Wow! I just came on this board to aske this same question.

I'm 57 years old and was just diagnosed six months ago. I've had these symptoms since I was in my early 30's.

I also have the degenerated disc disease in C-3 and C-6. My neurosurgeon finally noticed the 7mm Chiari Malformation on a four year old MRI.

My neurosurgeon only did an MRI on my upper spine and I'm also wondering if I need further testing since I'm having other neurological symptoms that may mean a cyst in my spine.

It's amazing to me that patients with this condition often have to do their own research and inform their doctors of what tests need to be run. Certainly doesn't give me confidence in my doctor here.

I'm not far from Raleigh, NC. Does anyone know about specialists at Duke or Chapel Hill?