Hello, I was in a MVA on June 6th of 2014. I was injured pretty bad. They found the malformation after an MRI of my C-spine. I had an MRI of my brain in july, and nothing was said about a chiari malformation. I also had an MRI of my brain and C-Spine back in 2011 after having symptoms of MS. I was diagnosed with MS, But nothing was said about the chiari malformation.
So with the background out of the way, Can a malformation happen after an accident? Ive never had symptoms like im having now. Even with the MS. But in my latest MRI's, they have concluded my MS isnt active at the moment.
Trauma can cause symptoms of the chiari to manifest. I have had strange symptoms like dizziness and rapid heartbeat , GERD with esophogeal spasm and super low blood pressure since i was 14 then I had a car wreck in 2003. I straightened out the natural curve in my neck and gave me whiplash.I have had headaches everyday since then and i am now 34.
I would definitely retrieve copies of the images (not just the MRI reports) and have a neurologist or NS check it out. It can be injury related or as a 'congenital' defect. In an injury, the brain, especially is quick compacted and can cause 'deformities' such as Chiari. (I use quotes because I don't like those words and their implied meanings.) It can also just cause the symptoms of a congenital defect to appear-I lived for 28 years without any symptoms, then had so many appear without any prevocation. Especially if the someone else was cited in your MVA, you may have the option of having automobile insurance cover treatment. I'd never had an MRI before my symptoms so I have no idea as to a date of when the herniation appeared. Hope this helps! XOXO
My symptoms started after a whiplash. I think the Chiari was probably there to begin with, my brain operating on marginal accommodations and then the whiplash ruined it. I have read of a few cases proving a herniation showing only after a trauma, but I think that is more rare.
Did you have lesions in your brain and/or spine in your MRI's? Im just curious. I have lesions in both my brain and spine so Im not sure. I am going to go through my medical records and see if I missed anything. And I have a DVD somewhere of my MRI. Hopefully I can find it.
Rebecca said:
I would get your mri images and look for yourself, or ask you physician to look. A lot of radiologist miss chiari completly. All of my mri images show it, back to 2012, but it was only vaguely reffered to as incidental on my 5/2014 MRI.
It's pretty easy to see if it is on your images done before your accident. I was suspected to have ms at first. I have read that most people with Chiari are first misdiagnosed with MS or Fibromialgia.
My chiari was there my entire life. The CM was on the MRI"s. The doctors did not feel the need to tell me about it. I accidentally found out about it years later. It did not become active or require surgery until after an auto accident in 2013. Once it became symptomatic, I was totally different. The horror began at that point.
Stay diligent and get your previous films and take them to an EXPERT in the field. Many NLs and NSs have NO clue about CMs. Don't listen to all the jazz that doctors can toss at you about how the accident can't cause it or that a CM is not responsible for your symptoms and feelings.
