Surgery

Hi everybody
I was diagnosed last January, my symptoms are not as bad, I have a headache every day is located on the back left side of my head, when is really bad it comes with nausea. I cannot run because it starts hurting. I have a 2 year old toddler and she always wants to play and this is hard because of the pain. The pain medication the neurologist gave me did not work instead gave me tons of side effects, one of the medication was prednisone.
The sent me to the neurosurgeon who measured my ct and told me the displacement is between 8 and 9mm.
He told me he can do the surgery and at this point I am scared, what if the surgery make things worst? I don’t know what to do.

Hi Lulu

Hearing your situation. I hope that you can find the information and the people that you need to make a decision either way. It is unfortunate that pain medication is not so helpful in dealing with symptoms. Neuro-orthopedic Institue (NOI) has some excellent books on how to understand and manage pain. Good luck to you

Hello Lulu,

Sorry to hear about your pain. At first, at least for me the pain was not bad. I have been misdiagnosed so many times. When they finally told me I had Chiari it was sort of a relief. I think once you know what is wrong the symptoms some how become more intense. The medication has not helped in the least bit. I've taken anything from prednisone, tramadol, gabapentin, norco, percocet, the list is so long and so far non have taken the pain away. I asked the Dr. today if he can give me something different and he said no. The reason for him saying is because he explained that my body has become immune to pain medication at this point and regardless of what he gives me nothing will change. He said surgery is imminent. I'm going forward with it. I honestly wouldn't think twice about it. Don't let the pain escalate then you regret not having the surgery.

Regardless of your decision I will keep you in my prayers. I hope he eases the headaches a bit.

Lili