Updates-Re-Post from Blog

General
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Hello Friends and Community Members,

**Note** I posted this as a blog which might have been the wrong place so I am posting here in the discussions this time-Sorry

I am so sorry that I have been absent since I created my profile here, the number of doctor appointments every week has just kept me running and running. I thought I would try and give everyone the latest updates and of course ask for prayers, suggestions, and possible treatments and outcomes. So here is what I have learned in the last 6 weeks since my car accident:

1. Chiari I w/10mm herniation, peg shaped impacted tonsils and foramen magnum stenosis

2. Bilateral Severe Optic Nerve Swelling w/visual field (blind spot) deficits, blurry vision, some double vision, etc.

3. Terrible mid back pain, arriving after chiro treatment with cervical traction and disc decompression for herniated lumbar discs. They have not done a thoracic spine MRI to check for Syrinx.

5. Dx. of Pseudo tumor Cerebri from Opthalmologist neurologist referred to neurosurgeon, appointment December 1st

Basically, I am extremely exhausted, constant headaches, nausea, got sick about an hour after Chiro visit last night and was vomiting. I went to bed immediately after and slept from 8:30pm until 7:00am. When my head starts pounding, which takes little effort, my ears start pulsating and then my mid-back pulses at the same time. My primary put me on Prednisone for 9 days after booster shot in the office, I have 3 days left, to try and help with pressure until my visit with surgeon, but it makes me feel horrible. I am currently on Percoset, Xanax, Soma,Fiorcet (but not with the steroids) and the Prednisone. I also have a knee that needs surgery because of the accident and it hurts all the time, but at my visit yesterday my ortho said he cannot treat me at all with the brain swelling and the steroids which I expected, but he said my neck was worse and this is after 3x a week visits to my chiro who says things are better. I am scared, confused, and I just do not know what to make of any of this. I am afraid a syrinx may have developed in the mid-back that is causing the pulsating when my head pounds, so I would like to know if anyone has experienced this before. I basically have no quality of life right now and I just have no outlet, except for my wonderful supportive husband who is also suffering. I do not know if this surgeon is a Chiari specialist, but I hear he is the best whatever that means. I was turned down by the Mayo clinic to see a Chiari specialist because it is a car accident case.

Well that is it, so, so sorry for all the info and rambling, but I just need advice, opinions, or information from those who understand what I am going through.

Thank you, God Bless, and Happy Holidays!

-Dawn

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DavidsGirl,

I am sorry you are feeling so bad. Many of us have got worse after having Chiropractic adjustment. Chiarians shouldn't get adjusted although some people think if it's not your neck it's okay. I wouldn't risk it. The herniation causes pressure on your spine and it's too important to risk messing around with. I got Chiropractic treatment most of my life and even after I was diagnosed also. I didn't stop until my very dispassionate, checked out neurologists freaked out on me one day when I said I got adjusted. I saw her for over 10 years and that was the only time I ever saw her get excited or really care about anything. She said "What are you crazy? You could become paralyzed" "What is the name of this Chiropractor that adjusted you after you told him you had Chiari"

My Chiari pain started 17yrs ago after a car acident also. I eventually gave up on my case because it was so complicated and 17yrs ago they didn't know what they know now. If you Google Chiari and car acident some very interesting information comes up. There are lawyers and doctors that will help you. I think lawyers can now make the case that the acident didn't cause the Chiari but that you weren't symptomatic before the accident and because of our "unique" anatomy it caused brain damage.

You may have to go visit several doctors before you find the right one. I am praying for you. Please stop going to the Chiropractor. If you need help maybe you could go to a good massage therapist or an acupucturist and the insurence can pay for it.

Wendy