Unilateral cerebellar herniation?

[suebashchiari]

I have a 10mm herniation on right and 7mm on left. Have had headaches my whole life and have had several bad Chiari attacks with transient neurological defecit. The best thing that has helped keep me stable is taking 10mg of cyclobenzaprine when I feel an attack coming on. It knocks me out and I sleep for 9-10 hrs but wake up without the headache and without the post attack mind fog.  Just wanted to share that. But my question is I have been told this is not hereditary, but my 19 year old daughter was just diagnosed with a 5mm unilateral right cerebellar tonsil ectopia.  Her left tonsil is normal. So she does not have both sides herniated only the right. I can't find much information on unilateral herniation.  Does anybody have any information on this?

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome back to the Chiari forum.

It is possible that the one side is herniated but not enuff for the Dr or radiologist noted....as some need it to be 5  mm's or more b4 they consider it an issue....I had 6 mm's on one side and 4 mm's on the other....most times Drs report the longest one....the problem is, there are not enuff Drs that know about Chiari and use the length of the herniation to even classify it as Chiari when Chiari is the malformation of the skull and the herniation is the result of that.....

As for heredity they are still doing testing...but from what we see just here in the forum.....it seems that is what they will find out..

Do make sure you and your Daughter are tested for ALL related conditions as they can cause the same or similar symptoms too....and can cause set backs if not found and surgery is an option....

[Lottida]

From my understanding there is some data proving it is hereditary but not sure of the statistics.  My husband was diagnosed 18ys ago with Chiari & the doctors told us it was hereditary back then.  We opted not to do fertility & don't have any children for that reason.   I was just diagnosed in Feb of this year with Chiari also & am currently recovering from surgery.  I would think that since Chiari is a malformation of the skull it is possible for only 1 side to herniate if the posterior fossa is smaller on 1 side.   Hope this was of some help.  Sending best wishes for you & your daughter!!!