Incidental?

[608lion]

I was just wondering since I remember back when I had my first MRI . They said they found an incidental Chiari Malformation. I found that funny because Chiari was what I was ruling out!! My niece was diagnose with it and for years they thought I was "stressed" or "depressed" which I knew I wasn't. When I looked up Chiari it was like wow so many of my symptoms!!!
Anyway just wondering how many other Incidental Chiari's we have! LOL!!!

[*Stormy*]

Like I said before we should take all those doctors with their "incidental" findings and strap them in a chair and make them watch the CSI episode or the upcoming House one...

With all these cases I just found it is unreal...my NS said most people wait almost 6 years for a diagnosis b/c of the misinformation given by doctors that don't know what they should...

[dermarfx]

I suddenly started getting a headache, that got worse upon standing/walking, that couldn't be gotten rid off with medication.

I had a MRI, they found 2 disc herniation's and that I have Chiari Malformation,and Degenerative disc disease.........the CM1 was a "incidental finding".....

I have had 1 of the disc sections fused, and still have the symptoms I had before............I am 17 days post-op from Cervical discectomy with fusion.......with CM1 symptoms...Russell

[laratterman]

In 1998, when my CM was first Dx, I was told it was a "benign finding" that would cause me "no symptoms".

I would like to see some of these radiologists, NSs, NLs be diagnosed with this and THEN tell us something as lame as that!  I have suffered with progressive symptoms for way more than the 12 years since the MRI Dx!  **sigh**

Blessings!

Lori

[opinmin]

Mine was found as "incidental" because my physician was just looking for a problem with the cervical spine.  I nearly went into shock after reading the Radiologist's impression.  Still in shock and scared.  

[shanmomof3]

I have also been told it was incidental or i was born with it so it wouldn't be causing problems now! I agree Rosemarie i bristle at that word too!

[pdxmomof3boys]

Mine was in the radiology report from the emergency room as incidental chiari. My emergency room doctor told me that "it SAYS incidental, and many doctors will TELL YOU it is incidental, but don't listen. If you were my daughter, I would want you to have an MRI to be sure. It is a real health problem."

My brother in laws the doctors spread the word pretty fast to all my family members that it is incidental and meaningless and doesn't cause any problems. MY OWN FAMILY! Oh well...THAT and THEY are incidental :)

Incidental is a word that makes me bristle just a litte bit!

Rosemarie

[608lion]

I think your right!!  when my first NL went over the MRI with me he said yes you have this but I don't think this is causing your problems!! After seeing him every six mos for the past eight yrs and many procedures and meds I told him he could kiss it!!

[*Stormy*]

When my MRI was done they were looking for MS so mine was listed as incidental as well AND it was ignored by my NL even though I was having pages of symptoms.

I know what you mean when I finally got diagnosed and looked it up I couldn't believe how many of the symptoms matched mine and then it was disbelief that my NL wouldn't know this and dismissed me!!

I think this happens to more people than we know...

[selmaS]

Hi the dr that dx'd me with chiari did not use the word incidental, but one of the so called specialists I was sent to said it to me......

basically said I didn't have it and  the findings were incidental.....