I come home everyday from school with splitting migraines but they are in the front of the head and chiari headaches are in the back of the head, so my doctor doesn’t think that they are chiari headaches, does anyone else have headachs in the front of the head?
Well lets give your doctor the benefit of the doubt Lauren. About 40% of Chiarians report frontal headaches. They doesn't mean they are cause by the Chiari. BUT its unlikley you would be having them if you didn't have the Chiari.
I'm a college professor who is raising a granddaughter with a pretty severe herniation that came from an auto accident. Hers was not congenital so while some docs would call it a Chiari others do not. She has frontal headaches frequently. Believe it or not frontal headaches are fairly common in girls your age. The only reason I mentioned that I am a prof is because I am assigning you some home work. Its what I do. You are sharp and obviously mature enough to take control of your health problems except for the big decisions. I would guess as you develop more knowledge, I would bet you will get more control of the decisions too.
I want you to read up on Valsalva Maneuver. - at least 5 places Make a list of how many times a day you do it. Intentionally or not. MOST headaches in chiarians are caused by a variation of the Valsalva. Lifting sneezing working out by lifting etc are all variations. Anytime you hold your breath. There are other times too you do it to. Work on your list and see how long you can make it.
Let me give you some hints: Texting - My grandaughters school doesn't allow texting except at lunch so she was catching up right after school and had a headache daily. Low and behold you perform the Valsalva when texting. Water bottles especially those with pop up tops and sports drinks. You performing the Valsalva when you drink this way. Do you have braces? The little sucking you do to clean them throughout the day is Valsalva. Allergies with sniffles? Crying - and how can you not?
You are at an age where these little things ad up if you look at your face in a mirror and look at a picture from middle school you will notice some huge change as your bone structure is changing. All of this has an effect on your sinuses eustacian tubes skull etc etc. This all lead to involuntary Valsalva.
The thing is little things that wouldn't bother most folks DO bother Chiarians. The reason so many Chiaries are missed until the real growth years that you are in now is because of those physical changes. Keep in mind while your adaptation to those changes is behind now, it can catch up and does for most teens. Its very likely this will pass time.
if you do your homework and change some little things you are doing, you may be surprised at how much difference it can make. I mean id changing from a sport bottle to an open top bottle from a sports bottle, or giving up chewing come could eliminate a headache a week or make on half as bad would you do it? Its not just teens either.............
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I too, had a lot of issues when I was growing up Lauren, that most of my friends did not. I had a lot of sore throats, sinus problems, and slitting headaches that was unexplainable. Unless you have Chiari, it is useless to try to explain to others just how bad they can be. I am truly sorry at your age, your having to deal with so much pain. I have 3 children of my own and worry when they get a headaches. Lauren, tell your parents and be open with them, do not shut them out of helping you. Your mom and dad are your best advocates. Chiari headaches hurt behind your eyes, back of your head and front, so what you are describing is clearly Chiari. I