Possible Chiari - but why now?

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

My name is Steve [45 years old] and I'm in Middletown NJ. I came

down with screaming tinnitus in February of 1996. Other elements of

vestibular problems were diagnosed at the time. I never got a

full explanation of the testing because the doctor refused to be

involved with my own occupation insurance claim [which

prevailed], and when I asked, he suggested I find another doctor.

He listed my problems as tinnitus, mild SNHL, migraine

syndrome, hyperacusis, recruitment, and abnormal visual-vestibular

interaction.

The first neurologist I went to wanted to ruule out ACM. The MRI

reads that I have " low-lying cerebellar tonsils. These appeared

perched at the margin of the foramen magnus but did not extend

through

it. The cerebellar tonsils were also rounded. These findings were

inconsistent with Chiari I malformation. The CP angles appeared

within

normal limits. "

I have been refered to the paper written by Dr TH Milhorat and

may need to see him as I'm about 90 minutes from him.

Recent vestibular testing pointed towards vertico of central

origin as well as peripheral vestibular dysfunction. I've had a VEP,

SEP, and BAEP with no results yet. However, the technician told me

that nothing looked remarkable about them. The vestibular testing

also

showed " With left ear down, pure down beating nystagmus was shown,

ranging from 1.0-5.8 deg/sec all left positions. " My cursory research

on the net mentions Chiari with regard to this.

There was no noticible change in my tinnitus and vestibular

problems between Feb 1996 and Feb 1999. In Feb 1999 I went to the

optometrist and reported mild vision problems and eye fatigue that

would occur after 60-90 minutes of any detailed work such as driving,

reading, using the computer, etc. For the last year I've had mild

dizziness most of the time, and three episodes in a cluster [Feb-Mch]

of spontaneous horizontal nystagmus or oscillopsia. They aren't sure

what to call it.

So here are my big questions:

If Dr. Milhorat is correct and I am one of the ones that does

not

have the 3-5 mm drop into the foramen magnus, how do they see if the

CSF is causing a problem? Would it be that a radiologist knowing what

to look for in the MRI can calculate this, or are there other tests

to

be performed?

Since my condition

If this is Chiari as referenced by Dr TH Milhorat, would anyone

know why the condition and symptoms seemed to have progressed from

four years ago? I thought that in the absence of trauma, that the

brain would not move and the MRI should read the same now as four

years ago.

Thanks in adbance,

Steve

P.S. I've had an MRI of my ears and to rule out demylination. I will

be asking for a new one of the spine.