Looking for a Chiari specialist/Neuorosurgeon in the Atlanta area.

[captal]

Hi, well it's been a while since I was here last and my how things have changed.
Just to give a short history I was
(Diagnosed) if you can call it that
With Chiari 1 back in Nov. of 2011
By a neurologist that really only told me that " your brain is too big" and sent me to a rheumatologist to be treated for osteoarthritis, which was what he said was causing the majority of my problems. I have been on pain meds. for over 4 years now and have been able to keep working but only with the pills.
Over the last 9 months or so symptoms have really ramped up
So I just had another MRI done to see if any changes have occurred.
I only found out last month that I had a 1cm as they called it or 10mm
Herniation along with some bone abnormalities and an annular tear in the spinal cord from the report that I didn't even know existed until I requested a copy of the original MRI from 2011. I have been telling myself all along that if I just kept digging deep and working through the pain that the Chiari didn't matter, that I could beat it. Well, I'm afraid that was an epic mistake because it is now showing me that I am not Superman. So I am now unemployed for the first time in my life, My employer knew I had this and let me keep working right up until I was done in and then threw me away like a piece of trash after 19 years of service knowing that I was due to renew my merchant marine license and that the USCG would deny me on medical reasons thus ending a 35 year perfect record career and there isn't a thing I can do about it. So to any newly diagnosed cases out there, know this, It won't go away on its own.
It will make a complete mess of your
Life if you treat it that way.
Read,read,read some more. Learn all you can and find the best Drs./specialist you can find.
Don't let
Dr. Whoever Neurosurgeon do anything unless you know that they have a successful track record.
Other than that Hindsight is 20/20
Good luck!
Thanks to anyone out there that can
Point me in the right direction as I am once again having to deal with the Red Tape Boogie but this time I can't even dance let alone afford to pay the long line of Pipers.

[captal]

Thank you for your reply mikef1980.
I will certainly look into the Drs. Information You provided at Emory.

[Mikef1980]

How are you, I was diagnosed last year and had my surgeries done at Emory and I continue to go there for all my follow up along with everything else the chief of neurosurgery there is listed below. Within the southeast Emory is the best option in my book.

http://www.emoryhealthcare.org/neurosurgery/surgeons/daniel-barrow.html

Or

http://mobile.mountsinai.org/profiles/constantinos-g-hadjipanayis

Dr H is the one who did my surgery last year but has moved to Mount Sinai. He left my case to dr barrow and he has been perfect since he took over my case.

[selmaS]

  Luck <3

It is in giving we receive....

I pushed myself to do more then I most likely should have for many years, but I was unable to find a Dr that could figure out what was wrong with me....so for too long I was mis-dx'd....and I did not have any perm damage as a result...tho I do feel some of my worse symptoms  I endured may have been the line in the sand if you know what I mean....so glad Drs were finally able to gove me a proper DX and treatment.

[selmaS]

  Thank you for your kind words....I only hope I am helping someone avoid making a wrong decision or a hasty one ......there are several really good options with in this list...as we find out bad reports on Drs or care we do remove them....that is not saying all on the list are great Drs....again you must research any and all Drs you seek treatment from and this list is not a referral nor an endorsement for those on the list......

Education of yourself on Chiari and ALL related conditions will help you find the right Dr for you...and having the right Dr is key !

[captal]

Thank you, those will give me a very good start point and I will do all I can to pay the information forward to others be it good bad or otherwise
And yes ,you help I think more than you may know. You are very welcome and I now wish I had listened earlier and been able to face this sooner. Hopefully I haven't caused myself too much damage by fighting it so hard the way I have.
But I give. It's time to stop killing myself fighting in denial and start fighting to save myself and change the direction of my life for my family while I still can. Wish me luck and I'll pay the info forward.

[selmaS]

  Here are a few Drs for you to research :

NORTH CAROLINA

Dr. Fuchs
Duke University
Pediatrics

Dr. Eric Rhoton
Carolina Spine & Neurosurgery
7 Vanderbuilt Drive
Asheville, NC 28803
828-255-7776

Michael J. Rosner, MD, FACS, FCCM
Neurological Surgery
80 Doctors Drive, Suite 4,
Hendersonville, NC 28792-720
Primary: 828 684-1076

NEW YORK

Chiari Institute
Great Neck, New York
[phone]
[phone]
· Dr. Harold Rekate
· Dr. Salvitore Insinga
· Dr. Rohit Verma
· Dr. Misao Nishikawa
· Dr. Sol Mora
· Dr. Amit Shelat
· Dr. L. Thierry Remy

The Chiari Neurosurgical Center@ NSPC
Dr. Paolo Bolognese  MD
Suite 108
1991 Marcus Ave
Lake Success, NY 11042
Winthrop University Hospital
259 First Street
Mineola,NY 11501
www.chiarinsc.com


Dr. Gregory W. Canute
Dept. of Neurosurgery
725 Irving Ave.
Syracuse, New York
(315) 464-55133

Drs James Greenspan and Fred Scialabba
North Country Neurosurgical
454 Glen St
Glens Falls NY
(518) -793-8160

Dr Chanland Roonprapunt (formerly of The Chiari Institute)
Spine Institute of New York
[phone]

Dr. Arthur Rosiello
New York Brain and Spine
24 Research Way
E. Setauket, NY 11733
631-444-9310


MARYLAND

Dr. Fraser Henderson - Neurosurgeon (chiari and spine specialist)
Spine Team Maryland
8116 Good Luck Road, Suite 205
Lanham, MD  20706
(7830 Old Georgetown Rd. Bethesda, MD
301-654-9390


Dr Marcella Madera
Primary Location:
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
600 N. Wolfe Street
Baltimore, MD  21287
Building: Meyer
Room: 5-109
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Appointment Phone: [phone]

FLORIDA

Dr. Balis
Dr Lewis
3000 Flecther Ave.
Tampa, FL
[phone]

Dr. Bart Green
Miami, FL

Dr. Eric Trumble
Director of Congenital Neurosurgery at the Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children
He has double-board certification (adult and pediatric neurosurgery)
615 E. Princeton Street, Suite 540
Orlando, Florida 32803
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.neurosurgeons4kids.com/

Dr. Jose Valerio
Cleveland Clinic
Weston, Fl.

DELAWARE

Dr. Jeffrey W. Campbell
DuPont Children’s Hospital
Wilmington, Delaware

Dr. Benjamin Warf
DuPont Children’s Hospital
Wilmington, Delaware

[selmaS]

  Give me a state and I can give you names if that will help.

[selmaS]

  Hi...I agree with what you have said...yes Chiari can worsen especially if we do not listen to our body's and push thru pain. I too tried that and it only got worse for me too.

We do have some names of Drs in Georgia....BUT this is not a referral nor an endorsement for those listed...Please research ALL Drs b4 going to see them...and visit a few to compare.

You may find you may need to travel out of state...many of us do...I did

GEORGIA

Dr. Princewill Ehirim
Lawrenceville,GA

Dr.  Vidyadhar Chitale
Marietta, GA

[captal]

Thanks Selma I appreciate the response. Just spoke to the nurse at my primary care Dr. and they have the results from the new MRI, didn't sound good. She couldn't give me any further info until tomorrow other than to say that I need to find a neurosurgeon because there have been significant changes from 4yrs. ago. which makes sense seeing as how I've just experienced the worst flare of symptoms I've ever had. I guess its a good thing maybe that it was still going on at the time the MRI was being done. Kind of puts me on the spot though in having to try to choose a surgeon. It was already a trying decision just thinking about qualified specialists in Georgia and not being too impressed with what I've been finding in the way of patient testimonials post surgery so now I am going to have to quickly try to put together a list of possible out of state specialists for the appointment tomorrow.
Thanks again and if you or any others out there can recommend a trusted surgeon  I would  be eternally grateful
      

[captal]

I guess I can't rule out anywhere in the U.S. As long as the Neurosurgeon has a top rating/surgical success rate with the patients he/she has preformed procedures on and is well versed in all the possible associated conditions related to Chiari. In researching my own symptoms I really wouldn't be surprised if I'm not  just a whole grab bag chocked full of associated conditions that are going to need to be tested for and( hopefully ruled out ) but at least identified or not to make certain that I don't allow anything to be overlooked that could hinder a successful treatment program,
Whichever direction that may lead, whether surgical or otherwise. I have checked into the choices available in the info that you so kindly responded with, and thank you again for that, only to find less than shining results,
in the interest of fairness
I'll have to leave it at that as I have no (in person)experience to go on with those particular Drs.
So really I guess any Specialist from Georgia to New York/ more east coast or southeast with the best all around success rate you've seen/heard of from others on the site during the course of your journey. Since I first found out about my own situation and throughout my stubborn years of denial Selma you have been here all along like a brightly shining light in the darkness with your kind words of wisdom and support and encouragement for the seemingly nonstop flow of newly broken and scared,worried,pain riddled people who find their way to this site hoping for something that might make sense of it all. People like you give the rest of us a reason to keep moving,keep trying,not just roll over and give up.
I hope someone in your life tells you everyday how special and rare you are.
I write this to say Thank You for being there day after day for all the people you have,and others like you have, helped on this site.