Adult was told her brain is too large for her skull

[Shell_Shell]

My sister is 32 years old and has been having really bad headaches for a while now. She recently went to the doctor and was given some medicine for the headaches and it has not helped at all. Her Dr. also had her do an MRI. She just left her Dr. office and was told that her brain is too big for her skull. She was told that there is an opening in the back of your skull and that her brain was coming out of it. Her only symptom has been the headaches. She did recently have flu like symptoms for several days and was told that she just had a virus. Other then that and the headaches, she is healthy and has not any other issues. Her Dr. is making her an appointment with a nuro-surgeon, but I have been trying to do some research for her and am not finding much about this happening to adults. Any help, suggestions, ideas, possible causes, possible treatments, etc, would be GREATLY appreciated!! Thank you in advance!

[TexasPediRN]

Google chiari malformation

:)

[morte, LPN, LVN]

i knew the answer to this, but meghan beat me to it! yup a simplified explanation of chiari malformation......and i am impressed with her doc....NOW you need to be sure that she sees a Chiari knowledgable surgeon, all apparently are not.....try posting at brain.hastypastry.net/forums/ in the arnold-chiari forum........if she is any where near Long Island there is a specialty practice there, called TCI. good luck

ps i have also read recently a tie in with tethered cord syndrome....might check that out as well

[Shell_Shell]

I had seen some stuff about ASM but it was always about kids, so I assumed this was not what she had. Is it common for adults to get diagnosed with this also? She is in Oklahoma, does anyone know of a good surgeon with ASM experience close to there?

[AirforceRN, RN]

according to wikipedia (i know...grain of salt) the average age is between 30 and 40 at diagnosis

[morte, LPN, LVN]

http://www.answers.com/topic/arnold-chiari-malformation

http://www.answers.com/topic/arnold-chiari-malformation

here you go.....and the first site that i gave you there is a member that has compiled a least of surgeons.....obviously she is a little too far from TCI,lol good luck....

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Please do not provide medical advice. This can cause many problems, not the least of which is liability. Please have your sister discuss this with her doctor. If possible, maybe you can accompany her. We can not provide medical advice.