does chiari always show up on mri?

[Rachelinpain]

i have so many symptoms that seem to point to chiari, but my mri was apparently normal.  is it possible to have chiari but not be able to see it clearly on mri?

[selmaS]

Chiari being detected most times will depend on the radiologist....and the herniation...the amount that the tonsils hang below the foramen magnum.....chiari zero would not have the herniation but can have the symptoms....u need to make sure ur drs r chiari specialists....my chiari is 6 mm and one dr said I did not have it.....another dr said I do.....so some drs may not reconginize it.Find a specialist and ask for copies of all ur tests.....also besides the brain MRI did they do others...did they check for chiari related conditions? such as syringomyelia......

keep us posted.

Good luck
Godspeed
"selma"

[lor124]

My MRI showed I had low lying cerebral tonsils but was in the normal range. My NS said I had chiari and sent me to another NS for the surgery. She is being very cautious because the MRI says my brain is normal but my symptoms say differently. She sent me to a migraine specialist and she says I have CM as well and has referred me back to the NS. I haven't gone back to her yet so I don't have any other info as of what they are going to do next. The everyday pain *****!!!

[Shane99]

Rachel,

Make sure you have a Chiari Specialist! Check around on line and see if you can find otthers in your area. I seem to recall others on these boards being from Virginia or therabouts. The chiari institute is in New York, I believe, that might be worth the trip.

Get one of your doctors to prescribe as strong a pain pill as you can get. And try to not do to much, the more active you are (especially anything that strains you, lifting etc.) can cause the herniation to grow quickly and cause severe headaches.

[jyojlynn]

Hi Rachel!  I have been having this exact same problem, whichi is why I am having so much trouble gettin a dx for Chiari!  The only glimmer I have ever had was I had one radiologist make a one sentence note "stage 1 malformation".  That was it.  No one else has EVER said "Oh look - your brain is hanging out! Weird!"  I TOTALLY sysmpathize with what you are going through.  I now have an appt with a Chiari spec. on Nov. 24, so I am really hoping he will see something.

Good luck to you in search.  I will keep you in my thoughts.

Joy

[Kateums32]

I'm sorry to hear about the pain you're in. I just went through all of this and it was so frustrated having  5 different doctors tell me I had Chiari, but it wasn't a big deal. Always get a second opinion...it took me a year. My tonsils were at 11mm...and my back was eroded at me T6 and T7 due to the compression. Don't let them blow you off.

Good luck, and keep us updated!