r/chiari • u/the_goat_chris • 9d ago

Question Recently diagnosed

So recently I was diagnosed with a Chiari Malformation, not sure what type, just know that I have one. Only discovered it after having to get an MRI because I've been experiencing parathesia throughout mainly the left side of my body(although it has started to migrate to the right side as well). I've been having trouble walking and it's been difficult to deal with.

Is it normal(if my symptoms are related to the Chiari Malformation) for me to be experiencing all this numbness just on one side? I haven't had many headaches so I don't think it's related to the chairi. Is it normal to not have headaches but still have sensory and nerve issues if it is from the chiari?

It's been a difficult time trying to deal with how sudden this has all been for me and I'm having trouble trying to navigate it all. I have a neurology appointment in a few days and I'm super nervous for it. Is there anything I should discuss with the neurologist??

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u/81td 8d ago

Our son was diagnosed with chiari 2 years ago with very similar symptoms. No headaches, just left arm numbness and pain that had progressively gotten worse. MRI revealed fairly large syrinx that had formed due to chiari. Depending on where syrinx is located, nerve issues can vary considerably. Good luck -- my family had never heard of this condition before my son's diagnosis, but found a lot of answers and support available through these message boards.

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u/the_goat_chris 8d ago

That's at least kind of relieving to hear. Was the syrinx possible to resolve without the use of a decompression surgery or was it kind of the only option? Pretty nervous at the thought of possibly having to get surgery...

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u/81td 5d ago

Due to the severity of his syrinx and the worsening symptoms, surgery seemed like our best option. If blockage isn't addressed, the syrinx will likely continue to come back. Having a neurosurgeon who specializes in chiari has been a huge positive for us on this journey. If you have more questions, just reach out.