Do I get surgery

General
1

I've had 2 doctors, Dr. Frasier Henderson and Dr. Donlin Long, both in Behesda, MD say I have chiari. They both feel surgery is necessary. I have all the symptoms of chiari - sore neck, sore back, trouble swallowing, throwing up, heart beating in my head, insomnia, depression because of the above, and the list goes on. I got a third opinion and the Dr. did a cine MRI that showed my spinal fluid was flowing properly so I should not get surgery. He is giving me a series of blood patches. I have been sick ever since I had a lumbar puncture last November and not able to work. My question is - if my spinal fluid is flowing fine, does chiari surgery make sense or is there another reason for the surgery. Dr. Long said it didn't make any difference, the purpose was to untether any tethered cord I had.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

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Beeba said:

Are they talking about doing the cord surgery or a decompression? I may be wrong but I don't believe the decompression will do anything for a tethered cord - that would be a different surgery. Have you had a sacral MRI that shows tethered cord? This is a bit confusing question and experience. Maybe I am not understanding correctly. If you can avoid surgery - I say try to. But if all else is ruled out then hopefully surgery is always an option. Dr Henderson does have a very good reputation here. Can you clarify this? Tethered cord surgery would involve cutting at top of your butt unless there is a kind up higher and I just don't know. Not a dr I only play one on tv - lol
3

So what Dr. Long said made no sense to me. I don't know what to do.

4

So what doctor long said made no sense to me. I don't know what to do.

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razzle51 said:

Dr. Frasier Henderson