of the cervical lordosis, and a disk bulge. Uh, no wonder my freaking back and neck hurt. lol.

I'm starting to wonder if it's the chiari causing all this pain, or if it's more about the disk issues...

[*Stormy*]

Hi

I just took a look too...I personally see something of interest in the second pic, the one where they zeroed in on you thoracic spine. I don't have a syrinx but I have looked at a lot of pics of people that do and I am wondering if that is what it is? So frustrating that you don't have the report b/c you don't want to jump to conclusions either causing yourself more anxiety. Please let me know when you find out..

Stormy

[ajunebug]

Thanks! I don't have radiology report and won't be back to the doc for 2 weeks. I'm just really curious if there is something going on in my thoracic area...also, does it look like I have a disc bulging up in the cervical area?

[zygy2]

Hello :)  I took a look at the pics! Interesting, always fun to see more pics.  I wish I could tell you what is there but I have no idea!  When I get my images I usually get a report with them, did you get a report?  That tends to make things a bit easier to study!  At least then you can try to look things up.  It really stinks to have to wait and hear from a doctor!  Good lucks with you decompression, I had mine a year ago.  Having a second surgery next month from complications.  Hopefully all goes great for you and you find out quickly what they saw in these images!  

[ajunebug]

Please? lol.