joint pain

I was diagnosed with a chiari malformation in October.  I knew something was wrong but my doctors said I was just depressed.  I was a little since I had a large list of symptoms and no one would listen or help.  I made a scene and ordered my doctor to do an MRI of my brain with contrast so he did.  I have been suffering for four years and have had enough.  I am thinking about going to the Chiari Institute in New York this spring.  My question though is that recently I have developed a new symptom and am wondering if anyone else is experiencing joint pain?  I am wondering if this is the chiari or something else. Thanks for reading this.  Hope today is one of your better days!!

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

Many chiarians do have many other issues going on as well...some may be auto immune issues....such as Ehlers-Danlos which can cause joint pain...we r prone to RA at an earlier age as well as disk issues.

The fact that our brain stems t compressed, yes many of us do suffer from depression, but drs never seem to want to know y......what is causing it...I went to drs for yrs and was dx'd with anxiety and given all types of meds including prozac....but not one of those drs did an MRI to see y I was having the issues....

U r doing the right thing by taking control of ur health by telling ur dr to do testing.....


Living in NY already u r lucky to be soooooo close to good drs, I had to travel up there, and was well pleased....but I will tell u talk to at least 2 chiari drs as u have to like the dr too...and we all can not like the dr just bcuz they r a chiari dr.....just make sure u r comfortable with the dr u choose.

SO , it could be a little of both chiari and a chiari related issue....

"selma"

[littlec4life]

I am making an appointment for a doctor in Saratoga NY who specializes in autimmune disorders to have some testing done.  I have seen Dr. Popp in Boston he is ordering the cine MRI and plan to do the Chiari institue here in New York was just waiting till the spring because of traveling in the winter but also I would be using my vacation time as I run my own business as a daycare provider but every day is a battle to get through it.  I just get up every day and tell myself it could be worse. My neighbor is on his death bed from a brain tumor(cancer)  so I will take this over that and try to be thankful.  I hope that doesn't sound insensitive I have been there for his wife the whole time.  Thank you for taking the time to read my post  knowing that there are people out there who get what I am going through helps since my family and husband will never truly get it.

[selmaS]

Take ur DH with u to dr visits, he will soon get it...mine did after looking at some of the videos on TCI's website....and he was very aggressively asking questions as well at the visits....

It will be good to know if u have ne auto immune issues...many of us seem to...like Hashimoto's a thyroid condition...which if not tested for auto immune, can appear to be normal when in fact it is not.....

Also connective tissue disorders like Ehlers-Danlos.....is important to know too, especially if u r considered a surgical candidate...those with EDS tend to be slow to heal and have a higher risk of rejection....so precautions do need to be made for this surgery.

Glad to have u join us, but never happy for the reason people seek us out.

"selma"

[bbisweary]

Hi,

I have Chiari also, and have had sugery in August.  I have always suffered with joint pain and stiffness.  I'm currently home today suffering from it because of the snow. It's very difficult for me to type this because of the pain and stiffness.  I have had years of testing for rheumatoid, lupus, connective tissue disorders, etc.  They did diagnose me with Fibromyalgia in 2001.  The long and short of it is the only thing I can figure is it has to be the Chiari.  So, if they don't find anything else causing yours, it is probably the chiari.  I wish you the best, and I'm sorry for your pain.  

Take Care,

Becky