I was diagnosed back in August and in September I saw my neurosurgeon for the first time. He evaluated me looked at all my tests and ordered more. Well the one test I had was a cine mri which the neurosurgeons office had to fight my insurance company to pay for. Well I had it done and and went back a few days ago and he said he found that there is some obstruction of spinal fluid. So he scheduled my surgery for March 1st.
Please get a second opinion. The reason your insurance company fought the cine MRI is because it is very inaccurate for chiari. It was developed for cardiac flow. There may well be good reason for surgery but a cine MRI is NOT one of them.
Holly, how severe are your symptoms? I agree with getting a second opinion. Surgery imo is the last resort.