chiari post-op problems?

[peabee]

Hi. I had chiari surgery in 2004 and wow, it saved my life!   Recently I have been feeling not so well, with tingling in my hands, and actual numbness in my right "pinky" and sometimes the finger next to it.  I am now experiencing vertigo, which I had years ago, prior to surgery, but have not had since surgery, until now.
Has anyone who has had chiari surgery had these types of post-op problems, or is it probably some kind of virus that will eventually disappear?  I am concerned.

[selmaS]

  Did u have a MRI of the thoracic and lumbar spine prior to surgery? If not, then they did not rule out a syrinx in those areas...some Drs only check the cervical spine for a syrinx, but too many with chiari have them in the lumbar and thoracic spine too!

And if u have a bulging disk, it too can cause a CSF obstruction, just like the tonsils did, and that can cause a syrinx to form.....I would say another MRI is  in order if u have not had one in the last yr and since u have new symptoms.

   "selma"

[peabee]

Thanks for your reply.  I have not had any of these symptons until recently, and since it has been seven years since the surgery, it seems strange to be having these symptons now...I will definetely get this checked out by a NS and hopefully all will be ok.  The list is a great idea................ thanks so much.

[peabee]

Thanks so much for your reply.  The fatigue and not feeling so good has gone on for about 6 months now.  The tingling in the hands, only for a couple of months..  I believe I did not have a syrinx when I had surgery.  The other, tethered cord, EDS and PTC, I have not heard of.
I will see the NS and probably have an MRI......  I just felt that perhaps I was concerned for no reason, as I have felt so good until the continuous fatigue and tingling began.

[linnielou232]

Seem's as though they fix one thing and then another issue appear's.  Once I was dx'd with Chiairi I also had the tingling of finger's.  I was then dix'd with carpal tunnel.  You could have a pinched nerve.  Inform your NS on your next visit and maybe they could look into this.  I know it takes a long time for muscles and such to go back to where they are suppose to be so it does give you some nerve issues.  I had this quite often after surgery.  As my dr explained they have to move a lot of muscle tissue while doing the decompression surgery, so it take's a long time for them to recovery and remember what their functions are.  Keep a list going so when you have your next visit you will be ready to get some answer's.  Wish you the best.

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

  How long have u been having these symptoms?....it is possible to have scar tissue develop and cause a CSF obstruction again and the symptoms would begin again....it can happen, that does not mean that is what is going on with u.....I would strongly suggest that u see a Dr and get a full check up...

Did they rule out a syrinx when u had ur first surgery?...how about tethered cord and EDS, PTC?


   "selma"