Conquer Chiari: A Patient's Guide To The Chiari Malformation Paperback – March 7, 2008

Conquer Chiari: A Patient's Guide To The Chiari Malformation  provides great education and support for those newly diagnosed with Arnold Chiari Malformation (ACM) and their families and loved ones wanting to know more about it and how they can help.By far, this is the best read for patients and their families regarding ACM, I just wish that there were more medical studies regarding the correlation between Arnold Chiari Malformation and  Upper Cervical Subluxation Complex: A Review of the Chiropractic and Medical Literature . Upper Cervical Subluxation Chiropractic studies are showing that MRIs taken before and after an orthospinology or NUCCA adjustment show the cerebellar tonsils returning back above the foramen magnum. Herniation of the cerebellar tonsils can be caused by conditions other than ACM such as intraspinal hypotension, intracranial hypertension, spinal cord tethering, brain tumors and other growths, upper cervical subluxation, etc. While the absence of cerebellar tonsiliar herniation does not exclude the diagnosis of Arnold Chiari malformation, it is definitely central to it. Kirk Eriksen discusses in his book the role of the Dentate Ligament which attach the spinal cord to the dura matter and keep it in the central location. The first pair of dentate ligaments ascend upward and into the foramen magnum to attach to the dura of the posterior fossa. They are located between teh vertebral artery anteriorly and the hypoglossal nerve posteriorly, and the spiinal accessory nerve ascends on the posterior aspect. The second pair of dentates are short, stout, and arranged almost horizontally at the level of the atlantoaxial articular facets which is in contrast to the ligaments below C2, which become significantly more gracile and project from the cord at gradually greater caudal angles.Given how both ACM and Upper Cervical Subluxations have very similar effects on cerebral spinal flow and the nervous system, I personally believe that if either is diagnosed, the other should be evaluated as well in order to have a fuller understanding of what the patient is experiencing before determining the treatment protocol. The correlation between ACM and upper cervical subluxations and how they interact with each other and on herniation of the cerebellar tonsils is not fully understood yet. For example, as indicated by Head MRI, one can have a volumetrically small posterior cranial fossa with obliteration of the CSF spaces posterior and lateral to the cerebellum and a short supraocciput. Specialized X-rays of the same person can show misalignment of the C1/C2 causing a narrowing of the opening, reduced/restricted cerebral spinal fluid flow and compression of the CNS in a very similar and close proximity to the ACM limitation. My best guess is that at least in some cases the congenital ACM malformation is typically asymptomatic until something causes the upper cervical to subluxate rotationally in opposite directions further reducing/restricting the cerebral spinal flow, further diminishing/limitation brainstem/spinal cord messaging, and further straining herniation of cerebellar tonsils. While this type of subluxation can not correct itself, once it is corrected by an upper cervical specialist, symptoms improve but the congenital malformation is not corrected. But this is just conjecture on my part and further medical studies would be necessary to learn more about ACM and UCS and how they relate to each other.

I love this book. He explains things in such great detail and to my surprise the book is pretty thick with a lot of information. The best thing about the book and author is that Labuda has chiari himself so he understands personally what we go through on a daily basis. I was diagnosed with chiari and syringomyelia in 10th grade at the age of 15. Im 23 now. I suffered for many yrs before I was diagnosed. After having an MRI done I was told to have immediate surgery the next day; Severe Chiari. I was on the verge of being paralyzed on my right side. Its hard to feel like you have conquered chiari because its not curable and a decompression surgery most of the time is not a fix-it procedure. Labuda explains what he means by conquering chiari. I found myself crying through reading the book because I never knew that someone could understand Chiarians and syringomyelia struggles. Thank God for this book. I read it when I feel down and when I need some uplifting. As most chiarians will say even family members cant see through our strong exterior however inside our bodies dont do what we want and half the time we feel like we arent in control of our own bodies. Limitations is my biggest problem with the disorder because we all want to live life to the fullest but physically I cant always do the things I dream of. Yet that is what makes me stronger! Now I always say well I cant do that but guess what I can find something else I can do! love life and be strong.

This book is the bible for chiari patients. It describes everything from getting correct diagonsis with a competent Neurosurgeon(NS), deciding whether to go for surgery or not, preparation for surgery & post-operative recovery, things to do & not to do during the patient dependent recovery period, how to measure whether the surgery was useful or not & what to do next. Although this book is written for Chiari patients, it will be very useful for patients who have had posterior fossa craniotomy for Arachnoid cyst fenestration, tumor excision etc. In chapter 2, book discusses the basics of the central nervous system in an easy language before moving on to Chiari & Syringomyelia. Every bit of information in the book related to Chiari & Syringomyelia is from research literature, the author has done a credible job. The book explains the different modalities that can be used for pain management during the post-operative recovery period including pain killers like opoids, NSAIDS etc , physical modalities like ice, heat, massage, TENS, Ultrasound etc. The book talks abt the socio-economic impact that Chiari can have on the patients & their families. The book describes briefly some research projects at various places in the world whose outputs can become part of the future treatment for chiari patients including stem cell research, nerve regeneration, advanced imaging etc. In the last chapter, the author, himself a Chiari patient & director of an excellent non-profit foundation dedicated to the cure & care of Chiari patients [[ [...] discusses some practical tips to lead a better life with Chiari & Syringomyelia.

My teenager was recently diagnosed with chiari 1.5 by a neurologist. She suffered symptoms for years, but doctor's and therapists are not familiar with chiari and misdiagnosed more than once. Only after a mini-type stroke and the loss of the use of her arm and hand was she given an MRI. If only I had the information offered in this book before her operation. I would have understood the situation more fully and known what questions to ask and what to expect. The book has filled me in with much information that I will need to know for the future. It is a well written book and very easy to read. No jargon. My child's therapist, school nurse and and teacher have asked to read it so that they can understand my child's disability more clearly. I'm also going to ask the neurologist to recommend it to patients who, like so many, may have never heard of chiari, once diagnosed.

I only found out I chiari all my life after my doctors thought I had Parkinson’s! I’ve been born with it what explains the terrible headache as a child and all what going on now but I wished I read this book 5 years ago when I found out I had this as in the U.K. not much help for you with it this book really gives you alternatives 10/10 excellent read

I bought this when first diagnosed with Chiari Malformation and have gone back to it as a reference source many times (especially when I had decompression surgery). A very well balanced source of information

Excellent Book. My older Sister has Chiari and has had Decompression Surgery to help her with her condition. She is getting better bit by bit. Sometimes it's frustrating for her but it's helping her to live her life as best as she can whilst recovering 👍👌😊

very good book and can be read in as much depth as required. Bought the book for my wife who has just been diagnosed with this condition and has helped her to come to terms with things.I have also found the book very interesting and informative, so would recommend this to anyone in our position

Excellent guide book to help people understanding chiari