Hello. I am waiting on referrals to Dr Henderson (my doctor was supposed to make the referral around the 9th of Oct). I also sent my info and images to TCI and Dr. Bolognese (spelling), on Friday the 17th.
The local nuerosurgeon says my tonsillar herniation is small and I didn’t have Chiari, but he wanted to do surgery to repair the herniated disk at c5-c6 that is compressing the cord by at least 20%. He does not specialize in Chiari. I asked for physical therapy first because I’m not really convinced my problems are from the disk. My neck pain starts at the back of my head and worsens from there. And he said surgery may not give me back use of my left hand as the c5-c6 doesn’t really control that part. He said he would have to put a plate in and fuse c5-c6.
My question is, if PT does not relieve my symptoms, should I wait on the Chiari specialist referral answers, or go ahead and do the surgery to repair the disk? Would the plate/fusion interfere with tests needed by the Chiari specialist?
The only pain I have below my neck/shoulders is a dull ache or humming of my left arm and really bad pain in my left hand when I try to use it. Sometimes burning and aching in my legs. Nothing I can’t live with for a while. I am however having bladder issues and walking and motor control and reflex issues. My neurologist said I had congenital cervical stenosis too.
Any suggestions or opinions?
I would wait for the specialist honestly. It sounds like this NS has little experience with Chiari. It's long been proven that the size of the herniation doesn't matter as far as symptoms are concerned. Your symptoms sound more easily explained by Chiari than the disk since the disk that is herniated isn't in an area that causes your most pressing problems.
Rebecca, I would wait too- if you can stand it. Honestly you may be told that the neck needs fixing first before they do the brain, but they may do them both at the same time too. I would say wait for the expert to look at the whole shabang.
Um, how scary that NS wants you to loose the ability to walk before having surgery? What? That doesn’t make sence, not even to a monkey.
jenn
I also have a herniation of my c5&c6 but they are posing on my nerves causing numbness and loss of muscle use in my right arm. That is the whole reason I was being seen by nl. He ordered a head and neck MRI and found the chiari by chance I guess.
Yea I know what you mean. I just started this research and have an up hill battle to go through with the army to make sure I can get referrals and get the proper treatment.