Arnold-Chiari Malformation Support Group

I feel for you....I know exactly what you are going through. I had my surgery a year ago, and while some things improved, so many of us have other conditions, related to chiari and some not, that cause so much pain. I still hurt a lot. I developed a herniated disk and a lot of neck and back pain that just won't go away. I don't regret the surgery at all. My syrinx, which was rather large, shrank considerably at my last MRI. In my opinion, you will get some relief, but it will not usually be a cure all.

Best wishes,
Tricia

megsmom8816 is so on the spot. I had my surgery 3 years ago. Though it releaved my problems at the time and I was never able to go back to a normal life because of the damage my Chiari caused, I am back to having more symptoms than before and will have to go the surgery again. My Chiari has caused me to have Graves disease, loss of hearing, and other things. I got relief but it didnt not cure me. The surgerys are set up to releave but not cure. I honestly dont think they know everything about Chriari that they (doctors) could. But it is the brain, and that is a very hard thing to study. They (doctors) have to base it off of every situation
Good luck
Joy

I have SM with chiari and was told by my consultant when I was diagnosed that my pain would not increase if surgery was successful but would also not develop in my other limbs.
This proved to be correct when decompression surgery was eventually successful.
One syrinx also decreased in size although I have never felt that this made any difference to my pain levels.

To echo the other replies, my NS recently told me that chronic pain is usually one symptom that doesn't completely go away after surgery. There are meds that are used for people with fibromyalgia, but my NS does not prescribe those meds to his patients.