syrinx advise

i have just found out  from a mri scan that i have a syrinx.in  c6 c7 levels of my spine,i now know what a syrinx is,but i dont no what the treatment is,does anyone no? from what i no  it is left  alone while being checked out every year to see how big it has grown,if it gets  very big it can be drained,am i right? many thanks

[Dr Rajgopal]

Hi,
Surgery is the only viable treatment for syringomyelia. Not all patients will advance to the stage where surgery is needed. Surgery of the spinal cord has certain, characteristic risks associated with it and the benefits of a surgical procedure on the spine have to be weighed up against the possible complications associated with any procedure. Surgical treatment is aimed at correcting the condition that allowed the syrinx to form. Delay in treatment may result in irreversible spinal cord injury. In some patients it may also be necessary to drain the syrinx, which can be accomplished using a catheter, drainage tubes, and valves. This system is also known as a shunt.. By draining syrinx fluid, a shunt can arrest the progression of symptoms and relieve pain, headache, and tightness. Without correction, symptoms generally continue. Surgery is not always recommended for syringomyelia patients. For many patients, the main treatment is analgesia. In the absence of symptoms, syringomyelia is usually not treated. In addition, a physician may recommend not treating the condition in patients of advanced age or in cases where there is no progression of symptoms. Whether treated or not, many patients will be told to avoid activities that involve straining. Please discuss the treatment plan with the neurologist as the size and progression determines the treatment plan . Hope this helps you . Take care and regards !

[selmaS]

Hi..syringomyelia or a syrinx can be caused by a trauma...were u in a MVA?

Were u having symptoms?....and did they do an MRI of ur brain as well?


"selma"

[adele190]

a  big thank you all for your advise..selma....no i was not in a road traffic collision.cut the story short,,,,i have had bad lower back pain with a lazy left leg that goes to sleep  when i have  done to much through out my day,or if my back is very very pain full,i have also had a  lazy hand so times.lower  back mri showed up clear.so was reff to a  neuro dr whos been great,he  did a mri of my whole spine,and a syrinx in  c6 c7 showed up...i dont have my appointment to  see the neuro dr for another 4 weeks,.

[adele190]

mri of my brain came back clear

[selmaS]

Hi, that is good to hear that u were checked completely.

So, ur syrinx is congenital....??

We do have a Chiari/syringomyelia forum here on MedHelp....there r others with syringomyelia only and some that have both.

I invite u to the forum as it is  a great place for support.And to assist u in locating a chiari/syrinx dr...which I feel is the most important issue.

"selma"

[adele190]

hi ya. i havnt a clue where the syrinx has come from,i no how they form and what it is,but how i got it i dont no,i will look around this web site and find the  forum on here.its a bit of a  maze as im  **** with anything tecno!  but i have found that theres lots of docs and helpfull  people on here to offer advise,a very good  website.,

[selmaS]

Just click on the forums button on the MedHelp tool bar at the top of the screen....the entire list of forums available will open and is in ABC order......
U can also look to the right for related communities and u will see chiari malformation there and it will link u to the forum.

"selma"