What is Chiari 0?

[fallingworld]

Pretty soon I'll be coming to the 3 year anniversary of the day the World fell on my head.  Well, the world map in my classroom anyway.  Making it short it took them 3 months to discover 2 cracks in my skull--need I say more.  I'm still trying to get meaningful help.  I do have a great pain doc or I'd be institutionalized by now.  I am finally scheduled to see the only doc listed on your chain-Tim Burson.  When they finally performed an mri of the right part of my head-the base of my skull and neck they found Chiari 0 and a smashed neck(only one vertebrae usable really).  I have every symptom ever listed of chiari and it seems to run in my family(cousin contemplating options right now).  So what should I ask when I go in and is Chiari 0 going to be something this guy takes seriously when trying to figure out what to do to me.  What is the measurement of a Chiari 0?  I really need to go in prepared(unlike all my other appointments in the past).  Any help appreciated. falling world

[selmaS]

Hi...from what I just read...the cysts depending on where they r located as with ne inpingment can affect different areas as a result of the nerve being inpinged....and if they affect the flow of CSF it can result in a syrinx...but does not seem likely that they r one and the same.

I hope this helps.

"selma"

[selmaS]

Hi Lucy,

Well, not being a dr I know I can't answer all ur questions....but, I can tell u that most chiarians will have DDD, whcih c is degenerative disk disease. And everyone will get this with age, but we tend to show signs a bit earlier.

As for the  cysts...I am not sure but will see what I can find out. The light contouring of the ventral cord or spinal cord...can result bcuz of all the shifting ur disks r going thru....plus many of us have reversal of the lordosis....and many times it is positional.

Ur symptoms sound chiari related.....since chiari tends to be congenital it is possible that the world falling triggered ur sympptoms. It is also possible that ur chiari is aquired, and the falling world created it.

The dr should be able to tell u which is the case for u. Many chiarians have symptoms long b4 they notice a problem, but bcuz they cycle attrubute them to other causes until they bcome too much.

I had issues singing in church...nothing came out...since my surgery, (not in church) but I can sing ( not really) without loosing my voice....or the  getting the odd sensation that went with it.

"selma"

[fallingworld]

Thanks for reply and info.  I have multiple nerve root sheath cysts bilaterally at upper thoracic levels. Are these the beginning or the same thing as Syrinx's?  I have at C5-6 desiccation of the disc, disc height loss, mild retrolisthesis and mixed broad-based displacement with slight rightward orientation resulting in light contouring of the ventral cord.  Unconvertebral hypertrophicdegenerative changes C4-5 also light contouring of ventral cord.  I really want to have an idea what this all means before I get in the drs office as well as what questions to ask.  I lose words, drop things all the time, anything out of the ordinary stresses me abnormally.  I was used to teaching art to 600 + a week-hauling 50 lb. boxes of clay around, singing (opera trained-long story) now can hardly talk sometimes.  I have jumping nerves/muscles that are visible, chills, dragging foot on occasion and constant pain.  The mri clearly shows the chiari "brain bump".  Whatever info you can give me to prepare me for my next nerve study and meeting with the surgeon would be a Godsend.  Thanks in advance. "Lucy Falling World"  Sounds kind of native American doesn't it?  

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

Chiari 0 if ur dr dx u as that he indeed is of the mindset that it exsists and can cause symptoms.....chiari 0 is considered to be a herniation less than 5mm to no herniation at all, only overcrowding.

The overcrowding by itself can block CSF so this is where the symptoms come from.

This is a newer term that only a handful of chiari NS recognize. If ur dr didn't recognize it u would have been told u have an insignificant chiari...or not told about it at all.

Keep in mind that u also have alot going on with ur neck......they may want to start there....also did they check u for a syrinx? With a trauma like that u would think so, but not all are in the cervical spine.....I am sure tho with the injury u sustained the cervical spine would be a likely place.

Syrinx's have been known to develope in the thoracic and lmbar spine.

"selma"