syrinx

[Cammie123]

Are syrinxs usually located in a certain part of the spine?

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the  Chiari forum,

The  member  you  are  addressing is  not currently  active....older   threads  are  great  for  info,but it  is best  to  address those  actively  posting...you  could try  sending that member  a PM( private message) which  will generate an email .....

   A  syrinx  can form when there is  an  interruption of  CSF  flow...this can occur  due to a congenital condition  or due to an injury...

Find   a  Dr  that  specializes  in  Syringomyelia....a  Chiari  Dr  does....and  we do  have   a  list  of Drs  you  can  use to research  the  Drs  to help  find the right one  for  you.

  Do  you  have  headaches  as  well?

[PaulaMarieB]

I had an MRI for a prep spinal cord stimulator for my RSD. Reflex sympathetic dystrophy and my MRI concerns me and the dr said it was normal. I also did not have an MRI of my brain, just my thoracic and lumbar spine. I will give you a quick breakdown of my concerns and I would like to know what all this means. Findings of thoracic spine MRI with and without GAD. After 11ml of Magnevist intravenously there is a linear area of increased signal within central portion of the cord at the T-5-6 level. This is compatible with a small syrinx and measures 1.5cm in length. The post contrast images demonstrate no evidence of enhancement (what does this mean?) There are no extradural defects indenting the thecal sac. There is mild height loss noted at T-5 without evidence of edema on the STIR images. The conus is located at the T12-L1 level. Impression: There is a small syrinx noted at the T5-6 level without evidence of enhancement (what does this mean?) There is very slight height loss noted to the superior end plate of T-5. There are no extradural defects appreciated. The Lumbar reads: impressions are The L2-3 level demonstrates a mildly prominent left sided disc bulge which extends towards neural foramen. There is mild decreased signal intensity to the disk. There are slight facet degenerative changes at L4-5 and L5-S1. I am a 49 year old female with chronic pain for years, I walk with a limp and it is painful to walk or do anything. I read somewhere that a syrinx could be indicative of a tumor and since they didn't do an MRI of my brain, should it be done or is this a normal MRI in your opinion and why and is it safe to have a spinal cord stimulator with a syrinx? Thank you so much. I am now dropping things, having memory issues and getting weird feeling in my feet...best way to explain is it feels like I am standing in something wet when the floor is totally try..as one example.

[selmaS]

  Hi...I wanted to add, for some reason many non chiari specialists tend to feel  if they check ur cervical spine they have ruled out the possibility for a syrinx....but members here can tell u they have had them develop in the thoracic and lumbar areas as well....so, if u get a dr that will not look further, u know the dr is not a true chiari specialist.

  "selma"

[rod44]

A syrinx can be congenital and found anywhere in the spinal cord, they can be as a result of spinal trauma and will be found at the level of the spinal trauma or they can be found secondary to other issues such as tumors. Most however are found secondary to Chiari Malformation, The Chiari causes a blockage of CSF the fluid that flows around the brain & spinal cord. Eventually a cavity develops in the cord and fills with CSF. Coughing, sneezing or straining can cause this cavity to elongate over time.

Ray