decompression small herniation

[bscott915]

Hi,
I'm scheduled for decompression in November but I only have a small amount of herniation. I had several tests done and was also diagnosed with POTS, Scoliosis, and Degenerative discs in thoracic spine. I have several symptoms and my csf flow is being blocked. I see others with great degrees of herniation and just wondered if anyone has had surgery for a case like mine?

[bscott915]

I will. Thanks!

[kwalker0004]

Yes I have real bad headaches that last 3 weeks, trouble with memory, trouble swallowing at night, ear issues, and the list keeps going on. I have trouble with speech and remembering thing. It isn't fair that we have constant pain but we live through it. I would of never guessed it was a life long thing until I came here.

Oh I know its a scary decision to make. It took me a whole year to even get on board with the whole idea. I never had a broken bone, a single stitch, or a tooth pulled. So with that being said it took me a long time to say yes to the whole idea. I knew if I didn't I might not be able to compete with my horse, I wouldn't be able to get a chance to complete my two degrees, or keep stressing about the worse case scenario. Which as a young adult isn't fair. I love horse jumping and barrel racing. I had to sit out this year but hopefully with having surgery I will be able to get back into in a couple of years. For now I will just have to give my horse lots of love and allow others to exercise him to keep him good. Though I don't think he needs it.

Once again we are all here for help with this. So please keep us up to date.

  

[bscott915]

Thank you! It is a scary decision to make and everything started rolling so fast after I saw Neurosurgeon. I am tired of my symptoms, especially the really bad headaches Are you having symptoms? I wish you well and prayers for you also!

[kwalker0004]

HI, I am in the same boat as you. A very small herniation, I don't have blockage yet. I do have a retroflexed odontoid which makes the space even tighter as well as not having a straight brain stem. The doctor is also concerned that when I have my episodes of headaches that my brain is pinching off two main nerves that are in my neck.

Though I was schedule to have surgery last month but my daughter had emergency surgery and I decided it was more important to be by her side. Plus it was going to be at two different locations, so no one would of been there for me when I woke up. So now the surgery is reschedule at the end of this year. Hopefully nothing else comes up from now til then.

Best of luck with everything and please keep us updated.

[bscott915]

Ok. Thanks!

[selmaS]

  Yuppers he is on our list.....keep us posted and when you have a surgery date, post it on the list your surgery date thread so a Prayer Thread is posted for you.

[bscott915]

Yes, Dr. Michael Rosner in Hendersonville, NC. I believe he is on there. I think I'm aware of all related conditions. I know there are several. Thanks!

[selmaS]

  I will also caution you that b4 surgery is discussed or considered, ALL related  conditions should be ruled out as they can affect how you feel and heal post op.

Glad you have a good NS...may I ask is that Dr on our list here? I like to keep a list of ALL Drs that are well informed of Chiari and ALL related conditions.

[bscott915]

Thank you very much! I like the licorice/gum drop example. That makes sense. I have a very good neurosurgeon who was recommended to me. I just wondered about the herniation issue because my previous Neurologist just blew me off about the Chiari Malformation.

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

The size of the herniation is not the most important thing to look at....it depends on how it is affecting you and your overall health.

Some with very large or long herniation's can live with no symptoms at all while those with very minimal or small herniation's  suffer terribly.

The reason is this...imagine the area of the skull where the spinal cord attaches to the skull and brain...as a  funnel....now the herniation as shoe string licorice...no matter how long the licorice is it still allows fluid to pass thru the funnel.....but now imagine a gum drop placed in the opening of the funnel...it will cork it up and block flow.

Blocked CSF along with other related conditions can make someone downright miserable.....

My herniation's were 4mm and 6mm relatively small compared to some others....but I also have a partially retroflexed odontoid which makes the space in the cerebellum even smaller...

If you do not have copies of your MRI and reports...request them....and then research Drs to find the right one for you....having the right Dr is key!

I had surgery and would do it again if it was needed.