i have just been told i have arnold chiari after having 2 MRI with contrast of the neck and of the spine. I have had pain in the back and neck but my main pain has been in my arms and hands. It s a cold tingling pain on the inside of my arms. the pain is unbearable. i am seeing a nuerosurgeon at the end of this week. i had surgery for what i thought was the pain in my arm around the elbow(the ortho doctor took out calcification but 6 weeks after the surgery the pain was still the same that s when i asked for a back MRI and was referred to a neurologist who is now sending me to neurosurgeon. Everything i have read on Chiari so far does not mention pain in the arms. i have always suffered with migraines and know what brings them on and how to control them. could the arm pain which does not allow me to sleep without pain meds be related to the chiari. It has taken 8 doctors and a year and a half to get this point. Will surgery relive the arm pain?
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Numbness and tingling in arms and hands is more typical than pain symptom associated with Chiari malformation. If the MRI of the cervical spine didn't found any compression on nerves ( spondylosis, herniated disc disease ) that may justify arm pain, Chiari malformation ( especially if there is syringomyelia ) may be the culprit and surgery may improve those symptoms. Discuss with your Neurosurgeon about these issues.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
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Does Chiari Malformation Cause Pain In The Arms?
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice. Numbness and tingling in arms and hands is more typical than pain symptom associated with Chiari malformation. If the MRI of the cervical spine didn t found any compression on nerves ( spondylosis, herniated disc disease ) that may justify arm pain, Chiari malformation ( especially if there is syringomyelia ) may be the culprit and surgery may improve those symptoms. Discuss with your Neurosurgeon about these issues. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.