Is this considered "crowding at the foramen magnum"?

[Simmy86]

I would like to know if this looks like it could be Chiari. I have my doctors telling me it's not, but without going into too much detail, I have every symptom of Chiari and the pain in my neck is excruciating.

http://i48.tinypic.com/w7ejw7.png
http://i49.tinypic.com/14shlw.png
http://i47.tinypic.com/20z1qub.png

[Simmy86]

This one concerns me..

http://i45.tinypic.com/ndwpl1.png

How can any competent neurologist or radiologist not see the brainstem compression?

[Crys86]

Your MRIs look a lot like mine just mine are down a little lower (not much I only have a 7-9mm herniation). But mine are about the same shape. I was told yesterday I had severe overcrowding in my foramen magnum. The best way to look at the over crowding is the axial view. Where you can see the brain stem and the tonsils from inside the neck.

[Simmy86]

I think I'm going to the Chiari center in WI if my insurance agrees. I'm pretty sure I have cranial instability in addition to crowding. My neck feels like it's being crushed if I don't wear a cervical collar. I just wonder if the Chiari center does spinal fusion type stuff or only decompression. I've been to Mayo clinic Rochester and they are just terrible..supposed to have the best neurology department in the country, but they just suck their thumbs and look confused when I ask for help. -_-

[SimmyRae]

Dont give up just because a dr says it isnt . i had plenty of drs tell me i didnt have it that i was just have bad migraines. i knew deep down inside it was more then a migraine. most drs blow it off like its no big deal ..and that it couldnt possible be the cause of the problems..so do like many of us did . get another opinion!

[selmaS]

There r many types of EDS and not all will have the elastic skin or be hypermobille....sometimes it is the larger joints and sometimes it is the smaller ones.

Do u bruise easy, slow to heal....have a hiatal hernia.....

The joint pain can be RA or just Chiari but could also be EDS....so u really would need a specialist to check u my chiari NS referred me to a Diff dr for this.

[Simmy86]

I'm not sure what you mean by kinking in the brainstem. What exactly am I looking at? I mentioned EDS to my Chiari specialist. I don't have hypermobility of the joints or elastic skin, but I do have joint pain and popping. I'm not sure exactly how it fits into EDS.

[selmaS]

  Hi keep in mind I am not a Dr and in the last one i47 it looks like a diff angle or as if there is some kinking in the brain stem, to me that is overcrowding...ur Drs r just looking at the herniation which is minimal at best....but it does appear there may be other issues going on,


Have u been tested for EDS, and instability?