chiari 1 malformation

Definition of Chiari
A serious neurological disorder where the bottom part of the brain, the cerebellum, descends out of the skull and crowds the spinal cord, putting pressure on both the brain and spine, and disrupting the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid (csf) aslo known as arnold chiari, ACM, ACM1, ACM11,CM
About 1 in 1000 people are affected by this disease.
Symptoms include:Many different symptoms, and effects people different. Most common is severe headaches, made worse by couphing, sneezing etc. other symptoms include balance problems, vision problems, autonomic dysfuction, also size of malformation,
eventually causing paralysis if not taken care of ...depending on the size of the malformation,etc.Headache seem to start in the back of head.Balance issues can occur, vision disturbances, sensitivity of light,trouble gagging, ar choking.
Diagnosis includes mri's, etc, they can develop a fuid filled cyst in the spinal cord, this is known as syringomyelia. Treatment depends on many things the sixe of the chiari, any other symptoms,How severe the symptoms are, etc. Decompression surgery is performed by a neurosurgeon.The goal is to make room for around the cerebellum by removing part of theskull and spine. We are a long way to finding a cure and research is being done everyday and funding for this is limited, more and more people are being diagnosed with this crippling disorder, young and old and inbetween. You can donate money or your time to help fight this battle with us .
Bills are trying to get passed in humane treatment of the critically ill.