Returning symptoms of Chiari

[zabe214]

I had decompression surgery for Chiari in June and July of 2006.  I have been pretty symptom free since then.  About 6 months ago I started having headaches, tingling in my hands, pain in my left shoulder, and always felt as though my back needed to be adjusted to ease the discomfort.  My husband pointed out last night that my hands and feet stay cold as well.  I don't know if that is something I need to worry about or not but it has been bothering me.  The headaches start at the base of my skull on the left side and sometimes make my left eye feel like it is swollen.  It lasts for about 20 minutes and then disappears.  I am hoping that this is a pinched nerve in my shoulder but I am worried that it might be something more.  Is this something I should worry about?

[selmaS]

  Good luck and do keep us posted on  how it goes tomorrow : )

[zabe214]

thanks both of you.  I am taking off work tomorrow to go to a doctor.  Hopefully they will be able to set up an MRI and let me know what is happening.

[mdavid924]

Sorry to hear you are feeling these discomforts...sounds like what I've just been through in 2010 - 7 years after my first decompression. My body produced serious scarring at the decompression site and caused the syrinx to come back.

However, like Selma mentioned, you should really get yourself checked and have an MRI. That is the only way you will know what is really causing this.

Good luck and sending prayers your way.

[selmaS]

  Do u have a general physician? a primary Dr? that u go to for colds....?

[zabe214]

I am not really sure.  Like I said, my NS moved shortly after surgery and I had to get a different NS to do the second.

[selmaS]

  I know it can be difficult to get to a NS , mine is out of state too so too far to go , but my PCP is great and is good at helping me.Mayb ur's will order some tests to see what is going on and depending on the results then u can see about going to ur NS or a NL?

May I ask what type of parch u had?

[zabe214]

Last MRI was about a year ago. I had a duraplasty.  I required two surgeries because the day i got out of surgery i got really sick and threw up.  I was on bed rest with an epideral cathetar for three weeks.  They finally went back in and found i had blown out three stitches in my patch when i got sick.  the doctor that performed my surgery moved two days after my first one.  My neuro has had a stroke and is no longer practicing.  The doctor i was seeing is two hours away.  It is really difficult getting in to see him

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

  When was ur last MRI?....Do u have a NL u can go to for an eval?...IS ur PCP good about chiari issues?
What type of decompression did u have?..with laminectomy and duraplasty?
if yes, What type of patch? Why did u require 2 surgeries?one in June and one in July?


There are a few things that could be going on....u could have scar tissue that developed, or ur symptoms could be returning bcuz surgery is not a cure, just a means to slow progression.Depending on y u had 2 surgeries that same reason may be the issue again.

U need to call ur Drs and let them know, have a MRI and compare to ur post op MRI to see what is going on,

   "selma"