Hi Cally - my husband had surgery 5 years ago for chiari. His was due to some problems he was born with. He had anterior fusion as well as fusion from the back - frontal? Anyway, his symptoms went away, thankfully. He had progressed to a wheelchair before the doc's decided what to do. I had asked his doc 2 years prior if he thought that could be his problem and I was blown off (I do understand that docs have a problem, at times, with laymen offering an 'internet' diagnosis but sometimes it's worth listening to). Hus's spinal cord was almost completely severed at the time of surgery so he was fortunate they found it at all before it was too late.
Welcome - I am new as well, and I wish you only the best!