Spina Bifida and Chiari Malformation

Hi, I just can across the Chiari Malformation site. I have spina bifida with tethered cord which has been released twice, and I have had sever headache since I was 9 which was years and years ago. Two years ago come October I was hospitalized with an eye that went wonky; they thought it might be Toulouse-Hunt Syndrome, but it is not. While I was in the hospital, I had 2 MRI's and 4 CT scans of my head nothing showed up. 6 months later I had a follow up MRI and a lesion (6 mm) was found in the frontal lobe which I was told by the NS was due to my headaches; at the next MRI the following year apparently I now have 20 foci and 2 lesions the frontal one (which is still the same size) and new one in back right lobe. I have not had any real headaches for over a year so I do not think the headaches caused the lesions. In addition, I find that I have trouble swallowing (I tend to choke on liquids even saliva) and have sharp pains at times in my stomach after swallowing, I had a stomach test with the camera can't remember what it is called anyway nothing showed up. My question is does this sound like Chiari Malformation? Nothing was ever said about it from any of neither the MD’s that I have seen nor my surgeon.

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

DId u get copies of the MRI report and the MRI's? the verbage on the report will help figure out what is going on...I suggest u send them to a chiari specialist.

Tethered cords can re attach several times from trauma or scar tissue after surgery, so the act of the release surgery is enuff to cause it to reattach.

Some of the swallowing issues can be chiari, but they can also be thyroid issues...like Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

As u were told lesions can be the result of headaches and sometimes they can be from a trauma...like a MVA.

Ur HA's could be a result of the tethered cord...when the cord is attached it pulls down on the brainstem.....and that can affect alot of ur body's function.....balance....vision ect....

I am sure there is a possibility this is chiari in addition to ur TC and spina bifida, but it could be just the TC causing the issues.

"selma"

[bazoo154]

Thank you will look into Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Thanks again

[Shane99]

I wouldn't think you had Chiari. With Spina Bifida and Tethered Cord, surely Chiari would have shown up in the testing. If you do, it's most likely Chiari 2 with a small tonsillar ectopia.

[bazoo154]

Thank you I shouldn’t be self-diagnosing but not knowing what is causing this discomfort and pain is rather difficult. So I will now stop except I will look into Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, only I'll probably decide that I have it. LOL one has to laugh through all of this makes it a little easier.