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Chiari Malformation Type 1

Chiari Malformation Type 1 is a medical condition that can be very irritating for people who have it. I mean that in a way that is much more than symptoms as there aren’t a lot of treatment options out there for people who struggle with it!

First and foremost what is Chiari Malformation Type 1? Chiari malformation is the downward placement of the cerebellar tonsils. The cerebellar tonsils are a part of the cerebellum that are in charge of coordinating and moving parts of the limbs. They are located underneath the cerebellum. They are usually supposed to be inside of the skull but sometimes can protrude through the foramen magnum. This protrusion can be normal to a certain extent but if they protrude too much Chiari Malformation is diagnosed.

Chiari Malformation Type 1 sometimes doesn’t have any symptoms, which is one of the reasons there isn’t much treatment for it. When people do get symptoms they will have neck pain, dizziness, headaches, balance problems, sensitivity to light, gross motor delay in kids, etc. These are some pretty severe symptoms if you ask me and if I had them I would certainly want to do something about them!

With Chiari Malformations the only treatments often offered is surgery, they will remove a part of the base of your skull to relieve pressure. The problem with this is that it is a scary thought for anyone considering it, the recovery and the cost as well.

Cause of Chiari Malformation Type 1

What are the causes of this? It seems like a condition that almost couldn’t have a cause but it’s just an anatomical issue right?

Well that is somewhat true as it can be congenital but it usually happens or shows up for someone after birth. According to a Johns Hopkins article congenital Chiari Malformation could be caused by exposure to harmful substances during pregnancy or a genetic problem running in families.

“An acquired Chiari malformation type I happens to a person after birth. It is caused by excess leaking of spinal fluid from the lower back (lumbar) or chest (thoracic) areas of the spine. This can happen because of an injury, contact with harmful substances, or an infection.”

This article mentions how one of the most common ways a chiari malformation will come about is from a syrinx, or a fluid filled pouch or sac near or in the spinal cord. Other than this it has been shown that an increased buildup of fluid inside the skull can cause the cerebellar tonsils to be pushed down through the foramen magnum as well. The fluid that builds up is called cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid is in charge of nourishing the brain and spinal cord along with flushing out any toxins. Our natural movement is what promotes the flow of cerebrospinal fluid throughout the spinal cord and around the brain.

Different Treatment Option For Chiari

At The Specific Chiropractic Centers Naples we can actually help people with Chiari Malformation! The specific technique we do has been shown to help people with chiari malformation not only see a reduction in symptoms but sometimes see a reduction in their malformation as well.

As we mentioned before it has been shown that an increased fluid buildup is one of the causes of chiari malformation. What is the cause of this fluid buildup, what’s blocking the fluid from being able to escape? What functional MRI has shown us is a misalignment of the top two bones in the neck that cause this blockage! This will then cause the cerebellar tonsils to get pushed through the foramen magnum. We focus on fixing this problem!

At the office we focus on these top two bones in the neck and making sure everything is aligned correctly. When these top two bones are misaligned not only can they be causing a damming effect on cerebrospinal fluid but a nervous system issue is also going on. This nervous system issue can cause a lot of other symptoms that are associated with chiari malformation.

We take biomechanical x-rays where we actually put the head into motion to help us determine if these top bones are moving correctly or getting hung up in some sort of way. Once we see that the bones aren’t moving correctly we are able to learn how the adjustment or correction needs to take place. This will help realign the top two bones of the neck relieving the dam that has been blocking the cerebrospinal fluid from escaping the cranial cavity. I am not saying that we are curing chiari malformation but what we can do is help that fluid drain along with decrease the symptoms that people experience from chiari malformation.

Chiari Malformation is something that is really frustrating for a lot of people because there aren’t a lot of options out there regarding treatment that don’t require a scary surgery. I am here to tell you that what we do at The Specific Chiropractic Centers may be able to provide some relief if you are struggling with chiari malformation type 1. If you’re interested in learning more about what we do at the office and how we might be able to help you fill out the form at the top of our website, we will get back to you within 24 hours.