Well you have what I. Had my Chiari was 11 mm descended and since having the surgery I have good days and bad . My wife and talk often about weather or not the surgery was worth it but I think it was I still have almost all the same problems that I did before but they stopped getting worse.and some of them got slightly better. The doctors don't understand it. They did two surgeries on me and most days I'm in agony between the pain, migraines, and mental stress of having everyone tell you that it should be getting better but It doesn't. I will say Im a chef and I was able to get back to working. The memory gets better. Everything else you will learn to deal with. Just remember your kids and laugh a lot because it is going to suck. Just remember one huge thing. Before you leave the dr. Get some phenegren. If you get the surgery you will throw up. It's the worst thing that happens . Connor