Does a Cine Mri have to show some kind of blockage to dx if low lying tonsils are symtomatic. As Im at only 3mm. Summary states:
Velocities at the anterior foramen magnum were slightly elevated but no where near levels typically seen for symtomatic Chiari type patients. My conclusion is that this study is probably within normal limits.
I feel maybe the fact mine is 3mm and I dont have a lot going on with the CSF study that I can read into, then maybe my symptoms are all coming from somewhere else. Of course the doc's dont have a dx other than vestibular migraine. Which I was never fully on board with.
The herniation can change. That's what happens to most people. We are born with this and over time gravity, trama, wear and tear ect make the tonsils decend more cutting off more csf flow and worsening of our symptoms. Mine started after a car accident with whip lash. You can also be 3mm and be completely blocked or it be worse and have some flow. It all depends on everyones individual anatomy. It also causes pressure on your brain stem and spinal column. A Cine MRI is the only test that show csf flow. The best thing to do for anybody with Chiari is to find a doctor who sees alot of Chiari patients and those are usually Neurosurgeons. Neurologists that are familiar with Chiari are far and few between and many of them are pretty dismissive of out symptoms. Just because you go see a NS doesn't mean you have to do the surgery they are just the experts in the field. Many just take a wait and see strategy if your symptoms aren't that bad. I don't know if I answered your question. I don't know all the medical jargon. I would look up the Chiari symptom list and see how many you have.
There is a complete list of symptoms under the Resources Tab and then Symptoms/Killerbanshee..........Wendy
Your symptoms define whether you are symptomatic. Your quality of life is really the only reason to be concerned about any of this (unless something that could potentially be very problematic is found like syringomyelia - but this is usually painful i think). A cine-mri is one test... a chiari specialist will know what to look for, because there are definitely symptoms that have been almost concretely associated with Chiari Malformation.
Thanks Wendy. There is something wrong with the chiarione website, I used to look at the symptom list there. But no more. I had like 90% of them. It was there I found my symptoms that were hard to describe on not on anyother dx. I have been in several car accidents and had 2 cervical surgeries. One of my accidents with whiplash was about 11 months prior to the dizziness and 8 months from my cervical headache. Then I had my 2nd surgery to boot after that. Not to mention hip surgery 3 weeks after my car accident. Yep great timing.
wendyanne said:
Kgirl,
The herniation can change. That's what happens to most people. We are born with this and over time gravity, trama, wear and tear ect make the tonsils decend more cutting off more csf flow and worsening of our symptoms. Mine started after a car accident with whip lash. You can also be 3mm and be completely blocked or it be worse and have some flow. It all depends on everyones individual anatomy. It also causes pressure on your brain stem and spinal column. A Cine MRI is the only test that show csf flow. The best thing to do for anybody with Chiari is to find a doctor who sees alot of Chiari patients and those are usually Neurosurgeons. Neurologists that are familiar with Chiari are far and few between and many of them are pretty dismissive of out symptoms. Just because you go see a NS doesn't mean you have to do the surgery they are just the experts in the field. Many just take a wait and see strategy if your symptoms aren't that bad. I don't know if I answered your question. I don't know all the medical jargon. I would look up the Chiari symptom list and see how many you have.
There is a complete list of symptoms under the Resources Tab and then Symptoms/Killerbanshee..........Wendy
Thanks Bill. Its hard when you hear doctors telling you, no no no no. Before I even knew I had the 3mm I contacted my neurosurgeons office and asked the brain surgeon to take a look at my MRI. Because I found Chiari online and it fit my symptoms pretty good. He told me, Chiari is really rare. 2 days later I called and was told he looked at it and said no.
Hmmm. Didnt even mention the 3mm. So probably didn't look.
Bill Zern said:
Your symptoms define whether you are symptomatic. Your quality of life is really the only reason to be concerned about any of this (unless something that could potentially be very problematic is found like syringomyelia - but this is usually painful i think). A cine-mri is one test... a chiari specialist will know what to look for, because there are definitely symptoms that have been almost concretely associated with Chiari Malformation.