I only recently discovered Chiari after a lifetime of searching for answers to my own symptoms, I go to mayo in LaCrosse wi, not by choice but because mayo owns our insurance company, so we are ONLY allowed to see mayo drs. (yay) I have never had a good experience. EVERY person has their damn nose in the air and they ALL already know whats wrong with you, and its always that youre a mental case. end of story. I wish their true nature were publicly uncovered.
Hi… I posted my disappointment about Mayo Clinic in answer to part of your question. However, on another note this is what you need to do… because I am going through this as we speak. Find yourself a top notch neurologist who will immediately order a Stand-Up MRI of the brain AND the cervical spine areas...because a recumbent MRI may only catch a glimpse of this if it exists and for certain most radiologists will overlook it.... (it was missed on all my previous recumbent MRIs... but, my neurologist saw specific indications that it is indeed there)...A stand-up, weight-bearing MRI will catch it. There is also a specific protocol for the test that must be followed in order to catch the other aspects of this that you asked about.
I stress finding a top-notch neurologist because I also went through 4 previous neurologists who missed this. Do a lot of research and find the most well loved neurologist in your area by reading the stories of other people's experiences with that particular person....Not the one who has the highest rating because those are the ones that are frequently planted. Otherwise, you'll waste valuable time like I did with the wrong doctors who will not diagnose you correctly.
Hi...I just saw your question about Chiari and getting diagnosed and going to Mayo Clinic and it caught my attention while I was looking for particular answers of my own. I went to Mayo Clinic Jacksonville last summer for 2 weeks and it was the biggest waste of time and money and energy that I have ever been through. It was a joke. My husband and I could not have been more disappointed. They basically order the same group of tests for every single patient that comes there no matter what the problem is. They completely missed my probable Chiari with their CT scan.... In fact, they even missed the brain lesion that was sitting there right in front of them. I think they would miss a sick person walking by them. I have no confidence in that place. Please don't go and waste your money or your time there. The only thing they are good at is marketing. Their marketing department is top notch.