I have Chiari 1 + syingomyelia (syrinx from C1-C5). I suffer from very frequent headaches which are often migraines. Sometimes as often as every day for two weeks. I am wondering if their are others with Chiari and/or syringomyelia who have a similar problem with headaches.

I take zomig which does alleviate the headaches to some extent but it has unwanted side effects including muscle tension.

My name is molly b.* i am 17 years old just got diagose with chiari malformation type 1 and actually i was born with it but itwasn't suppose to show til my late 20s or 30s but i had a terrible fourwheeler wreck last year that speed up the process and it stinks i hate having it i wish i didn't they found it on march 9,2009 in a mri but i am still getting my stuff sent around to doctors but i feel like what have i done to deserves this and that but i know i have to have alot of research but my surgery suppose to be in wiscoin if i spelled that right but i am sorry that you are going through this i no the pain but i am on no meds at all for this so i suffer with headaches and backaches an dizzes all day long but hopefully we can be helpful to each other.

[ QUOTE=Mollyb09;487610]My name is molly b.* i am 17 years old just got diagose with chiari malformation type 1 and actually i was born with it but itwasn't suppose to show til my late 20s or 30s but i had a terrible fourwheeler wreck last year that speed up the process and it stinks i hate having it i wish i didn't they found it on march 9,2009 in a mri but i am still getting my stuff sent around to doctors but i feel like what have i done to deserves this and that but i know i have to have alot of research but my surgery suppose to be in wiscoin if i spelled that right but i am sorry that you are going through this i no the pain but i am on no meds at all for this so i suffer with headaches and backaches an dizzes all day long but hopefully we can be helpful to each other.[/QUOTE]

hello, i was just dx with chiari last month too, I am 38yr old and i blacked out and know I am haveing a headache everyday and other symptoms that go along with Chiari. mine measures 9.4mm the normal is 4mm. that is a big differents. I will be heading to cleveland clinic in two weeks, hopeing for some relief. take care
laura

I was recently dx as well and I have headaches every day. There is no relief period. Mine measures 16mm so I don't know if that affects the frequency or severity of the headaches, but I think we all have them. Something that I read was that the symptoms of these headaches is like migraines, but they aren't migraines, which would explain why I took excedrine migraine for two years with very little relief. I take the tension formula now which helps but I've had backaches and dizziness and other symptoms as well. Hang in there. We're all here to give support. Sometimes ice helps on the back of your neck or a gentle message where the pain starts, right at the base of your skull. Just don't push too hard - lol! Good luck.

The neuro I used to see for migraines gave me Midrin and it worked great for me. The other thing I found worked for me was to take a tube sock and place two tennis balls in it tie it up and lay on the couch with the tube sock between my neck and the pillow I was laying on, it seemed to take the pressure and make those headaches go away, I would lay there for about 20 minutes or so and it worked pretty good. Best wishes I hope that you find something that works for you. ;0)