Pregnancy and Chiari - is surgery necessary?

General
1

Hello All,

I’ve suffered with Chiari for the past 10+ years, some years I barely notice it but it’s definitely become more of a daily problem for the last few years. I’ve found significant relief through occipital nerve blocks.

I’ve seen many doctors over the years and surgery is always their recommended course of action. I feel like my symptoms are manageable enough (most headaches, neck/back pain, and fogginess) to forgo surgery. That said, my husband and I want to try to have a baby.

I’m very concerned about the toll that pregnancy may take on my body, especially since you can’t take Tramadol or use CBD (I live in IL and have my medical card) while pregnant.

Curious to hear from women who decided against surgery before pregnancy. How did you manage pain during pregnancy? Did you opt for a c-section for delivery?

Thanks!

2

I had Chiari issues without a diagnosis prior to two pregnancies. After each pregnancy, symptoms worsened then proceeded into a downward spiral. I then had diagnosis and surgery with two small children, recovery was not easy with a family. I also have what appears to be permanent cognitive deficits which I did not have in my twenties and thirties. Each person has a different Chiari route so you will need to figure out what you are willing to live with in conjunction with physician advice if it is insightful and knowledge-based! Good luck with your decision!

3

Thanks for the insight.

I can imagine that recovery with a young family is tough. I agree that every route is different, which makes coming to a decision very tough. I saw my Pain Management doctor today and recommended speaking with an OB first to see what she is comfortable with. I would need to stop the steroid portion of the nerve block during pregnancy, but can still receive local anesthesia which I’m thankful for.

I’ll keep this thread updated with progress. Thanks!

4

One other thing to ask about and be mindful of is how an epidural may not work as well for you due to the chiari. I had not been diagnosed when I had kids, but none of my epidural so worked to their full extent!