symptoms

[cary19745]

Can any of the symptoms go away on thier own without surgery? And what's the chances that my children can have chiari,should they be checked?

[pamk5]

The other ladies have answered whether or not the symptoms will go away and I dont have anything to add to that... but as far as hereditary or not??  My aunt has CM1.  My mother passed away many years ago but I think she may have had it as well.  Now my 16 year old son is being checked for a sacral dimple and possible Chiari Zero.  His full spine MRI's are being scheduled after he developed scoliosis after his last growth spurt.  His brain def shows some mild herniation and brain stem compression.  So your answer is I believe the answer is yes.  There researchers are still divided on the subject.  I believe Duke University is doing a genetic study now.  I wish I had had him checked before the curve started happening in his spine... one mom to another... I think I would have them checked if they have headaches, backpain or any other symptoms.  

I hope this helps.

Pam

[*Stormy*]

Hello...I honestly don't believe that the symptoms of Chiari will go away on their own. However, I know how tempting it is to consider that fact b/c as Selma mentions, the symptoms to tend to cycle. In the early stages of my symptoms, this would happen and I feel horrible, make a Dr appt and then by the time I went to it, I was feeling fine again. Not having a dx was one reason that I started to believe that maybe it was anxiety or stress. The thing is, the symptoms always came back and each time it would be a little worse until it finally became a permanent thing. I think the cycling may have to do with what activities you pursue...for me, I think it was triggered by running. So...you may be able to control your symptoms by limiting certain activities (see the Health pages for some info on that) but I really don't think they symptoms will go away. Plus, you have to remember that there is a risk of things getting worse or permanent damage so keep a close on things. Sorry...I wish I could say differently but then I wouldn't be being honest..

As for children, I was told by my NS that it was not a hereditary condition (one of the first questions I asked when I was dx'd as I have 3 kids). However, everything I found out on my own definitely points to a genetic link. I think though, that it is important to keep this in mind but not to worry too much about it. The positive in all this, is that we have experience and can watch for certain signs.

Take care and good luck
*Stormy*

[selmaS]

  Hi...there is always a possibility that we can pass this condition on to our children, and I would only do testing if they r showing symptoms.

Chiari symptoms can cycle, so u can have awful symptoms for months and then  feel great and think ...finally it went away....only to find urself back in another flare.

If ur Chiari is congenital and u have a CSF blockage with overcrowding, that can not go away on it's own....if, u have acquired chiari from a trauma, that has more of the possibility of returning to it's correct position since the skull is not malformed, and the tonsils were displaced due to force of the impact.

  Hope that helps a little : )

  "selma"