Has it ever been proven or found that chiari was caused or worsened by an accident?

[dyinginpain]

I am wondering if anyone knows of any cases personal or otherwise where Chiari has been found to have been caused by an accident or proven that symptoms brought about by an accident? Does that make sense? lol

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

Yes, a MVA can trigger chiari symptoms that have been dormant or make those worse that have been active.

Depending on the force of the impact, it is possible for it to actually cause acquired chiari.

  "selma"

[lu7997]

Mine all started from a car wreck.  But prove that........ No doctor I have met will say that.  

[xmelax35]

I was told awhile back that usually you are born with Chiari, but things like a car accident, getting beat in the head and so forth can cause it to be worse and maybe symptoms will flare up. Idk though...that was just one doctor's opinion.

[zygy2]

I was also told "born with it" BUT symptoms went crazy in an accident where I passed out (unknown Cause) landed face first on a tile floor and dislocated my jaw... from there things got worse for about five years before I was needing real help.  I can trace so many of the issues back to that day! I have a bad history of head accidents, I am a bit prone to this for some reason, multiple concussions to contribute too and natural child birth twice, Headaches increased after having my kids.  I believe with accidents really can trigger the issue by making the herniation worse.  -zygy

[sandy629]

i had a disc operated on in 99 by a very good ns  i fell on the ice in 07 not once but 3 times  i was diagnosed that day with chiari   my ns from 99 said it wasnt there when he did surgery. i read that you can be born with it or a serious head trauma can cause it.  your rite No dr. will say that

[Chula1968]

Thats how mine all started- I am still going through the lawsuit. I have been going to counseling for it as well- I lost my job, house over it-My husband took a job 14 hours away so I have a new set of doctors who have diagnosed me with Post Tramutic Stress Disorder- which they can link to the car accident- Its around about way of getting it done-
Now all I have to do is proove that the car accident triggered the Chiari Symptoms to light.
The closest I have come to it is my Neurologist telling me that my vestibular head injuries I have gotten in the accident have nothing to do with the Chiari....but I can't seem to get it in writing yet...
.

[sandy629]

i love this site  !!!  my surgeon put it post op papers that it was caused  by the fall but won't put it in writting.  the surgeon who did surgery said i didnt have it in 99 and put that in a letter.  i just know you can't fake this pain, you can't even invent this pain, i didnt ask for this and if i wanted my life affected it wouldn't be this !!!

[brendatis]

My doctor said that she believes I was born with Chiari.  Although I've had back problems for as long as I can remember and had migraines for the last 14 years, I've only had severe neck and upper back problems for the last two years - ever since I slipped and fell in my kitchen.  That's when I really believe the Chiari symptoms were set in motion.

[dyinginpain]

For my case, I have been compiling all the links I can find that say anything about chiari being caused or symptoms being caused by an accident.  I will bring to my attorneys.  I have one for my Work comp case-started when hit on head at work.  And one to MVA attorney-pain totally intensified when rearended 4 months ago,  I would definitely like others going through the same thing to keep in touch and maybe we can help each other with this battle of proof!!!

[sandy629]

  to dyinginpain,

                       i mentioned the brain injury association alot, they are located in many states. the have a list of attorneys who specialise in head injury cases.  it's the doctors who will not put in documention that it is caused by a head trauma. there is little known about this. i have a well known ns who did surgery on my c-5 and he put in a letter "it was not there when he did surgery 8 yrs earlier." he did a mylogram and he went all the way up.so if it was there it would have.  i dont understand why it can't be caused my a head injury.obviously it is when a child is born. it says it's caused by going through the birth canal. if that's not a head trauma !!!  lol  when i first looked into this itwas said it could be caused by a head trauma, now i can't find it any where.  if you find anything please let me know  and i the same for you

[KLB519]

I had already been diagnoised and having symptems when I was in a MVA in Feb of this year. I hit a car who ran a stop sign and it most definately made everything worse for me ...... and the worst part is due to the whip lash the doctor who was going to book the surgery had to post pone it because he would not cut into my neck like that (ok I am sure that was a good call but holly hell I hurt) I am seeing another doctor a few hours away on Monday and hope to have better luck.
Also I am so far not able to have a specialist put down that it is worse due to the MVA but do have a letter saying the surgery had to be put off because of it so fingers crossed that is a start for the law suit.

[dyinginpain]

I looked into my local brain injury assoc. per your recommendation.  They got back to me quickly and said she is not a dr but wondered if I might have suffered a concussion as well as rest and will send me info.  They don't have any familiarity with Chiari at all though.  I email you a page of links gathered so far too.

[dyinginpain]

Sorry to hear about your accident, pain, & troubles with this as well!  The more stories I hear of the more frustrated I get, I don't understand why drs have such a hard time with saying that Chiari is worsened by an accident etc.  Its certainly not on every Chiari page, but I have found quite a few that state that.  Seems to be relativiley new though that this is being acknowledged.  Hopefully we can all help each other with our experiences & struggles.

[jen0959]

i never had any problems until i hit my head and it was all down hill from there!  week after week things became worse.  vertigo, pain in back of head and neck, hard to swallow, numbness in face and arms.  like i said no problems until i hit my head.  i was born with the chiari and it never was an issue until i hit my head.

[keepswimming]

My close friends husband developed Chiari after he was rearended in a car accident. Surgery was within 3 weeks of the car accident.

[linnielou232]

All the research I have found states we are born with chairi, but I know for me falling, dropping thing's heavy lifting sure made my chairi progress enough to have to have surgery.  I am sure an accident would put a lot of pressure on the brain and cause more problems.  Sorry about the accident, but dealing with insurance co.  It will probably be a hard thing to prove.  As for some of you already said.  Dr's won't put nothing in writing.

[Maureen101]

I can't believe  so many of us are having the same problem
with this.  

Please see www.*****.com and search Trauma Testimonials.
You will see more people who have had this problem.

I spoke to a NS Expert Witness in Florida who told me I
will never find a NS in Florida who will back me up.  

I'm not quitting.  Can anyone help with a NS in Florida
who has backed them up on a MVA making a Chiari
symptomatic/worse?

Thank you,
Maureen 101

[selmaS]

  Hi.....I do not  know if this is something ne Dr would agree to sign a statement to, but, they will tell  us that a MVA can aggravate and trigger symptoms....the problem is for the most part many with chiari have congenital chiari not acquired....if it were dx'd acquired, then mayb a Dr could in fact make the statement that the MVA made chiari worse or created it in the first place...but with congenital chiari it is not an easy line to draw.

  DO u know if ur chiari is congenital or acquired?

    "selma"

[Jennyfoo]

I know that my symptoms were brought on about a month after a slip & fall accident where I ended up with a minor concussion & whiplash. Tile floor, fabric softener spill by my then 2 year old, and I slid and hit my head on the door. A month later I started having dizzy spells, would get car sick, had a weird buzzing sensation in my entire body, headaches, & numbness in my arm and hand. I'm sure I had CM before the fall due to some symptoms in the past, but the fall certainly brought on a flare of symptoms. Over about 14 months my symptoms slowly got better & most went away entirely. However, I've started having some symptoms come back lately & am obviously not happy about that.

In fact, the symptom checklist sent to me from the Wisconsin Chiari Center asked something about having your symptoms start within a few months of an accident.

[Maureen101]

Thank you for your reply.  You are a real trouper when it
comes to your support of this site!

I had an MRI in 2000 which stated I was at upper limits of normal,
NO DEFINITE CHIARI 1 MALFORMATION. I was having no Chiari
symptoms at that time.  Then with  MVA 2008 herniation descended to 6 mm with terrible Chiari symptoms.

Have you heard of a reputable and compassionate NS in the
Jacksonville, FL  area.  Not able to travel.    Also, is there a way to
ameliorate (sp?) MRI'S making symptoms much worse.

Thank you,
God Bless
101

[selmaS]

  Hi...many with chiari have had a MVA trigger the symptoms ...and there r things u can do to try to keep things from getting worse if that is what u were asking...we all have diff activities in our daily lives that may be a trigger...something we need to avoid. Know ur triggers and get the rest u need...and keep a journal of ur triggers and avoid them when possible.
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Neurological%20Disorders/Activities-to-avoid-with-Chiari-and-Syringomyelia/show/986?cid=186

The problem with the 2000 MRI report, is they r using old criteria for when to determine chiari...they go by herniation and that is not the only criteria and it is not the most important...so, that is not a trust worthy report, but  do get copies to take along for ur NS to compare.

I have to ask u to re ask ur question-[Also, is there a way to
ameliorate (sp?) MRI'S making symptoms much worse. ]

I am not sure what u r asking ...

  "selma"

[Maureen101]

Hi Selma,

Thanks for your reply.  I did have a NS say he would back
me up in front of two other people and then he never followed
through.  I do have additional MRI's (3) since '08 MVA.

Will followup with doctors here.  

Maureen

[selmaS]

  Good luck and do keep us posted....they seem to say one thing and do another...next time they say they will do it have a pre written statement  ready all they have to do is sign it....

   "selma"

[dyinginpain]

I didn't even get to ask my chiari dr yet since cdnt think by the time all tests were done. But have a followup w him in 2 weeks. Will ask all questions then. My surgery is scheduled for the 7th. One new question that popped in my head for all you that had the surgery is:  did your memory improve after the surgery?