i need help!!!!

[terece183]

hello i am in need for help and was wondering is there anyone that can help. i am suffering with the same thing you all are suffering with. my symptoms is tight/pressure in my head and neck. vision problems, also my legs feel numb, i get off balanced often, i shake a lot and i have tingleing in my legs and arms. sometimes my entire body feels suffocated with pressure. my MRI results came back with a cerebellar tonsil ectopia compatible with a mild chiari I Malformation. does this mean i have to have surgery or is there any thing to cure the symptons

[linnielou232]

So sorry to hear that your found out you have Chairi.  I want to welcome you first off.  You will find a lot of helpful people on here and you will be guided in the right direction.  Selma above is very informative and will give you a lot of anwer's.  Having Chairi is difficult to adjust to, but every one on here knows what you are going through and alway's know we are here for you to help and listen.  As for my sisuation I was told it was nothing to worry about, but I finally found a NS that would listen and explain what was going on.  My Chairi was only at 6.5 but as Selma said it isn't the size but if it is obstructing your CSF flow.  Mine was and after a lot to consider I had the surgery with no recrets.  You have to realize though having Chairi does not make it go away, but for me and my decision on having surgery was because I couldn't live life anymore.  It was consuming me.   So you will know what is best for you.  We are here for you on this journey that you are taking and we all understand what you are going through.
Linda :)

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

U should get more testing to see if u have ne related conditions and to see just how ur chiari is affecting ur overall health.

U should have a cervical spine MRI, a thoracic and lumbar spine, these r to rule out a syrinx, and tethered cord and ne possible disk issues.
U also want a CINE MRI to see if u have a CSF obstruction....and overcrowding...retroflexed odontoid....these issues r more important then the length of the herniation....u want to know the shape not how long the tonsils r...as a long skinny tonsil may not obstruct flow, but a short squatty one will.....

Most meds do not help with the pain, but u should get blood labs and rule out conditions like MS, lymes and lupus and also check ur blood levels for low  vit D, B12, potassium, and magnesium.

Surgery is not a cure, as there is none....only a means to restore CSF flow and slow progression...some do well post op, while others do not....

I will suggest u research Drs and locate one that is a true chiari specialist....

  We do have a list...scroll to the bottom of this page and click on the hyper link to the Health Pages.

    "selma"