What is Arnold Chiari Malformation
Arnold-Chiari malformation, sometimes referred to as 'Chiari malformation' or ACM, is a congenital anomaly of the brain.
Arnold-Chiari Malformation II occurs in almost all ch...
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Does size really not matter?
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My just 5 year old daughter was diagnosed with arnold chiari. She had needed a MRI of her brain for an eye problem. Well the eye problem turned out ot be fine but they found the chiari! Her chiari is 15mm. I have not heard of anyone with that size before. They keep saying she could live a perfectly normal life without symptoms. I feel like they are just waiting for her to show signs! I just want someone to tell me what they really think.
Posted on 09/11/09, 07:09 am |
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I took my daughter to the pediatrician yesterday for a routine physical. I asked the physician what the chances are of my daughter/'s getting Chiari b/c I have it. He said that if they did 100 MRI's that at least one would come back with Chiari. He said that unless it is symptomatic that they don't do anything for the chiari. Some people live normal lives with Chiari and show no symptoms. So, he said to scan my children would be pointless b/c even if something did show up, they would not opperate without symptoms......So, is your daughter showing any symptoms? Headaches, pressure, off balance, Etc....? 
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Do you have any problems? How big is yours? Have you ever heard of anyone having one that big? Don't people show more symptoms with age?
No, I don't think she has any symptoms? She has had 2 bathroom accidents in the last week, one at school and one last night. It could be completely nothing or something. Thank you for writing me back!
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Yes, I have heard of someone with 20mm herniating out. They really say that size does not matter. Mine is 9mm and yes I have lots of symptoms. Mine wasn't an incidental finding. I actually begged my Doctor for an MRI b/c I have been experiencing very bad dizziness, headaches, pressure in my head, fatigue, etc..... They had diagnosed all of these problems as anxiety/depression before the MRI came back. I knew it was not depression, went back to the Doctor every week until they finally agreed to do an MRI. So, in my situation, at 9 mm, my Chiari is symptomatic. If your daughter is not showing any signs, I would not worry. Yes, it could become a problem later in life, but possibly not. If we all lived on "what if's" and worried about what could be....We would all be a mess. I know this is easy for me to say as my children have not been diagnosed BUT I have heard that they have a 50/50 chance of getting it so I could worry all day or just let it be. One piece of advice I could give you if be careful not to put the symptoms in your childs head. If I ask my four year old if she has a headache, she may say no but later on for extra special attention, she has a headache.....Kids are like that. So, If you were to ask if his/her head is hurting or whatever, ask is your elbow hurting....No, Is your foot hurting...No, Your head....???....Kinda have to trick em...hehe. Hope this helps!
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