Hi!i also found it last year that i have SM.My story goes like that.First of all the neurologist ordered Brain MRI and cervical MRI.The brain MRI was clear and the cervical MRI had SM from C2 to T7.(the man who was using the MRI saw it and he went until the end of SM).Afterwards they suggest me a neurosurgeon that he told me that we can do a lot of things but first of all he ordered a full spine MRI.He found 2 tumors at T8 that they caused the sm.I did a surgery of removing them and he told me not to place a shunt.I am telling you that because he already told you(the ns) about a shunt and a surgery before he had a full view of your problem.Its a different approach of therapy or surgery if it was caused by a tumor or injury,different if you had it from a chiari and different if it doesnt have any cause.Make the full MRI first of all and afterwards speak with your ns about a plan or a surgery.I wish you the best for your marriage and for your health!
Fyi if i had today the surgery that i did ,iam sure that in Feb i would had a big problem of getting married.After 9 months i was ok of doing something like that(and forget that my surgery was removing the tumors,maybe someone with a shunt surgery is taking less recovery or more)

I too have looked into everything when it comes to the surgery. I am having very few symptoms, so surgery as of right now is not a worry for me just yet. I had read something along the lines of 6 weeks? However, I guess is just depends on where the shunt is being placed and what different issues are associated with that part of the spine. You could always call the nurse at the Neurosurgeon's office and ask her. They usually voice your concerns to the doc and call you back the next day. I just this past week started having severe arm pain from my scapula down to my elbow. As I was waiting tables yesterday, it was shaky and weak which has never happened to me before. Today, it feels like I lifted weights and my entire arm is sore. Anyone else with a similar issue? The neurosurgeon said he recommends getting an EMG.

Ash619,
My symptoms started in my arm about 5 years ago. I also get the shakiness and weakness. It does often feel like I've been lifting weights when I haven't been. I can't even lay on that side at night! My physical therapy office has this amazing ice pack for shoulders that is a large rectangle with a sort of split in one side so it can be wrapped around and velcro ed on. I'm not sure what it's called maybe just a shoulder ice pack? I also get numbness in my hand and kinesio tape helps with that. An EMG would probably be good though, I had one awhile ago and it wasn't bad during but afterwards I was a bit sore so you might want to schedule it for a day you have off from work.

Thanks for the info! I am still so new to this and hearing it at 27 after a car accident from someone else texting and driving just isn't fun at all! It has definitely come as a shock for me, so I am just trying to prepare myself as best as I can. Let us know what you find out about surgery and if you end up having it. I hope healing is in your near future!

Ash619 how is your arm doing? I have decided to put off my MRI until January. They want to charge me for 3 separate MRIs at $600 each and the neurosurgeons med assistant said it's okay to wait, so that the $1800 can go to my deductible and that will be $1800 less to pay for surgery. he is booking surgeries in February right now anyways :/ well I talked to his medical assistant of course, not him directly lol. So I'm going back to my regular doctor to talk to her about pain management for the next 6 months. I didn't think to ask the medical assistant at the neurosurgeons office, and I'm beginning to run low on tramadol anyways. Has anyone tried alternatives like acupuncture? Chiropractor? I don't like to take the tramadol until I really need it, like before bed when I know I'll be tossing and turning from my leg pain. I get regular massages but they just help my other aches and pains from work. I've taken gabapentin and I'm allergic to it, and nortryptiline (sp?) But it was ineffective and gave me severe dry mouth. They say I'm most likely allergic to lyrica as well. I do take muscle relaxers every day. I'd love to find another solution, even if it's just temporary relief that isn't from taking pain meds.

My arm has been giving me major trouble the past few days. I worked a double waiting tables and I felt like my right arm was stuck clenched up allllll day. It was terrible. Although, I iced my shoulder/top of my arm afterwards and it felt a million times better. I woke up with the arm pain all over again Sunday and today. So rude! Trying to just keep busy at work and school and keep my mind off of it. I had gone to the chiropractor before I found out I had a syrinx in my spine because I was running regularly and training for a mini marathon..so it kept my body in check...however, she told me because I have a syrinx she can no longer work on me unless it is lower back (my syrinx is cervical and top of thoracic). So, that was a huge bummer because I loved going to the chiropractor. I'm sure a lot has to do with the fact that my case is still open from my car wreck, so she wants to make sure she has her butt covered in that and they can't say I got my syrinx from the chiro. Massages have helped with my muscle stiffness in my neck and I have heard to try acupuncture. I haven't ran that by my neurosurgeon just yet, but on my things to do list. I have all my MRI's on Weds to check for tumors and hydrocephalus although the doc already said he didn't see any signs of that on my cervical MRI. I have already met my deductible so hopefully I won't have to pay much out of pocket if anything at all! Still not looking forward to them though. They are calling me about my EMG sometime this week. So what surgery are you having? Putting a shunt in and draining to the abdomen? Will this be your first ever surgery? I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers! I have never had a surgery so I think I would be anxiety overload about it. I have hydrocodone, but I try to only take it when I can't sleep or if it just hurts to function. Other than that just some amitriptyline which has helped with my neck stiffness. It is a anti anxiety/depressant med that gives you that perfect amount of "kick" to get you to sleep and helps your muscles relax while you sleep. I take it every night. I also have muscle relaxers but again only take when needed because they make me so sleepy. Feel free to message me on here or we can even text or something if you need someone to talk to!

Thanks for your guys' info! Ash i pmd you. Noulkon, did they say how long you might have had the tumor for? They told me I had scoliosis when I was like 10, and I'm now learning that my gastrointestinal issues I've had since age 10 are also probably from the sm. My lumbar MRI shows part of my thoracic spine and I had a c spine MRI done a few years ago I'm not sure how far down it goes but there is still that section of my spine that has never been imaged except for x rays so it's possible it could be something else. I'm not sure which would be better, a tumor or just the sm! When I get my MRI in January I'll be taking a copy home and I'll look at it on my computer of course since now I'm all anxious about this stuff lol.

Has anybody had spinal decompression surgery to help stop the growth of the syrinx yet? Looking for as much info and would like to hear from anybody who tried surgery. My doc is set on cutting my spine open to get in there and it would be great to hear from others first..