Can anyone tell me if a Chiari to get bigger over time or not ?
I was of the understanding that it doesn’t but just read somewhere that others have gotten bigger
I don’t know if this is true or not, this is what my friend with Chiari told me. The actual hole doesn’t get bigger, the space/gap doesn’t get bigger but the amount of brain tissue swelling into the space can change on any given day. At least it did for her. As an example, sometimes on tests they could see it, other times they could not. It all seemed to depend on how much tissue was involved at the time.
azurelle
Thanks for that ,it makes sense . The past week my symptoms have been awful with the whooshing in my ears and pressure in my head,the headache and vomiting,I’m also starting to walk in to things and I’m forgetful . It’s so frustrating
the herniation itself can get bigger as it progresses …thats why some have a 5mm herniation and others a 15 or more…it just depends on the individual case as to the rate it progresses…some progress, some stop at a certain point and don’t progress any further
I have wondered this same thing until I had multiple MRI’s within two years of being diagnosed. Some laying down and one upright.
In my original MRI in 2016 they noted my right tonsil was herniated 4mm. In November of 2017 I had an upright MRI that my right side had herniated down to 6.9mm. Then March of this year, I went to Mayo Clinic in Rochester and had another MRI laying down. My right side was herniated 4.5mm and my left side was now at 2.5mm.
Panino,
From the research I have been doing, I believe that the standing MRI probably more accurately depicts your herniation. I am not a doctor or radiologist though.
I have the same theory. However, I was told that it didn’t mean anything and not to worry.
Yeah. I asked my NS if I should get one, and he said no they could see it on the original MRI so there was no value. But then he told me I wasn’t a good candidate because my herniation was “minor.” Made me wonder if it would still be minor if I had the standing MRI…
I honestly wouldn’t doubt it! I really don’t see the harm in an upright versus a supine MRI. I too think the standing up one is much more accurate of the herniation since most of one’s day is usually spent upright.