Arnold-Chiari Malformation Support Group

Any abnormality in the brain like what you're describing would have to have an affect on your physical and mental state.

it doesnt matter how small it is i dont think !everybody feels different pains from even the same things we are all different and how our bodies handle stuff is different i have alot of different symptoms and pains but most of all the drs are telling me a bunch of stuff and i feel like im going mental this ACM is hard to understand and take in good luck to you my prayers are out there for all of you in this support group

Mine is 7mm...the drs say it is also too small to be causing my headaches and neck pain...but what else could it be?
I am going back to my regular dr on Monday to talk to him about it and see if he has any suggestions...

Mine is the same as yours. It is incredibly frustrating. Basically, I am being treated as a migraine patient. I am trying to find a better doctor at this time; one that will listen to EVERYTHING I say, and not assume that I am only there for drugs. I hope that things look up for you really soon. Here on DS, you have many supporters. Good luck! :)

First welcome to this wonderfull support group. Well my Chiari was only 6mm when they discovered it but now it is already 7mm this was 6 months after they discovered it. I have so manny symptons do to it, to manny to name. Well i was also told in Jan of this year that my malformation was not causing any problems for me. I was also told all i have are migranes. So i whent to see a Chiari speacialist who told me i do have Chiari and that all the symptons i have are caused by the malformation. Sometimes its not the size of the malformation it is all the symptons you have with it. well I was also told that no medications help with the Chiari symptons with me it is true i have tryed 4 or 5 differnt medications and none did anything actept make me sick. Well i hope that this can help.

I have tried over 20 medications. I had shunt surgery but no longer have the shunt since last summer when I got an infection in it. The doctors I have seen (all of them) say that I don't even have chiari...they said it was too little. Things will be crazy for the rest of my life. Maybe I should have a brain transplant!!!

The best place I have to go for information is;
http://www.conquerchiari.org/index...
Its a site for people like us to get info. and not get looked at like you are on Mars.

My 12 year olds is 6mm. She has headaches, arm numbness, eye tic, I could go on and on. It is all typical for chiari. The problem is finding a doctor that belives it. All the doctors say hers is to small to. She is very sick and no one will help. But there are doctor that will help its just hard to find them. Just keep looking. Good luck.

Uh, Jarod...huh?? Folks here are not talking about the tonsils that are in your throat!! The tonsils talked about here are part of the cerebellum, the hind part of the brain!

are you just on here to post your personal link perhaps?

interesting about the tonsilith, tho...

They is a new term that they are calling Chiari 0, which is what I have. I have no true herniation of the tonsils, they are simply AT the opening of the foramen magnum as opposed to above it, like "normal" people. I have fairly severe symptoms that have increased over time. I've developed dysautonomia, where my body has a difficult time regulating my blood pressure - a direct result of the decreased flow of the CSF in my brain. You can DEFINITELY have Chiari without a true herniation. My MRI doesn't look like I have true Chairi, but the neurological symptoms are undeniable. See an expert in this field and he/she will believe you!!! Trust me on this. Most regular neurologists/neurosurgeons will deny that CM even exists. Good luck!