All is well!
Well, as long as you are ok with having five millimeters of the cerebellar tonsils beneath the foramen magnum pushing into the cervical spinal canal, aka a Chiari Type 1 Malformation. Now, let me anticipate your questions.
Holy carp! What the heck is it?
My brain is unbalanced -- wait, that is not the right word -- shifted? to the rear of my skull. Where there should be free space against the back of my head, there is brain (see photos at the link above). This means that some of it (5 mm worth) is pushing out through the hole in my skull where my spinal cord attaches. Clearly my enormous brain is just too big for its cranium.
How'd you get this?
This occurs during fetal development. I was born with it! It has nothing to do with the time I fell on the back of my head during roller skating and knocked myself out.
How common is this?
The prevalence in the general population has been estimated at slightly less than one in 1000. And I thought I was one in a million!
How did you find it?
Chiari malformations are often detected coincidently among patients who have undergone diagnostic imaging for unrelated reasons. My MRI was to find a reason for my headaches. Turns out, I don't have one other than lack of sleep and work/family stress, also known as "life."
What are the symptoms?
Many people with Chiari I malformation have no symptoms. However, any of the following symptoms may occur, alone or in combination.
What are you going to do about it?
Chiari I malformations that are asymptomatic should be left alone. There is no indication for "prophylactic" surgery on these. If the malformation is defined as symptomatic, or is causing a syrinx (a fluid filled cavity in the spinal cord), treatment is usually recommended. My doc says he's not retiring any time soon, so I should come back in three years for another MRI, but I'll probably be fine for the next 38 years.
Actually, they are changing some meds around, so that my headaches, which have gotten less severe, potentially go away altogether. So that is it, the story of my abnormally large brain. Thanks to all for your support while I freaked out.
*most scientifical info was copied from Neurosurgery Today.org
Holy carp! What the heck is it?
My brain is unbalanced -- wait, that is not the right word -- shifted? to the rear of my skull. Where there should be free space against the back of my head, there is brain (see photos at the link above). This means that some of it (5 mm worth) is pushing out through the hole in my skull where my spinal cord attaches. Clearly my enormous brain is just too big for its cranium.
How'd you get this?
This occurs during fetal development. I was born with it! It has nothing to do with the time I fell on the back of my head during roller skating and knocked myself out.
How common is this?
The prevalence in the general population has been estimated at slightly less than one in 1000. And I thought I was one in a million!
How did you find it?
Chiari malformations are often detected coincidently among patients who have undergone diagnostic imaging for unrelated reasons. My MRI was to find a reason for my headaches. Turns out, I don't have one other than lack of sleep and work/family stress, also known as "life."
What are the symptoms?
Many people with Chiari I malformation have no symptoms. However, any of the following symptoms may occur, alone or in combination.
- Severe head and neck pain Actually I have another name for MY pain in the neck. :cough:teenager:cough:
An occipital headache felt at the base of the skull that is made worse by coughing, sneezing, or straining hmmm, not yelling at the dog to shut up?
Drop attacks – collapsing to the ground due to muscle weakness what about due to hysterical fits of laughter while playing with Aly?
Spasticity look it up for the formal definition. no, you may not call me spastic.
Dizziness no comments here either
Balance problems since none of the rest apply, I'm not sure I can claim this as a reason for being a klutz
Double or blurred vision this is one that I'll watch for and report in if it occurs
Hypersensitivity to bright lights only during a migraine, which, by the way, the doc says to treat with two Aleve when I know its coming
What are you going to do about it?
Chiari I malformations that are asymptomatic should be left alone. There is no indication for "prophylactic" surgery on these. If the malformation is defined as symptomatic, or is causing a syrinx (a fluid filled cavity in the spinal cord), treatment is usually recommended. My doc says he's not retiring any time soon, so I should come back in three years for another MRI, but I'll probably be fine for the next 38 years.
Actually, they are changing some meds around, so that my headaches, which have gotten less severe, potentially go away altogether. So that is it, the story of my abnormally large brain. Thanks to all for your support while I freaked out.
*most scientifical info was copied from Neurosurgery Today.org
Labels: health
posted by Tonya at
3:33 PM
My 
2 Comments:
You are the second person I know who has been diagnosed with that in the past 6 months. The other woman is about 40 years old.
Glad you're OK :)
aww boogs! I KNEW you had a big brain!! :)
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