Removing tonsils?

Question

I know I have seen a thread on this before, but of course I can't find it now.  I am scheduled for decompression surgery this month and the NS said due to my EDS he will be more aggressive on the brain and less on the bone.  This means he will burn the tonsils since they have "no neurological function."  Has anyone had this done?  Does anyone know where I can find more information?  I know I need the surgery and I thought I found the right guy, but I am worried.

Thanks!

selmaS · Accepted Answer

Hi...I had it done and I also have EDS....they do minor cauterization to shrink the tonsils to allow more room for the CSF to flow so they do not have to chip away too much bone as that can lead to cerebral ptosis......

  When are u scheduled, I do not have u on the Jan calendar??? We do have a list ur surgery date so we can remember u with a prayer......and I do not recall seeing ur name...did I miss it?

gatorcc · Answer

Thank you for the information!

selmaS · Answer

Some Drs use titanium to make the sling....so it all depends on the Dr as to what they prefer to work with and what they feel is best for a given patient.

linnielou232 · Answer

Is a sling the same as if they put muslin in the head. I had first surgery with dura patch, 2nd surgery fixed a CSF leak didn't work. 3 surgery had lumbar drain in, didn't work. 4th surgery he put a muslin patch on over the dura. Has any one ever heard of this. I haven't seen any one on here speak of this. What ever he did it doesn't leak anymore. Have had CINE MRI came back good. In 17mth post op and still have a lot of pain. It is so flustrating.

Rylanesmom · Answer

Sexy my ns said he will do it tf he needs to....it is not a given

selmaS · Answer

Cerebral ptosis is when too much bone is removed during the PFD and the cerebellum starts to slide down onto the brain stem and spinal cord...the symptoms are worse then b4 surgery most times.....

 Surgery is done to correct the problem, they have to add a sling to hold the cerebellum in place.....

Sexybare · Answer

I did not have this cauterization? Wondering why? I thought they would just do the procedure for better results. Can you explain cerebal ptosis?

selmaS · Answer

BTW- it does not remove the tonsil, just shrink them...the practice of removal  has bcome a thing of the past in chiari surgery......

Rylanesmom · Answer

I had read about this .... http://www.conquerchiari.org/subs%20only/volume%201/issue%201/tonsillectomy%201(1).asp. 
I have EDS and my chiari ns still discussed decompression