Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.
It is possible that the Dr u r seeing is not well informed on Chiari....and it is possible for a MRI done differently can offer different views....for example....one slice can reveal a herniation that is of a certain size and a diff slice or angle can make it seem as it shrunk or grew.....
Chiari is congenital and will not go away on it's own...and even tho it seems Chiari is not rare it is also not well known or studied....so u need a Dr well informed and experienced with this and related conditions.
U may feel confused, but I feel it is ur Dr that is confusing u....
Do u have copies of ALL ur testing to date? Do u require a referral to go to a NL?
All I have is my old results which state
Findings: "Note is made of an Arnold Chiari type 1 malformation with the cerebellar tonsils extending 8 mm caudal to the level of the foramen magnum.
Impression: "Arnold Chiari type 1 malformation demonstrated"
But I don't have the films should I request a copy of my films from 2008?
& I have the paper with the results of this recent MRI it was done with & without contrast and that came back normal. Should I ask for copies of this as well?
I'm sorry I might sound a little dumb but what is an NL? Is that a neurologist?
Yes, Deff contact the facility where u had the testing...do not ask ur Dr as most will charge u....but the facility will give u copies and should not charge u.
Ask for copies of all testing u have had and going forward of ALL tests u have.
Yes, sorry we do use a lot of abbreviations here...there is a list of most of them in the Health Pages.....but NL does mean neurologist.
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/list?cid=186
Thank you so much for all the information. I don't need a referral for a neurologist does this site have a list of Dr's that specialize in Chiari?
We do have a list compiled by the members of NS's they have been to, treated by and liked, the list is not a referral nor an endorsement for those on it....it is only meant to be used as a tool to research them.
use the above link to the Health Pages to find the page.
Like Selma says ... always, always, always ask for copies of reports and discs of scans.