Hello everyone… I was wondering if anyone has tried cranial sacral therapy and what there results were? If anyone has success treating the symptoms without surgery? And how they did it? And stories of success or failure in their decompression surgery. I am obviously at the point where I have to decide to have surgery or not… Please any words of advice or wisdom greatly appreciated… Thank you… 
I tried Craniosacral Therapy and it hurt me badly. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone for any reason. I did just read a great article by Dr. Andrew Weil about Craniosacral Therapy. I have an incredible Osteopath and he said he would never recommend Craniosacral Therapy on Chiarians. A Chiropractor did mine before I was diagnosed. Others use the therapy and swear by it, so I hope this article helps.
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART03223/Cranial-Osteopathy-Craniosacral-Therapy.html
I started having tmj issues so I was referred to physical therapy. I told the therapist of my history and she claims to have worked with many chiarians. I’m not sure if it has helped or hurt as I really can’t tell any difference other than once I started having better range of motion my ears and jaw started feeling much better. I’ve read many conflicting opinions on this type of therapy.and I’m still unsure if I should continue going. I just don’t let her put pressure near the incision area. This is just my experience so far. Prior to surgery I had a few acupuncture sessions and those did help some for a little bit.
Sarah
Thank you…
grapefruit flavour said:
A big decision!
Prior to my surgery, I worked on vision therapy to help with my double vision and other visual processing symptoms. It helped a fair bit for myself but I did not work up to normal.
I also worked with a physical therapist to help with musculoskeletal problems occuring because of Chiari brain playing havoc on how my body was moving (neck, back, and hip pain). I worked on primitive reflexes and motor control exercises. All very specific that address the brain and how it is asking the body to move. This helped. My understanding is that Chiari folk have to be consistent with exercises as the brain is always under physical stress.
I was disgnosed late into my symptoms so did not address other treatments.
I chose to have surgery (posterior decompression only with no patch) as my quality of life had deteriorated too much.
2 months post op, I am continuing motor control, visual therapy, and primitive reflexes. Everything is improving past the point prior to surgery. I am pleased.
I have also added an on-line site to my rehabilitation called “BrainHQ”. It is a series of computer exercises designed to help those with neurological conditions with their cognitive function. This includes concussion, acquired brain injury, post-surgery (general anesthetic tends to decrease brain function), us chiari folk, and even chemo-therapy patients. I find that this has been helping with my memory, brain fog, and fatigue. The site was recommended by a physical therapy guru guy. The site also contributes lots of memberships to returning troups with brain function concerns.
I have not tried cranial-sacral therapy as am not convinced that it is an effective form of treatment. Just my opinion.
Good luck with your decision!
My NS brought an Acupuncturist in the Hospital to treat me for Motion Sickness after my mastoid bone was broken and filled with CSF. I am also close friends with an Oriental Medicine Specialist that is part of Duke's Integrative Medicine Dept. My daughter was treated by him with acupuncture for a year for pain from a Thoracic Kyphosis that her Ped.Rheumatologist recommended. I am a believer, but you have to get someone good and qualified.