Recurrence

[ArnoldL]

I am so happy to know this forum is out here.
I have had my Chiari decompression surgery 11 years ago.. I am now and have been experiencing symptoms like headache, balancing problems and memory lost.. Just recently, I am experiencing severe shoulder pain along with spinal pain.  i have been to a neurologist  3 years who just said it was definitely not Chiari and that I am cured..Now after so many years it's coming back.  You think it is scar tissue.. I had the duraplasty surgery.  I am afraid to go to a NS because they just make me feel so dumb.

[selmaS]

  I had surgery and if I were to do something as strenuous as playing tennis I would have symptoms flare up too....so I watch my activity levels in order to hep keep symptoms as bay.

[selmaS]

  Hi....empty sella can cause all sorts of issues including headaches,,,,it can also affect the pituitary gland so make sure your hormone levels are checked.

I also agree, a full spine MRI to check on the tarlov cycst should be done too ...just to make sure it had not increased in size or obstructed any CSF flow to form a syrinx.

[ArnoldL]

Thank so much for your reply.  Last week was one of the worse weeks I have had in a long time.
I played tennis with my husband after that I like had all the symptoms of chiari; like I had before the decompression surgery. I also had this ear pain that would not go away.  I rested most of the week and now almost all the symptoms are gone.  I feel I really need to change my lifestyle.  I just didn't understand why it was happening in the first place.

[DSH519]

I am 14 years post op, and recently had a rapid recurrence of symptoms. Instead of going to a new neurologist, I called my NS and he put in the order for a new MRI. If you trust your surgeon that may be the route to go.

[ArnoldL]

Just had an MRI.Everything appeared normal.  Did you have an MRI?  Did they find why you were having all your symptoms again?

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

So many Drs feel surgery can cure Chiari, it can not, it is only meant to restore CSF flow and may not effectively lessen all symptoms.

Furthermore there are related conditions with similar symptoms.

Chiari symptoms can return if scar tissue forms and causes another obstruction.....and trigger symptoms.

Were you ever tested for any of the related conditions? Did you have a post op MRI and one with the onset of these symptoms?

[ArnoldL]

I had a MRI done a few weeks ago and it showed nothing but an empty sella.. I have had the empty sella since my decompression surgery.  My doctor said I just need a steroid for my neck and physical therapy.  He however, sees nothing wrong.  I told him I wanted to get a spine MRI as well.  I remembered I had a Tarlov cyst.  I am just trying to find out what is going on with me.