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chiari one malformation
My family member a male child has fequent head aches, the thoughts were possible cluster or migrain, the immediate famiy has significant history clusters and migrains both, . Has underwent an MRI with a diagnosis of Chiari One Malformation seven millimeters. please tell me what are the expectations of progessiveness with this? and what if any treatment or corrective surgery..In the City of Medicine Durham N.C. Despritly seeking advise the provdie the appropriate specialty in medical help and treatment..
my husband has chiari malformation, and has had three surgerys. It will be a year since his last surgery in September. He was doing pretty good recovering. He is in therapy again but lately having diffuculty. He has been confused and I have had a hard time with transfers since he is in a wheelchair. He has a long history. It started with a stroke in 1983 he had a malformation of the blood vessel which bled in his brain causeing him to lose his right side. For years he was doing good. Walking and everything. Then in 97 or around there he started falling and having a lot of pain and vission problems. Long story, last week he had a mini stroke. TIA. I'm worried he may have a major stroke. He is always complaining of pain in his arms every day. It never leaves and his whole body hurts and when he trys to stand his knees give out on him.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Dear kimmie1,
Thank you for submitting your question.
I will answer your concerns to the best of my abilities, but please be informed that I am unable to offer a diagnosis based on your history and list of symptoms pertaining to your family member.
I am limited in not having the opportunity to perform a full neurologic examination on your family member, nor am I able to review the pertinent imaging.
This is solely for educational purposes and should in no way be a substitute for a formal evaluation by a certified physician.
To begin, please allow me to offer a brief educational segment on Chiari malformations.
Chiari malformations (CMs) are structural defects in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance. When the indented bony space at the lower rear of the skull is smaller than normal, the cerebellum and brainstem can be pushed downward. The resulting pressure on the cerebellum can block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (the liquid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord) and can cause a range of symptoms including dizziness, muscle weakness, numbness, vision problems, headache, and problems with balance and coordination. There are three primary types of CM. The most common is Type I, which may not cause symptoms and is often found by accident during an examination for another condition. Type II (also called Arnold-Chiari malformation) is usually accompanied by a myelomeningocele-a form of spina bifida that occurs when the spinal canal and backbone do not close before birth, causing the spinal cord to protrude through an opening in the back. This can cause partial or complete paralysis below the spinal opening. Type III is the most serious form of CM, and causes severe neurological defects. Other conditions sometimes associated with CM include hydrocephalus, syringomyelia, and spinal curvature.
To warn you, I see a lot patients with headaches that are truly migraines or cluster type of headaches that undergo MRI's and have incidental Chiari malformations.
In other words, the Chiari may or may not be causing your family member's headaches.
If he has signs and symptoms that meet the criteria for migraines or clusters, he should be treated as such.
If he is having headache PLUS the other symptoms mentioned above, then this Chiari may be the culprit.
Either way, please see a neurologist for evaluation of both potential causes.
As a neurologist, we usually try to manage patients medically before resorting to surgery, as surgery is invasive and not always curative.
There are also ways to treat headaches due to Chiari malformations, including Diamox and Lasix.
Please seek further evaluation from a neurologist.
Thank you,
Hope this helps,
JKL, MD
Thank you for submitting your question.
I will answer your concerns to the best of my abilities, but please be informed that I am unable to offer a diagnosis based on your history and list of symptoms pertaining to your family member.
I am limited in not having the opportunity to perform a full neurologic examination on your family member, nor am I able to review the pertinent imaging.
This is solely for educational purposes and should in no way be a substitute for a formal evaluation by a certified physician.
To begin, please allow me to offer a brief educational segment on Chiari malformations.
Chiari malformations (CMs) are structural defects in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance. When the indented bony space at the lower rear of the skull is smaller than normal, the cerebellum and brainstem can be pushed downward. The resulting pressure on the cerebellum can block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (the liquid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord) and can cause a range of symptoms including dizziness, muscle weakness, numbness, vision problems, headache, and problems with balance and coordination. There are three primary types of CM. The most common is Type I, which may not cause symptoms and is often found by accident during an examination for another condition. Type II (also called Arnold-Chiari malformation) is usually accompanied by a myelomeningocele-a form of spina bifida that occurs when the spinal canal and backbone do not close before birth, causing the spinal cord to protrude through an opening in the back. This can cause partial or complete paralysis below the spinal opening. Type III is the most serious form of CM, and causes severe neurological defects. Other conditions sometimes associated with CM include hydrocephalus, syringomyelia, and spinal curvature.
To warn you, I see a lot patients with headaches that are truly migraines or cluster type of headaches that undergo MRI's and have incidental Chiari malformations.
In other words, the Chiari may or may not be causing your family member's headaches.
If he has signs and symptoms that meet the criteria for migraines or clusters, he should be treated as such.
If he is having headache PLUS the other symptoms mentioned above, then this Chiari may be the culprit.
Either way, please see a neurologist for evaluation of both potential causes.
As a neurologist, we usually try to manage patients medically before resorting to surgery, as surgery is invasive and not always curative.
There are also ways to treat headaches due to Chiari malformations, including Diamox and Lasix.
Please seek further evaluation from a neurologist.
Thank you,
Hope this helps,
JKL, MD
Hi Kimmie,
How is your family member now?
It is a rare congenital structural abnormality where excess cerebellum pushes against the point where the brainstem exits the skull and pushes into the spinal cord in the spinal column. This crowding causes neurological symptoms such as headaches, chronic coughing and swallowing difficulty. Chiari-1 malformation is the least severe type of Chiari malformations.
Surgery is planned only if there arise pressure symptoms like vomiting, irritability, headache, visual disturbance among others.
Bye.
How is your family member now?
It is a rare congenital structural abnormality where excess cerebellum pushes against the point where the brainstem exits the skull and pushes into the spinal cord in the spinal column. This crowding causes neurological symptoms such as headaches, chronic coughing and swallowing difficulty. Chiari-1 malformation is the least severe type of Chiari malformations.
Surgery is planned only if there arise pressure symptoms like vomiting, irritability, headache, visual disturbance among others.
Bye.
go to wacma.com and view their guestbook for members in your area.You can initally contact them through the site.That is how we got drs names and referals good and bad.You will probally make a few new friends as well.That is how we did it and my daughter is scheduled for decompression on the 18th.
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