Hi my name is Melissa iam 22 i was diagnosed with chiari In july 2008. One morning i was sick and called in from work i woke up and my hand was numb like i had slept on it. it wasn't going away so i went to the doctor they said it was nothing that i was just sick. i made another app to go see the doctor from that time to the time i finally got to see the doctor some of my sympotms were the numbness in my hand not being able to feel hot or cold headachs throwing up for no reason, loosing balence when i would walk, sharp pain going down my arm like someone was stabbing me the doctors dident know why half of my body was numb they sent me to a neurologest they took a M.R.I. and found out i had chiari from there they sent me to a neurosergen and sept 9 2008 i had my surgery. they gave me a time period of 3 weeks to 6 months to retern back to work, i went back to work nov12 2008. Today is feb 27 2009 half of my body is still numb i dont have the feeling of throwing up anymore and sometimes i loose my balensce. lately my back has been hurting my neck starts getting sore when iam using the computer for a long time but other than that iam doing good i go back in aprl to take another M.R.I. to see how the scf is flowing and to see if i need another surgery. my dr told me that the surgery is to help stop more symptoms from happining it doesent cure the chairi there is no cure for it. the best thing to do is to do alot of reserch on it to help understand more. if anyone has questions please let me know id love to hear your stories.

Hi Melissa,
i am a mother of two young boys and a wife age 38.
After reading your post, it sounded as though I had written it. I had my chiari surgery Oct 1st and will have mri done end of March or beginning of April to see how I am doing. I have been doing a lot of reading but everyone is different. I am on nerontin for pain but it doesnt help. I would like to know what can help better csf circulation. I have days i feel better than others. My symptoms that have not gone away are strong face tingling on back of neck, face and ears as though the blood wants to burst out my skin or something is crawling under my skin. When I wake up in morning my legs and arm are heavy as though they weigh a ton and i walk like a soldier.

at any rate, I wish you start feeling better soon and that your mri results show improvent. I will keep you in my prayers and do not give up. take care, Rosa from NY