Today's Blog is about the two conditions that I have and have been dealing with lately. I have been asked many Questions about Arnold Chiari and Hydrocephalus, So hang on tight cause here..we..gooooooo!!!!
Arnold Chiari is where your cerebral tonsils (tonsils in your brain which is also called the brain stem) is pulled tight in to your neck and can cause a lot of neurological issues, mine are tingling in hands, pain and locking up of the neck and the rare swallowing issue that Ive learn to overcome along with headaches like Ive never had before. Here is my favorite link to help you better understand this condition(pictures and all)http://http//www.wacma.com/
I also have What I believe to be Congenital Hydrocephalus which is Hydro(water) cephalus(on the brain) literally translated "water-head." I have had it from birth do to my disability (Spina Bifida) So I believe that makes it congenital there is also acquired which I believe is if you had and accident and that caused it!! I have more research to do on the differences, I have had a shunt for 23 years to drain the water off my brain and have only recently had it replaced. I now have what they call a programmable shunt which is a lot nicer in my opinion then the older VP shunt I had before. With the programmable shunt there is a little magnetic device that is put on the outside of the head to open the valves up no surgery required!! Here is a link to help you understand Hydrocephalushttp://http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/hydrocephalus/detail_hydrocephalus.htm#151053125.
So Like I said "THE BODY IS A CRAZY THING"
