Lots of Questions!

[patdeb]

Hi everyone, I'm just throwing out some questions I have:

Has anyone had surgery without really having any symptoms?

Has anyone ever wished they had not had surgery?

Is surgery a cure all? Can symptoms return later on?

Is it better to wait if your symptoms are not really even present?

Any help anyone can provide would be a big help! Selma has already convinced me to see a chiari specialist in ny, so thank you for your help and concern! My 13 year old son was recently diagnosed (7mm), but he has no symptoms or pain or anything really. he is a very co-ordinated kid, no balance problems, and a good athlete. We just don't know what to do! We will see a chiari specialist soon, but until then everyone's help and info here is terrific! Thank you!

Pat & Deb

[jptdad]

I did have the surgery and would recommend it to anyone with CM.  My herniation was 18mm, quite large and was presenting a host of symptoms probably brought on by a roller coaster ride.  Usually, there is a trauma to the head that begins the symptoms.

It took 15 years to be diagnosed and then quite by accident.  I was losing my hearing and had a MRI.  The doctors called it a "plugged brain."  But after the surgery, I felt great.  This lasted for 8 months and then developed hydrocephalus, too much cerebral fluid which required a shunt to control.

From those I know, the surgery can and cannot be a cure all.  We all are so different in how we react to the surgery.  But since your son is an athlelete, there is a strong possibility that his symptoms will occur due to a possible sport related injury.  So seeing an expert will be your best bet to keep the situation monitored.

Peace,
jptdad

[selmaS]

......I know what u mean...drs in the past have scared me off by their wrong dx's....the other problem I feel happens, u r born with this so sometimes we ourselves don't recognize our own symptoms because we've always had them.ex:; straining head aches...it always happened, so I didn't know it wasn't normal.......it wasn't until this forum that I found it is only normal with other's with chiari.

[sissy114]

Hi,
I am 56 -yrs old and never knew I had Chiari until may'08. I had problems that started in my early 40's but was dx wrong. Dr. told me I had bone spurs growing through base of my skull and wanted to go through my mouth and chissel them out maybe leaving me with a topsy-turvy effect(his exact words) I was so horrified that I never went back. I know
that I should had it checked out through the years but didn't. My arms hurt when I would overdo so i learned to live with it. last winter they started hurting the minute I would lie down so I couldn't sleep. My dr. sent me for an MRI and that is when they found it. I have
planned to hace surgery right after christmas but am afraid that I have let it go too long and it might not help. Your son may not have any symptoms for many years. Make sure you do get a chiari specialist. If he advises to wait just make sure that you keep a close watch for any synptoms that might occur and so many people have so many different
symptoms. Its good that you found it now so that you can keep a close watch on it.
Best of luck!!!
sissy114

[selmaS]

Hi, Pat anad Deb,


since I did not have surgery I can not answer ur ?'s,but I am glad to heaar u will be seeing a chiari specialist!

as I may have mentioned, not sure....but chiari's symptoms can increase at ne time or remain dormant for long periods.my concerns with my own chiari is, how do I know when it will progrees to the point of perm damage?....there r those that had surgery without a successful outcome...I can't say for certain, but it is possible the surgeon was not a chiari specialist.....ne NS can operate on chiari...but without the expertise u run a bigger risk of an unsuccessful outcome. also if u already have some nerve damage it will not correct it.chiari can not be cured.

those r my concerns about myself.....


Godspeed
"selma"