Do not let the doctors tell you this.  I went to 3 neurologists and they also said my Chiari Malformation was nothing to worry about.  I ended up un a wheel chair for 3 months because of compression of my brainstem.  I had really bad headaches that I thought were migraines.  I finally decided to contact the Cleveland Clinic because they have a wonderful Chiari program. I went to see Dr. Xiang Di and he put me on for decompression surgery the same day.  I had the surgery in Sept of this year and went back to work 3 weeks later in the busy office I work for.  He does the procedure through an endoscopic approach.  It was the best thing I ever did.  My headaches are not completely gone and I am walking again.  You need a Chiari specialist.  A regular neurologist will not give you the answers you need.  Honestly, I had never had any surgery before, but this decompression surgery is not bad.  My life has changes so much because my headaches are gone.  Just hang in there and find a Chiari Specialist.  Dr. Di is the best!!!!!

Ericaneedshelp

1/21/10 12:06pm

Thank you so much for answerig my question. I have been doing as much research as possible on chiari and am in the process of filing for disabilty because my migraines have gotten so bad. I am terrified about surgery though I am near the Cleveland Clinic by about 2 1/2hours I actually seen them once for the  migraines. Again thank you for answering.

Hi, I have recently been diagnosed with Chiari malformation (type 1) with syrinx. I have also suffered from migraine since I was 11. My very first migraine paralysed my rt side for nearly 3 days and I had lots of tests as a member of my family had a brain tumour (so they did loads of tests to rule that out). These days I only get about 1 migraine every 6 months or so (unless I'm really looking forward to something, or if I am 'dazzled' by bright lights which seems to bring one on). I am not sure whether there is a connection between the two and I don't think the experts know either. I have had many symptoms over many years and they are getting worse. I had the 'usual' problems when I went to the doc about my other headaches and other symptoms, but everything was always put down to something else. I was actually relieved initially when 'something' showed up on the MRI, but it was short lived when I started researching the conditions. I have got over that now, but am having to really push to see a specialist in Chiari. At the moment, I am under a neurosurgeon, but think his speciality is MS not Chiari. Anyway, I'll sort it out sooner or later. No-one has mentioned surgery to me, but I think its recommended if you have syrinx too (although the longer you have symptoms, the less likely it is to work).