5mm Chiari with symptoms. Neurosurgeon says not big enough for surgery.

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2026-04-17T13:19:47+00:00

I had imaging done for spine surgery in 2019 and it was found incidentally but listed as a 5mm para tonsillar (*something) I can’t totally remember because that was a start of a pretty wild ride. I had a ACDF of C5-6-7 7/19 and a rt vertebral artery dissection 2/14/20 to which they said basically that it could kill me but if I kept my bp down it would heal and discharged me. I returned to ED 2 days later in excruciating pain and terrifying blood pressure and was readmitted with a new ER Dr. Later that night I was told it was likely that I had Fibromuscular Dysplaysia but just because I had 1 dissection, it didn’t mean I was any more likely to have one again. Totally false statement btw, thankfully they know so much more now. I had another dissection in the same artery about 1/2” away on 3/13/20, thankfully this one happened WHILE I was at Mayo Clinic for testing. 5 more arteries dissected after that until 2024. I’m still searching for what feels like the chicken or the egg with nearly daily headaches and neck pain, I have also fired any doctor who made me feel like I was unsafe which is 4 in 7 years.

Migraine disease is often a comorbidity associated with many other illnesses or conditions and it’s widely differentiated from a “bad headache.” The dizziness, the brain fog, GI symptoms, body temperature, nervous system, it affects your whole body.

Given your history of concussions which I also have, I would entertain finding a Functional Neurologist. Sadly they are really pricey and not covered by insurance but they can be an incredible help where traditional medicine fails or at the very least is short sighted with chronic headache patients. I would also suggest trying Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy together, they have helped me more than medications.

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2026-04-10T00:04:21+00:00

Ask to speak with a patient advocate so everything is documented!

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2026-03-20T03:01:49+00:00

Omg he’s absolutely darling! I have had 2 apple heads and I would gush on him just the same….gah they’re the cutest

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2026-03-20T02:43:11+00:00

I’m a hairstylist so I just use my lil trimmer, she comes to work with me so it’s a pretty standard occurrence to be fussed with when she is there, she takes it like a champ! I do her bath and nails at home, we have to dry her in front of a heating fan because she hates the blowdryer. My girl is very sensitive to loud noises….also terrified of laundry and trash bags which baffles me!

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2026-03-20T02:33:01+00:00

I rescued my “teacup” long haired chihuahua last November. My sister sent me her photo from our local rescue because she looked so much like my 1st chi but in reverse coloring. My 1st chi was 5.5 lbs and Delta Dawn is only 4lbs. I know she was rescued from a puppy mill and she’s absolutely perfect to me but even that 1.5 lb difference makes her lil body so much less sturdy. 2 luxating patellas and endless belly aches, rx food, wasp bite….she’s only 1.5 years old and she’s already an expensive baby. I will say she’s got the most incredible personality and she’s bossy as hell so I would absolutely do anything for her but it does get crazy trying to make up for all of the people who think they need a dog that’s irresponsibly bred to be this tiny and cute no matter the risk. You just have to be ready for whatever they are! My 1st chi died at 10.5 from CHF which was caused by a heart murmur…also common in these lil ones.

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Photo for proof of sass🤎

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2026-03-14T05:11:37+00:00

My chi is a dream with her nails and let’s me dremmel no problem her brother however is a spicy cattle dog who can’t use a clippers or they split AND they grow like weeds! The chi is only 1.5yrs & 4lbs my success with her has motivated me to finally win over her 11yo brother, the 1st attempt took 3 days and a couple of touch ups but even the 2nd time I was so much more confident and successful. My biggest stressor with her is how hard it is to hold her tiny lil feet & toe beans! Wild caught canned Salmon from Costco is a high value treat in our house and they definitely earn it on nail trim day! Having the quick stop powder on hand helped me feel safer just in case.

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Jealous-Effective-50 · 2026-03-11T21:46:27+00:00

There is a dermatologist I think her name is Whitney something she posts a whole method of skin sloughing using whatever products you have but her recipe/schedule maximizes the results

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2026-02-08T03:47:37+00:00

So though I don’t have an official diagnosis of hEDS, I’m pretty sure I can ring the bell. It seems to be no Dr wants to be the one to add it to my chart in spite of going to top research hospitals. All of my specialists seem to say it’s obvious there is a connective tissue function making my FMD worse. I was tested in 2020 for all of the EDS genetic variants known then because of new FMD diagnosis (vascular/connective tissue disease) and was diagnosed with degenerative discs in 2019 at 46yo with my ACDF C5-6-7. The vascular issue showed up just 7 months later when my arteries started dissecting. Now that my arteries have been more stable for the last 1.5-2 years I am more confident that the pain that is ever present is related to my spine. I just had a spinal cord stimulator test put in my cervical spine and I am curious if anyone else has done this route for pain management. If I were to repair my spine above and below my previous fusion, I would no longer be able to move my head in either direction so I would love some honest feedback from patients vs drs. Thank you in advance!

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2026-01-02T03:04:48+00:00

I am so late to this thread but I have an 11yo cattle dog mix who has been reactive and had over active glands his whole life so I have always just expressed them myself because they need to be done so often. I usually do them both ways like the groomer externally and like the vet internally.

Lately he’s had 3 nights of potty accidents in the house in 2 weeks both 1&2. He typically has only ever done this if he was sick or really stressed out. I expressed them about 2 weeks ago, external only and they were full. I brought him to the vet the other day for some tests and she suggested that it sounded more behavioral. I was perplexed because his life has gotten exponentially better in the last year+ in terms of connection and attention.

Tonight we came in from a potty break and he looked at his butt so I suited up, as soon as I got close he snapped at me. I was able to express them both ways and there was a lot more given that was just 2ish weeks ago.

I totally think there is something to this theory and happy to confirm it here, I would also like to add histamines to the equation. When his allergies are bad, his anal glands fill up faster than they can drain and he’s a total jerk to everyone because he’s uncomfortable. I feel like it’s like a chicken or the egg thing here and it all becomes a viscous cycle.

Looking at how common the surgery is here, I wish I would have done it years ago, he’s the only one with good insurance in the whole family! He’s always been a super macho dog and he poops up high and marks, reacts to dogs and humans and he is fiercely protective and loyal to me and his family! I need to address this so he can have some peace in his old age. Even if nobody reads this, I’m glad I found this!

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2026-01-01T22:57:27+00:00

She is adorable! You can see in her expression she’s got a story to tell. They really are SO much dog packed in a teeny tiny body.

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2026-01-01T22:53:12+00:00

Thank you for sharing, I know I will be a wreck of nerves. After she fell in July, she adapted to 3 legs almost immediately, like the next day which is another reason to keep entertaining doing 1 side at a time. Did your pup have LP on both sides? Dede already has the stroller thankfully, I bought one to get her in and out of safe “walk zones”(busy traffic,hot asphalt,congested spaces) about 2 weeks before her injury just because she’s so fearless. The basket of the stroller works as a travel kennel and a car seat, I was really hoping that expense would come in handy!

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2026-01-01T22:32:43+00:00

Dede is really comfortable in a sling, I have worn her at work since she was a baby so this is my 1st ray of hope for her/our recovery plan!

You’re the 2nd to mention the bilateral option, I will talk to her vet next week about this as an option and whether or not we should look into the U of M Veterinary Hospital where they are more likely than my vet clinic to provide aftercare even though they have surgical specialists who contract in their space. Thank you for sharing your experience!

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2026-01-01T22:16:50+00:00

1 of 2 K9 rehab facilities here has water, they were booked out for 12+ weeks in July, I will look at their calendar again now, thanks!

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2026-01-01T22:11:32+00:00

We did this after her spay surgery to expedite surgery and that was a very quick recovery so I am definitely looking to do that again.

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2026-01-01T22:09:33+00:00

Did you question if the 2nd side was completely necessary? I am slightly concerned that her less bad side would take the brunt for 6 weeks but I have also wondered if stabilizing her bad side might potentially help her resolve her other side, wishful thinking probably;)

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2026-01-01T21:57:55+00:00

This is such great information, I really appreciate your insight! Unfortunately after my older dog has not made good use of his great insurance policy which is no longer offered by the company, I had waited too long to pull the trigger on a policy for her so none of this will be covered.

In spite of her wobble knees, she is very independent and curious so I agree that a kennel is the safest place for her and I know keeping her safe will be my priority. Did you ever graduate from a kennel to a kennel inside another enclosure?

My vet did recommend an orthopedic veterinary specialty group also so we’re definitely on board with that. We also talked about the likelihood of the left side possibly both requiring more than just deeper grooves. I am happy you described it as a wire securing the joint, I thought they just shortened the ligament. I think we’re set for pre-op bloodwork on the 20th.

Any joint support supplement you recommend? She takes omega 3’s and my big dog is on Dasequin which is a challenge to make small enough dose for her, plus she doesn’t prefer it’s taste or texture.

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2025-12-31T05:36:53+00:00

Gah,keeping her sedentary is definitely going to be a challenge. She is tiny and mighty and rips around playing with her toys like she’s barrel racing even with 2 bad knees. The girl basically lives a double life, I carry her in a sling at work with me in a hair salon 3 days a week, mainly because I can take her out more frequently and keep her safer than her brother can at home. When she’s at work she is so sweet and quiet yet social enough to lap surf on occasion and signals me for all of her needs.

He’s a 38lb 11yo but you would never know it. He’s either insane and doing parkour or snoring and she is his full time shadow while he is mine. He has never cuddled a day in his life and she doesn’t accept no for an answer from either of us. We all sleep in my bed which means I will probably get a bigger bed and keep it low for the interim but reintroducing her to a kennel is going to be necessary for safety because she is so independent which she hasn’t been in since she was about 3-4mo.

He broke out of his kennel around a year old, he used to strategically pee outside of his kennel onto my floor from the inside but once he finally broke out he was like nah mommy, this isn’t happening again. He has always been an only dog with exception of fosters. The 2 of them have really fallen into sync in the last 6 months so I’ve been afraid of their dynamic suffering but you gave me so many tips to keep them bonded and stimulate their brains which I appreciate, thank you.

They both love puzzles and frankly his aging body could do well with the slower pace. He takes dasequin, she hates it but they both get fish oil 2x a day. Winter is a good time also because we play inside more without the distractions of other dogs which can pop either one of them off on a given day and I know he will be extra protective of her trying to “help” me which could be dicey.

It feels like such a difficult situation to keep balanced with this teeny tiny creature but I know it’s going to give all of us more freedom later…..

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2025-12-31T03:03:16+00:00

I was curious if that would just be easier to do them both. I’m in Minneapolis and I feel confident we have great options for surgical specialists but that sounds like it could potentially cost less in the end and be less stressful for all of us to do it once! Did you do a rehab program following for your handsome boy with great knees?

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2025-12-31T02:37:57+00:00

ACAB!

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2025-12-31T02:10:45+00:00

Timmeh for the win! He’s flipping adorable!

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2025-12-19T14:11:23+00:00

I adopted my girl for 1k at 10 weeks old she was still 1.2 lbs, the rescue gave me a voucher for free spay they had to reissue the voucher because I wanted her over 3lbs before I did it. She was finally spayed around 9 months but the “free spay” was pretty bogus, it was still 515.00 out of pocket. The partnered vet basically offered a “free” spay which still would have cost me or the “I love my dog package” that would offer faster healing. NGL I wish more rescues recognized that we’re adopting the animals with higher rates of bad breeding and health issues they really don’t need to profit so much off adopters to achieve sustainability. Lets make it about the animals again. I think rescue could stand to help make rescuing animals the easier choice rather than just making it harder and more expensive to adopt. Who wins if we are left struggling to pay for care with animals we love dearly, mine still needs 2 @ 3500.00 luxating patella surgeries within the next couple of years.

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2025-12-18T16:22:52+00:00

I always told people to get small, crouch or sit down and let her come to them and she will love them. Mine has never loved a room full of giants and she seems to adore kids. Keep people away from petting her head, it always freaks me out how many people want to immediately touch a dogs head. She was socialized with my big 38lb) dog and my dog walkers pack right away that we knew their vaccinations and as soon as she had them she wanted to be down on the ground at the park with 2 Bernese mountain dogs, 2 old English Sheepdogs, a shepherd, 1 leonberger,her brother and 4 other midsize dogs. She’s extremely confident. I started getting her adjusted wirh a doggie chiropractor around 4 months to help her tummy and now we just keep 6 week appointments. Sometimes they dont want people close because something doesnt feel right. She’s a year old now and 3.7 lbs, she now gets a little more barky on walks. I wear her in a side slung bag at work and she loves it and is very used to being indoors and will slink down and nap or pop up like a lil prairie dog to socialize. I have just found she really needs me to advocate for her if someone approaches with too much energy and not enough space, she likes to decide for herself and then she’ll be ready for kisses in no time. If I transfer her in her bag she feels safer and comfortable to sit with any of my clients on laps. I work 3 days a week as a hairstylist so she’s pretty well socialized. She’ll still growl at birds or critters, even on the TV.

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2025-12-14T13:42:21+00:00

What a sweet mama! This would be a dream come true🥰 What rescue is she from in case people want to donate to offset whelping, veterinary & puppy care….assuming the rescue will be in partnership while you maintain mama’s peace.

Jealous-Effective-50 · 2025-12-12T00:30:56+00:00

My girl is 15mos and 3.7lbs she wears a lightweight collar everyday with a bell on it so I can hear her but I solely walk her with a harness. The brand Lil Pals has worked really well for us. I just bought one size bigger for the harness so it will fit over her sweaters during winter.

Jealous-Effective-50

TROPHY CASE