decompression surgery

The Mukti Ryan Story – A Chiari Warrior’s Journey

“But you look so good” is what people usually say when they find out that I struggle with debilitating chronic illnesses. It is true- I wear fashionable clothes, I do my hair, I put on makeup and I have a smile on my face. Underneath it all though, is someone who is trying to live…
Brain Under Pressure – A Guide to Understanding Intracranial Hypertension [Updated]

Left untreated, this high pressure creates a “pushing effect” towards the only natural escape at the base of the skull (the foramen magnum) and the cerebellar tonsils in the pathway are pushed through the foramen magnum.
Spine Pulled Tight – A Guide to Understanding Tethered Cord Syndrome

TETHERED CORD SYNDROME (TCS) INVOLVES A STRETCHING OF THE SPINAL CORD, AND OFTEN YOUR MEDULLA OBLONGATA AS WELL, WHICH LEADS TO A HOST OF NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS. Before we talk about Tethered Cord Syndrome, let’s first talk about the anatomy associated with the spinal column (in layman’s terms). • The role of the vertebral column…
Brain Under Pressure – Understanding Intracranial Hypertension [Archived]

INTRACRANIAL HYPERTENSION (IH) AND IDIOPATHIC INTRACRANIAL HYPERTENSION (IIH) ARE CONNECTED, BUT ARE NOT THE SAME THING AND THEREFORE SHOULD NOT BE USED INTERCHANGEABLY. Intracranial Hypertension (IH) means high pressure inside the skull. Intracranial Pressure (ICP) is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Most scholars agree that on average, “normal pressure” should be between 5-15 mmHg…
The Chiari Malformation Ehlers-Danlos Connection

CHIARI (KEE-AR-EE) MALFORMATIONS ARE FAR FROM RARE, THEY ARE JUST RARELY UNDERSTOOD, EVEN BY MOST MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. A CHIARI MALFORMATION EXISTS WHEN THE LOWEST PART OF THE HIND BRAIN (THE CEREBELLAR TONSILS) PROLAPSES INTO THE HOLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SKULL (FORAMEN MAGNUM), ENTERS THE SPINAL CANAL AND OBSTRUCTS THE FLOW OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID…
Overview: Chiari Treatment Options & Potential Pitfalls

Once diagnosed, you will usually be referred to a specialist (not a Chiari Specialist, but an everyday, run-of-the-mill neurologist or neurosurgeon). They tend to come in one of two types: Either they are very passive and just want to wait and see how bad it gets, or they are very pro-surgery and while they will…
Overview: Craniocervical Instability and Related Disorders

Craniocervical Instability and related pathologies of the craniocervical junction are an important topic for anyone diagnosed with Chiari 1 malformation. “Complex Chiari,” or the presence of craniovertebral abnormalities or instability in addition to the presence of cerebellar tonsillar herniation, is present in approximately one fourth of all cases of Chiari 1 malformation[1]. These cases usually…