

Brain & Nervous System Disorders Message Board

Brain & Nervous System Disorders Board Index

well here is a pretty good list of symptoms from *********.org
Headache (esp. if daily or at lower back of head)
Painful tension in neck
Visual disturbances / loss of vision / spots in vision / double vision / seeing spots or "halos" / nystagmus
Tingling / numbness in the extremeties
General imbalance / clumsiness
Memory loss
Restricted movement
Intolerance to bright light / difficulty adjusting to light change
Vertigo from position change or sudden standing
Difficulty walking on uneven ground / feeling ground under feet
Poor / degraded motor skills
Difficulty driving
Difficulty negotiating steps
Pressure / pain in the neck
Pressure / pain behind the eyes (soreness in the eyeballs)
Back pain
Neck spasms
Ringing in ears (like the tone heard in a hearing test)
Pain when changing position
Tingling / crawling feeling on scalp
Intolerance to loud / confusing sounds
Decreased sensation to touch in extremeties
Decreased sensitivity to temperature
Pain & tension along ear / eye / jawline
Difficulty swallowing / lump in throat / sore throat / swollen lymph nodes
Spontaneous vertigo
Hand tremors
Poor blood circulation / cold hands & feet
Sinus / mucous problems
Sleep apnea
Decreased muscle tone
Pressure in ears / ears feel stopped up
Difficulty reading / focusing on text
Depth perception problems
Burning sensation in extremeties / shoulder blades
Menstrual problems / severe cramping during period
Fluid-like sound in ears (like water running)
Loss of sexual interest / lack of sensation in pelvic area
Pulling sensation while sitting / standing
Intense itchiness w/profuse sweating
Slurred speech
Gag reflex problems / lack of gag reflex
Pressure / tightness in chest
Loss of bladder control
Frequent urination
Dehydration / excessive thirst
Electric like burning sensations
Unequal pupil size
Loss of taste
Popping / cracking sounds in neck or upper back when stretching
Loss of smell / problems with sense of smell
Dry skin and lips
Sudden / abrupt changes in blood pressure due to awkward position of head
Hiccups associated with drinking carbonated beverages
Skin problems

and you don't need ALL to be a chiarian

As for the cause, chiari is a congenital malformation (congenital = born with it) Where the cerebellum (hind brain) is distended down the foram magnum (hole at the base of the skull ur spinal chord goes thru) and there is pressure put on ur brain and some times ur spine which can lead to another condition sometimes associated with it, syringomyelia. Thats where the chiari causes the CSF to stop flowing and creates pockets of spinal fluid which slowly severe and crush ur spinal chord.

Alot of these symptoms can be attributed to things abit less severe then chiari cause chiari is still considered rare. Other things can be lupus, brain tumour, MS, prenacious anemia, sevre thyriod problems, fibromyalgia etc etc the list goes on. Best bet is to get an MRI done to rule out the brain conditions and if they come back clear (make sure u get 2 opinions that they are clear to make sure cause alot of peopel miss CM) then blood work for specific conditions etc etc.

If you have chiari (with or without the syringo) you most likly will need decompression surgery, this is where the remove parts of the skull around the base and sometimes the nobbly parts of C1 and C2 of ur spien to make room. Also some may split the dura (linning of the brain) and put a patch there.

If you have anymore questions feel free to PM me or something. I got a major crash course in it and am right now recovering form the decompression surgery.


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