Basilar invagination is a developmental anomaly of the craniovertebral junction in which the odontoid abnormally prolapses into the foramen magnum. It is often associated with other osseous anomalies of the craniovertebral junction, including atlanto-occipital assimilation, incomplete ring of C1, and hypoplasia of the basiocciput, occipital condyles, and atlas. Basilar invagination is also associated with neural axis abnormalities, including Chiari malformation, syringomyelia, syringobulbia, and hydrocephalus. Patients frequently present with neurologic symptoms and deficits and warrant surgical treatment to prevent progression...
Did you get all that?
Mayo Clinic doesn't have a fancy article for this one. Not many sites do and most of them are written just like the one above. I took a crash course in brain 101 courtesy of my friend Google to understand all this stuff.
Moving on...
My first visit with Dr Melin was also something I will also probably never forget. He came into the room and said yes...you do have Chiari but that's not what has me concerned....
Seriously?... speechless... for once.
When I found out I had Chiari...if you would have told me I would pray to have only that I would have laughed at you. I was terrified of this brain squishing protruding thing I had read all about. But, I would give just about anything to only have Chiari....anything.
He said Basilar Invagination....again... Picture me reaching into my back pocket as he said these words to me to pull out my handy dandy iPhone because I do believe it's google time again. Then he says our entire practice see's this maybe once every 5 or 6 years....it's very rare and I don't know how to treat you.... I don't know who can treat you...
So, that's it. I don't know what is wrong with me but I know it's bad. I don't know where to go or what to do or who can help.....IF anyone can help.
I have never honestly felt so lost and scared in my entire life...a downer a again...sorry...I always get back up though.
Always..
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