Arnold-Chiari Malformation Support Group

You should have been given a long and detailed list of restrictions, limitations and cautions.

I have not had surgery and waiting to see the docs in New York but through process of experience and elimination I have ? slowed the process down. What ever bothers< I do not do it.One of my biggest problems is that I am short and my family and friends are all much taller than I am and I constantly have to look up and bend my head back. A no no for me. Starts things rolling. Maybe I need stilts. At least I can laugh about it. I will do anything not to have surgery.

This is a very confusing topic. My surgeon said I could do anything after I was all healed except he didn't recommend roller coasters for ACM people or anyone for that matter. What is it that can happen to post surgery ACM people that is different to anyone else? I was given no lifting restrictions but the way my neck feels when I do lift things tells me it's not so good so I am careful. Getting jerked or jarring my neck does not feel good but I don't know why, is it that the neck muscles are just still weak ? My Dr. says that I can't undo what he did in my head , that there is nothing to be harmed so I don't understand the restrictions.

I haven't had my surgery yet. I am a female firefighter. My NSG has never told me not to stop working and has not said I couldn't go back to my job after surgery. It is tuff and sometimes I want to curl up into a little ball and hide but it is how I pay the bills. I have been doing this for 25 yrs. I have finally found out why I have all these problems now i have to get my insurance to see it my way and pay for the surgery. Have a great surgeon.

Hi, I had decompression surgery 10 weeks ago and am going back to work next week with restrictions of no lifting over 50 pounds for 2 months, then will be re-evaluated. If everything goes well my NSG said I should be able to do anything I was able to do pre-op. I asked about horseback riding specifically. He said sure, just don't over do it or fall off. Laughing as he said it.

My Neurosurgeon said there will be restrictions for one year after surgery (limited lifting, no roller coasters, and nothing that will risk injurying the surgery site until it is completely healed.) I can then do pretty much anything that doesn't cause pain. He said to use common sense, listen to our bodies and that we all get more restrictions as we age because of the natural aging process.

Hello I don't know if any of this was already said or if this may help but i had decompression surgery where they removed a piece of the skull, replacing it with a titanium plate, and also removing one of my upper vertebrate. this was 6 months ago and my personal experience was great. in an idealistic world only one surgery is preformed. i say idealistic because if you develop a leak post surgery they have to go in to fix this. My surgeon said this is unlikely but that it can happen afterwards if someone over exerts themselves. I had my great recovery by following their instructions and by doing this i have had the majority of my symptoms eliminated. after the surgery the limitations they stressed were these:
no lifting things 10 lbs or more for two months as well as no valsalva manuevers. they suggest you take lacitives to prevent you from having strain related to bowl movements.
after this 2 month time period my doctors said to avoid serious strain like heavy weight training and lifting things over 50 lbs because it takes up to a full 3 years for everything to heal. after that they said life in regards to weight limits should go back to normal

you asked about horse back riding and bike riding, i specifically asked about that as well and they said to take the precautions of wearing a helmet but that if that step is taken that it should be safe.

someone before said no roller coasters, i also got that warning. anything that violently whips your head is out of the question because as i was told for many people doing these activities after surgery brings back their symptoms.

also you asked about yoga, i did that before i had my surgery because it was a great way to exercise with putting to much strain on yourself like the strain that push ups or running creates. even after surgery i used a pregnant yoga dvd from net flicks as my recovery exercise. it worked great as a way to get mobility and strength back into that area with out straining it out to much. i absolutely suggest this!

also as far as worrying about having to watch how you exercise in the future i wouldn't put to much concern into it. at 4 months out i could hike, run, bike, and swim for miles at a time. i even go to the gym to mountain climb with no real problems so long as the wall isn't one of those extreme climbing upside down walls which i find puts alot of stress on your body. overall i say if you were active before you should be able to get back to an active lifestyle afterwards it just will take some time and patients as you ease into it.

hope this helps and good luck