I finally got a correct diagnosis 11/2010 after living with constant severe pressure pain in my head for over one year. I had many symptons one year prior to the pain in my head: constantly sleepy, hearing a clicking noise in my ear, numbness of face and head, confusion, mood swings, problems with walking and balance. I was diagnosed with Chiari I Malformation and Arnold's Chiari. Chiari will show up on a MRI if read correctly. After my Chiari diagnosis 11/2010, I had a MRI study of the spinal fluid in my head. That is when I was diagnosed a few days later with Arnold's Chiari. I had to immediately have a VP shunt put in my brain that allows the spinal fluid to flow to my abdomen. That gave me immediate relief from the pressure pain in my head. However, it did not get rid of the pressure pain in my head when I sneezed, coughed, gagged, or laughed. In Feb. 2011 I had Chiari Decompression surgery to make the opening at the base of my brain larger. I also had to have some verterbrae removed to relieve the "brain tonsils" from being herniated through the small opening at the base of my skull which was causing the remaining pressure pain. This is a congenital condition and the doctors have no idea why I never had any problems from it until age 48. It took several years for this to be correctly diagnosed. I hope this information helps someone that may be having the same problem. Unfortunately my short and long term memory and my eyesight have been affected due to all the pressure to my brain. I still have some pain but at least now it is not constant pain.

carrection on date diagnosed 11/2009

correction on date diagnosed 11/2009

Hi all,
I am new to this forum and have a codman programmable shunt. I have had hydrocephalus for 41 years I have had the Codman for 6 and I am having echo headaches everything going on the outside echoes in my head when I get a pressure headache and to boot I have a burr hole that just to today started hurting and made me nauseas I called my neurosurgeon of 30 years and I am waiting for a CT scan script and a Shunt series script. Any help would be appreciated.
Tina

Hi Tina,
I too have a Codman programmable shunt. I've had hydro for 27 years now (ever since I was 2 months old). For most of my life I had a VP fixed pressure shunt and in July I had a revision due to the old shunt slowing down. Since my surgery I haven't been feeling the greatest. My headaches continue and dizziness is a daily occurrence. My neurosurgeon adjusted the setting on my shunt 3 times since July. The last time I called them to report my ongoing headaches he said my shunt was not the problem and referred me to a neurologist. My neurologist has done a series of tests to figure out the culprit of the headaches (migraines, etc.) May I ask what echo headaches are?
Misti

Hi I just joined this group today! I am 24 and have had the shunt since birth. I have never had any problems with it at all. Rarely get headaches or issues with it. Right now though, I woke up this morning with a headache and everytime i move my head it hurts, but if I keep it still, it doesnt hurt as bad. Could this be a malfunction? Should I see a neuro, I have never been to one since birth.