Ginnie,
Thanks for the help. I have been struggling with health issues since my late teens and early 20's. I have a list of surgeries that I have to keep in written form or I will never remember it. I saw a Neurologist yesterday that said I was depressed to the point that I would need to consider going to a shrink and get a better control of it. I cried and told him I hurt all the time and that is why I was depressed and I needed someone that did not just think I was too complicated and shuffle me off to someone else. That the pain I am dealing with constantly is what needs to be addressed. Thanks so much for the note.

I am hear to listen to you anytime. There will be others too that can try to offer support. Type in Cronic Pain in the search box, and you will find there are all kinds of people who live with cronic pain. I do too, and I go to a pain specialist. I don't want you shuffled around doctor to doctor either. That is very frustrating. if you can get a primary health care specialist, he may be able to direct you better to who you need to see. I have had two cerival spinal fusion, and 6 other surgeries, so I know exactly how you feel. I am sorry you are young to have to go through all that. I was 55 when all the **** hit the fan. I try to pray alot too, just to calm myself, and find that moment of peace. Truely, you do need someone that is permanent in your corner, for pain, and psychological problems that Result from living with cronic pain. The depression goes along with cronic pain. A doctor needs to understand this. You most likely would not be depressed at all if you didn't have all the pain. I get that. Don't hesitate to go for council either. That was a good step for me. I do have a psychologist that I talk to often. He has been a positive influence in my life. My PCP is extraordinary in that he listens to me. Those are things you need to find to have a better quality of life.
Where are you located? What kind of surgeries have you had? . It is OK to talk about it anywhere on this site. There are so many here who can relate to what your experiences have been. Take heart, and be strong. find the medical care you need to feel more comfortable. ginnie

-pjdk, if you need to talk to someone drop a message to me and i will try to be there just leave a time and i will try to jump on line at that time. to leave a message click on my name and you can find where it says leave a
message. i sent u one the other day, u may not have seen it. at the top right of the screen you see welcome, then your name 2 lines down you see private message if there is a number over 0 then you have a message just for your eyes. i;ll check every couple hrs to see if you leave a message.
in my opion most of have been told to see a shrink, we don't need to what we need are doctors to read up on SM & ACM. what i did was researched on line and printed out everything i could and took it to my doc and told him to find me someone. what he did was started to research himself and started with mild pain meds and went to stronger meds after awhile. i found even some neuro haven't a clue. you may have to keep looking for a doc that listens to you. good luck.
tc and be safe. try to be strong

You can private message me anytime too. Upper right corner of the page. Don't loose heart. ginnie

Mike I did get your message but have not had the chance to reply. I do not get the opportunity to check things as much on the weekends. Hubby and I tend to keep busy with the kids and just playing as a family. Thanks for taking the time to send me the note though!!

It is Ok if you can't reply all the time. Just do it when you can. We will be here for you. I will be thinking of you, and keeping you in my prayers. ginnie

I can finally say that I have been given a confirmed diagnosis of Chiari Malformation! The NS said that it is a mild case however. I am plagued still 24/7 with various symptoms that can be down right horrid. I finally got to see a specialist at the Mayfield Clinic in Cincinnati, OH. They have confirmed the dx but, again another doctor and again, a call for more test. I drove 2 1/2 hours for this appointment to be told that I need to have a complete MRI with and without contrast and referred to another doctor in the practice to investigate the cyst in the pineal gland. I am so tired and so need some answers!

Glad you at least got DX. Get the MRI and hopefully there will be a correction. Hang in there. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers too. I know of several people here who have to deal with this. I am sorry you have to go through it. You are not alone, I do care about you. ginnie

It has been a while since I have been on here. I was able to see a Neurosurgeon and it is confirmed that I have Chiari, but the doctor wants me to see another Neurosurgeon in his group to look more into the Cyst that was found in the pineal gland. I have had one that is about 8mm and I was never told about it. I found out about it only when I gathered information to send to the Mayfied Clinic in Cincinnati Ohio. I go to see a second neurosurgeon there tomorrow and will have a complete spinal MRI with and without contrast. Hopefully this will finally get us some answers and direction.

Well I have gotten in with the second neurosurgeon and I have no where to go. The cyst in my brain and the 2mm Chiari are considered by this second doctor to be nothing to worry about and to go on with life. I have followed this trail now for three months to end up in a dead end. There are no answers for my health issues except a recommendation for Acupuncture and Chiropractic manipulation.