Back Pain When Looking Down

[christianirc]

Hi all,
I was decompressed 8/2011 and recently I've noticed when I move my head down, as if looking at my shoes I start getting this low discomfort that increases down my back until the pain gets so bad I have to look up. Then it gets better. In a way it feels like muscle pain, but it also has this weird pain I can't describe. I never had it before, but it's been going on for a couple months now. Has anyone else experienced this? I REALLY do not want another MRI (I'm extremely claustrophobic even in open MRI) or to go the 4 hours away to see the doctor, who won't see me without one.
Brenda

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

May I ask do you have Chiari and did you have surgery for it yet?If so, how long since surgery?

Do you have any other related conditions as well.

[Wynnone]

I have this happening to me!  I have been having severe back pain off & on for a couple years now.  It was just yesterday that I noticed that when I bend my head too far down it is like the lower right side of my back is pulling apart.

[selmaS]

  DO u have the MRI reports?

If u do, look to see if it mentions if ur brain stem is elongated....this can indicate tethered cord as well as having mild scoliosis....TCS does not always show on a MRI so it is not the only way to determine if one has it.

Also, look to see if u have a sacral dimple ....this can be another indicator.

[christianirc]

I had all 3, the Thoracic, Lumbar and cervical. I don't have bowel or bladder issues now, but I did before surgery.  I do have moderate scoliosis and kyphosis.

[selmaS]

  What MRI's were done to rule out the syrinx? Thoracic, Lumbar and cervical?

Some Drs only do a MRI of the cervical spine and this can only rule out a syrinx there, but many with Chiari have  also found one  in the thoracic and/or lumbar spine....

So, if they did not look all along ur spine a syrinx is just as  possible as tethered cord.....

Do u have bowel or bladder issues?

Scoliosis?even mild...can indicate it....

[christianirc]

I was thinking syrinx not tethered cord. I don't know, that was never mentioned.

[selmaS]

  U didn't have ne other surgery, or have a fall or injury to ur back?

I know TCS can develop as a result of scar tissue or an injury...or mayb they did not see it ...how did they rule it out for u?

[christianirc]

Yeah it does feel like pulling. I didn't have tethered cord.

[selmaS]

  Hi...it's been a while since u posted...sorry u r having this issue....

May I ask, does it feel like the muscle is pulling? I get that but I have tethered cord....so I get a lot of lower back pains, discomfort etc...and it feels like pulling to me,