reduction in the amount of herniation from one MRI to another

[captal]

Hi all, So I recently got to see a Neurosurgeon, set up by my Primary Care Physician, this was Dr. G#%€~* in Gainesville Ga. Who looked at my most recent MRI for all of probably 20 seconds, if that, and while asking questions about my symptoms said that she only saw 5mm on my most recent MRI. And that if it were 1mm less they wouldn't call it Chiari at all. She then proceeded to look at the reports from the MRI,s recent and 11/2011, for less time than a cursory glance,
And asked "why didn't you have a your entire brain looked at when the "Chiari" was first diagnosed"?"The reports only show mild arthritis in your spine, certainly not enough to be causing the pain you describe".
Even though she barely glanced at either one. When I asked " what about where it mentions the nerve root compression at C7-T1? I got little more than no response, only " well let's look at the rest of your brain first". So at least I am finally set up for a CINE MRI on the 21st of March at an Emory imaging clinic in Buford Ga.(which I am thankful for)
Out of curiosity I had to ask " why is there a reduction from 1cm or 10mm to 5mm between the two MRI(s) within the almost 5 year time frame,with no treatment other than the physical therapy - maybe 3 to 4 months,and shots in the neck (which as far as the shots go I only did like 3 treatments because after looking into that route I found that in the long run they were prone to doing more damage than good,and the Tramadol I have been on everyday), I did in the first year after the diagnosis and the fact that I dropped 50lbs. During that time period. Of course I got no answer to this either so I suggested" could it have anything to do with the fact that I have been taking Topamax for about a year now and it has really helped lessen the Headaches that make my right eyeball swell larger than the left and feel like it wants to pop right out of my skull. I got a really big " I don't think so " to that one, but I understand that, I'm just trying to wrap my Brain Ha-Ha around the reduction. So I'm thinking that maybe if there is reduced flow that at times it (pressure) can be higher or lower on the brain stem depending on when an MRI is done and what state you are in at that time?

[captal]

Thanks for your response KEdwards03 I really appreciate your time. The Dr. Glanced at the disc so quickly I really don't see how she could have ascertained a measurement on anything but that's all well above my novice experience level so maybe, thanks again and hope all is well for you.

[captal]

Thank you Selma
I knew going in that this appointment was really just another necessary waste of time towards the goal of getting to a Dr. That can actually help me.Insurance being what it is these days you are forced to do the
"Trained Seal" act. You have to jump through all the Hoops, toot the horn, spin when you're told to before the trainer finally realizes that you can't balance the ball on your nose anymore. Then maybe in the end you get your Fish. All the while ticket sales seem to be booming, every waiting room is packed to capacity, when you finally get an appointment that is, after waiting weeks if you're lucky
But more likely months to see a Neurosurgeon who in under 5 minutes leaves you questioning(once again) if maybe you're just imagining the whole thing.To her credit though she did know that the CINE MRI should have been the next step in 2011 so for now it's the best thing that I've been able to accomplish within the system to date and I'm going to run with it and keep trying to get through to an Emory Neurosurgeon.

[KEdwards03]

I had the same thing happen to me. My neurosurgeon said one side of my herniation was less than the other, so the measurement was dependent on which side was measured.

[selmaS]

  Captal. so glad you will get the CINE MRI....but this Dr does not seem to know what Chiari is....it is not the herniation but a malformation of the skull....the herniation is the result of that malformation.....it gripes me to hear a Dr say things like that....sigh.

As for the reduction...it could be no reduction in size at all...if the MRIs were not done exactly the same with the same magnification and same angles it can appear the herniation shrunk or even grew !

Do not let this get to you....and do try to find a true Chiari specialist to help you.