Posted by laura on June 10, 1999 at 01:49:34:
My brother was diagnosed with Cluster Headaches 13 yrs ago. The medication has kept them under control. Recently he started having new problems, including dizzyness, head pains (not the same as the headaches...but,to the top of his head and on the surface)the feeling of a lump in his throat, among other problems. Everything was getting worse. Today, he was diagnosed with ARNOLD-CHIARI SYNDROME..the diagnosis came from an MRI... His Dr. says that the two conditions are not related, but after reading about Chiari syndrome...which is often misdiagnosed, I cannot help but believe that it may have been this all along.
I would like to share this info with all of you..Not hoping that you find this to be your problem, but so that if there is any other misdiagnosis out there they may be caught and treated earlier.
here is a paragragh from the page...
Chiari syndrome is a problem in which the back compartment of the skull is too small. The tissue of the cerebellum called the "tonsil" develops below the opening at the base of the skull.(i believe putting pressure on the brain stem) Symptoms dont often develop until adulthood. Since the symptoms develop insidiously, these malformations are often not diagnosed early.
the only way that( I've read) this can be diagnosed is by an MRI. you can visit the WACMA website if you wish to learn more.
I wish you all a pain free future