Question 1

i was just diagnosed with a chiari malformation and was curious what my restrictions are until surgery and what will it be like after surgery as well.

Accepted Answer

Talk with your surg: Please please please talk with your specific Neurosurgeon nobody knows your situation better and you may require specific instructions in general stop all NSAIDs and avoid stress strain heavy lifting/coughing /valsalva if possible

Question 2

how safe is the surgery to fix a chiari malformation?

Accepted Answer

Moderately risky: Chiari decompression surgery is considered moderate risk surgery.  In other words, its not like having your appendix or hernia repaired but its also not like having a complex brain tumor or aneurysm worked on either.  The major risks of this surgery are severe (sometime chronic) neck pain, bleeding, infection, and a small risk of spinal fluid leak.  The more scary risks (stroke) are very rare.

Question 3

i got results on my chiari malformation said 6mm below something and the nuero surgen doesn't want to do surgery why?

Accepted Answer

Not always surgical: Not all cases of chiari 1 malformations need surgical decompression.  The surgeon will use your exam and history to decide if you would benefit from surgical decompression.  I personally wait until the patient's symptoms are beyond just headaches since surgery is not guaranteed to resolve headaches.

Question 4

i had chiari malformation surgery back in oct, 2014 can this be the cause of me having seizures now? i never had them before the surgery.

Accepted Answer

Possible: Depending on the extent of the Chiari malformation and the surgery as well as any complications of the surgery, it is possibly related to your seizures. Please seek evaluation with your neurosurgeon as you likely need an MRI.

Question 5

last year i had chiari malformation surgery, which helped but recently i've been getting very sick, and also have bad neck pain. are they related?

Accepted Answer

Possible : Probably you should first discuss your issues with the surgeon who did your Chiari surgery. You need to see your physician for an evaluation to be certain there are not other medical problems that may be playing a role here

Question 6

i have chiari malformation and we found this on an mri. another mri for the spine and no fluid was blocked. my symptom get worse. do i need surgery?

Accepted Answer

Neurosurgery always : sounds scary. In truth, current minimally invasive techniques have remarkably low risk in the hands of pediatric and adult neurosurgeons. And that's who you need to ask, because the decision is not based on the size, or length, of the Chiari malformation, it's based on symptoms that interfere with a person's daily functioning. Review your MRI's with the neurosurgeon at your  first consult.

Question 7

i have arnold chiari malformation type 1. i recently had corrective surgery. what are the possible side effects from that?

Accepted Answer

There are risks: With any brain surgery, there are risks or brain or nerve injury, bleeding, infection and even death in rare circumstances.  Specific to chiari decompression, neck pain, CSF leak, and pseudomeningocele formation are also risks.

Question 8

my neurosurgeon my suggest surgery for chiari malformation. i have dizziness and gait disturbance that never goes away. is this a common surgery?

Accepted Answer

It is not uncommon: Depending on symptoms, imaging evaluation (ususally MRI and mr cine to show CSF flow) you may be a candidate for neurosurgical decompression.

Question 9

my son was diagnosis with chiari malformation and a 6mm cyst. is this dangerous at least the cyst part? he's 9 yrs old, should he have any surgery pleasehelp

Accepted Answer

I'm not sure: The cyst- are we speaking of a malformation in the spinal cord like a syrinx or some other type of cyst?  If you can find out, i'll be very happy to help you. Many cysts are benign and easy to leave alone.  It does matter on location.

Question 10

i did chiari malformation surgery 4 months ago and i feel so dizzy i can not even stand and walk well !i'm suffering.
for you kind advice?

Accepted Answer

If the dizziness: and difficulty with ambulation are new symptoms that were not present following your surgery, you should certainly seek urgent evaluation. If these symptoms have been present but not improving since your surgery, you should call your neurosurgeon for further workup.

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Doctor answers about:

How long is the recovery period after the surgery to fix a Chiari malformation

A member asked:

I was just diagnosed with a chiari malformation and was curious what my restrictions are until surgery and what will it be like after surgery as well.

A member asked:

How safe is the surgery to fix a chiari malformation?

A member asked:

I got results on my chiari malformation said 6mm below something and the nuero surgen doesn't want to do surgery why?

A member asked:

I had chiari malformation surgery back in oct, 2014 can this be the cause of me having seizures now? i never had them before the surgery.

A member asked:

Last year i had chiari malformation surgery, which helped but recently i've been getting very sick, and also have bad neck pain. are they related?

A member asked:

I have chiari malformation and we found this on an mri. another mri for the spine and no fluid was blocked. my symptom get worse. do i need surgery?

A member asked:

I have arnold chiari malformation type 1. i recently had corrective surgery. what are the possible side effects from that?

A member asked:

My neurosurgeon my suggest surgery for chiari malformation. i have dizziness and gait disturbance that never goes away. is this a common surgery?

A member asked:

My son was diagnosis with chiari malformation and a 6mm cyst. is this dangerous at least the cyst part? he's 9 yrs old, should he have any surgery pleasehelp

A member asked:

I did chiari malformation surgery 4 months ago and i feel so dizzy i can not even stand and walk well !i'm suffering. for you kind advice?

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