Does this sound/look like Chiari?

[brp720]

Hello!

I've (25 y/o male) been dealing with quite a few unexplained neurological symptoms since the end of May of this year. I haven't received any answer(s) as to what would explain all of them, and I'm getting quite frustrated. There hasn't been a single day where I've felt normal since all of this began.

One day at work, I suddenly felt a dizzy/rocking sensation (I work a desk job). Later that day I began to experience dull headaches with head pressure that would be mostly absent in the morning and would get worse throughout the day. The head pressure and dizziness was made much worse when I attempted to exercise (especially weight lifting). These symptoms lasted for about a week and a half before things really started to go downhill. I've experienced the following since then:

-Pressure and occasional pain in the back and sides of my head, as well as my neck. Most of the time, I get relief from this by lying down, but it comes back after being upright for several minutes.
-Head feels like it's too heavy for my neck
-Body wide muscle twitching
-Balance issues (feels like I'm being pulled in different directions or to the ground)
-Vertigo, dizziness, and lightheadedness
-Two episodes of presyncope
-Shooting and deep aching pains down my arms. Mainly in my forearms and hands.
-Heavy, rubbery legs
-Difficulty chewing occasionally
-Subcutaneous tissue loss in hands and feet (happened fairly rapidly over three weeks)
-Occasional tremor when holding objects
-Tingling and burning sensations in my feet, hands, and occasionally around lips
-Woke up with numb left leg twice
-Blurry vision
-Ringing in ears
-Easily fatigued shoulders (I was actually unable to raise both of them for several seconds once, which was accompanied by pressure in the back of my head and neck)
-Several bouts of severe nausea
-Fatigue
-Difficulty concentrating
-Occasional loss of temperature sensation in all of my fingers simultaneously (e.g., cold water feels hot)

I've had the following imaging performed (reported as normal, except for lumbar stenosis):
-Brain MRI (lying down)
-MRA of head and neck vessels
-MRI of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine

I've also had a ton of blood tests done, all of which were normal (except for my Vitamin D, which was low). I was tested for Lyme twice (negative). I also had an EMG/NCS, which was also normal. After the EMG/NCS came back normal, my neurologist - of course - suggested I see a psychiatrist. I'm no doctor, but I know my body well enough to know that this is not a psychological issue (my GP agrees with me). I have an appointment with a rheumatologist this week, just to rule out any autoimmune or other odd disorders.

The reason I'm here is because I came across a case on CrowdMed that was very similar to mine. That individual ended up being diagnosed with a Chiari malformation, which raised my suspicions again (I mentioned it to my first neurologist, but she said that probably wasn't what was causing my symptoms). I'm also suspicious because the head pressure (especially because it's most often at the back of my head/base of my skull), dizziness, and cement-head sensation usually goes away after lying down, but returns after being upright (sitting or standing).

Here are two screenshots from my brain MRI. Do my cerebellar tonsils look like they are dangling too low? I'm considering asking for an upright MRI, since my symptoms are at their worst when sitting or standing.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8OzVeQ3vMX5UXdCUG1xbHpqckk
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8OzVeQ3vMX5MnBKUUlZNU5XTlk

Thanks for all your help!

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.
Your MRI's are not visible unless one has a password...I would suggest posting to your profile page here on MedHelp.
As for the upright MRI via the one lying down ...you may not get too much of a difference....what is important is a CINE MRI...not the upright...
Your symptoms can fall under the umbrella of Chiari symptoms...but there are several conditions related and non related that can also cause many of the same symptoms.
Since you feel better lying down you may want to investigate IIH...