chiari malformation and moderate to severe neck pain.

[ladydrgn03]

I am 24 years old and for a little over the last 3 years have had severe pain in my neck.  I had an MRI in 2005 which just showed muscle spasms and loss of curve in my neck.  I have injured my neck several times since then and had another MRI in April 2007.  Here are the results.
c2-3 mild diffuse disc buldge
c3-4 minimal diffuse disc buldge
c4-5 mild diffuse disc buldge
c5-7 no buldge.  
the cervical spinal cord is normal in course, caliber and signal characteristics.  There is straightening and reversal of the normal cervical lordosis.  The cerebellar tonsils decend 7mm below the level of the foram magnum.  This is consistent with cerebellar tonsillar ectopia.
IMPRESSION: Mild degenerative changes.  Cerebellar tonsillar ectopia.   Straightening and reveral of the cervical lordosis.

I have muscle spasms in my neck down my arms and into my shoulders.  Numbness, tingling, fire and ice sensation through these places also.  My muscsles sweel and hurt severely, alot of stiffness.  I also get muscle weakness and drop things and can no longer do regular cleaning such a sweeping and mopping. If i do it hurts very bad and i will hurt severely for several days more.  I have trouble sleeping because i can't get  relaxed.  The doctor has me on muscle relaxants and they dont work.  I tried physical therapy a couple years ago and made it worse.  I have seen a neurologist recently and he came in and announced it was just migraines.  I dont know what doctor to see and what to do about my problems,  please any suggestions would be helpful.

[Mel in OK]

I have a 19mm chiari malformation.  Just diagnosed in Feb. 07.  I've had almost 6 years of pain.  I've seen doctors since my diagnosis who don't believe my symptoms are related to the malformation.  I now have a great doc who understands what I'm explaining.  I will be scheduled for decompression later this month.   Good luck to you!!

[hh505]

hope you are hanging in there. i have chiari and know what you are talking about. try going to the nearst large university's neuorogly dept. maybe they can help.  hh in fla.

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the chiari forum.

I see u r in FL...and in need of a chiari specialist. Big Unv neuro depts r great for neuro issues in general...but with chiari u need a chiari specialist. Please research the NS u plan to see and make sure it is a true chiari dr.

If u need help, please let us know.

"selma"

[hh505]

thanks for the support. as an older female i've been through two major surgeries one in 2000 and the last one in july 2008. ireaiiy feel for anyone with this problem. hh505

[selmaS]

U r very welcome and support is what this forum is all about.

"selma"

[LG20626]

I think the challenge is in figuring out what issues are related to Chiari and which could be related to something else, like cervical disc problems.

Your symptoms wouldn't be uncommon for cervical disc herniation and they definitely wouldn't be uncommon for Chiari.  Since you do have bulging in some of the cervical discs, I would try to find a good ortho/spine specialist to see if they think there is a possibility that your problems are due to the bulging you have.  I would start there because that would be a less invasive treatment, even as far as surgery options.

It's tough because the doctors like to say "It's this, but It's not this', but they cannot be totally sure.  Even if it is the Chiari, there is no guarantee that they can fix it with a decompression.  


Are you having any other symptoms, like occipital headaches?