Syrinx?

[MandyJo07]

In hospital and was just told I have a syrinx. The MRI results showed my chiari is completely resolved, praise the Lord. I don't know anything about syrinx, can anyone explain to me what I should expect. I have tingling in my hands, feet, and face- it comes and goes. My neurologist said they will start me on medication that will decrease the pressure in my head and neck. Thanks

[MandyJo07]

Good point, I will have to add that to my list of questions to ask the doctor. Does the tingling always come and go, or am I just getting my hopes up when I wake up and there is no tingling/numbness?

[selmaS]

  Hi are they measuring the width as well as the length? As with the tonsils long thin tonsils will not obstruct CSF flow, but if it widens it will...so shorter wider tonsils can be more of a n issue then the longer ones.....

So even tho ur syrinx is the same length I wonder if it is wider and mayb pressing on a nerve??

[MandyJo07]

I read through my old medical reports and yes I have had it since 2000, from 2000-2008 it was unchanged and was from C5-T1. I cant believe nobody ever said anything to me about it, my family doesn't remember ever hearing anything either. The Neurologist I saw in the hospital was nice but brief and didn't offer me much info. I meet with him Sep 10, where I hope to get some of my questions answered.Since I've started the medication the pressure in my head and neck are gone, other than when I exert myself, or cry or laugh. But there are so many side effects from the medicine, the dizzy spells are the worst. Which I don't really know if it is the medicine or the Syrinx. I am confused as to why now.... if I have had this all this time and it remained the same size and the Neurologist says its 4-6 cm it doesn't seem like it would have grown much.

[MandyJo07]

They said that they didn't want to do the shunt right now, but I have to have an MRI every 6mo to a year to monitor its size.

[selmaS]

  It is odd that it did not shrink, but sometimes they come back....but that would mean there is a CSF obstruction somewhere.....did they say how wide it was?

Did they mention placing a shunt or a stent?

[MandyJo07]

Last surgery was 2008, and he said cervical. He didn't say which position but that it was about 6cm long. Will my symptoms continue to get worse??

[selmaS]

  I would venture to say u had it since ur surgery....how far post op r u?

Did they say where the syrinx was?...Cervical , thoracic  or lumbar spine?

[MandyJo07]

They said my CSF was flowing and there was no longer any blockage. In my last surgery they cauderized the posterior portion of my brain to make it go back up into my skull and they placed a stint in between my cerebellar tonsils that way the flow would never be blocked again. I don't have a shunt redirecting anything. They did not specify whether I've had the syrinx but this is the first time anyone has said anything to me about it.

[selmaS]

  Do they know if u had the syrinx b4 u had surgery,...I would imagine u did, as that is y many of us have it, to help lessen the probability of one forming or to allow one that has formed to shrink....

A CSF obstruction is the reason a syrinx usually forms...they can also form at the location of an injury.....

And yes, those symptoms can occur with a syrinx.

What do they mean ur Chiari is resolved?....DO they mean that the CSF was restored?