Possible Chiari and symptoms
 

Hello, About 8 years ago my husand, andotherwise healthy and strong individual, came down with the stomach flu. He then developed bilateral vestibularitis about 1 week into being sick. He has 1% of his vestibular function left. When his symptoms started he could not stand up without falling sideways. Despite meds, etc. the symptoms never left. He has a feeling of fullness in his ears, frequent tinnitus, mental fatigue, disorientation,--particulary when driving in unfamiliar places, in stores, malls, etc. His neck is frequently tight and painful. He did have surgery for cervical stenosis and a fusion which did not help with the vestibular issue. We visited Dr. Timothy Hain in Chicago several times who although helpful, could not determine what had caused the damage. Balance therapy did help somewhat and he was able to return to work but not at as truck driver. The only relief he ever has from his symptoms is if he sits in a chair and rubs the sides of his neck below his skull. Once he stops the massage the symptoms come back. Our daughter has a small chiari and a new neotolaryngolgoist (sic?) looked at an old mri of my husband and said that he does have a chiari. He redid all the vestibular testing which demonstrated severe vestibular deficiencies. He also has a very heavy feeling in legs, pain and stiffness in his neck, fatigue and the nystagmus which has always been present.We will be visisting the oto doctor for follow-up post vestibular testing. Has anyone else in this forum found that a chiari could be the cause of these issues? It never made sense that his vestibular system became destroyed for no reason. He was not subjected to gentomycins, never had ear problems, etc. He is feeling so much worse since he did some work that was difficult on his shoulders and neck. He also gets headaches which he never use to have. Any input from members with similar symptoms would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I also have been diagnosed with Chiari I malformation along with Arnold's Chiari. My spinal fluid was not leaving by head and caused similar symptons along with a constant pressure headache & eventually passing out if I sneezed, coughed, or gagged. I had a VP shunt inserted to allow my spinal fluid to leave my head. I eventually had to have Chiari Decompression surgery to relieve the headaches from returning when I sneezed, etc. Hope this information is useful.