The telltale symptom is ‘chronic’ headaches ‘with acute episodes on top of the chronic headache,’ he said.<\/p>\n
‘Headaches may get worse when you sneeze, bend over or cough.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0‘There can be other symptoms as well including dizziness, swallowing problems, neck pain, feeling sick, difficulty sleeping and sometimes even depression<\/a> as well.<\/p>\n ‘If you’re experiencing headaches that aren’t getting better and have got any of these symptoms, bring it up with your doctor next time you see them.<\/p>\n ‘If you always suffer with headaches and nothing’s making them better, they’re getting worse then you may be suffering from it.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dr Elbary added that the lack of availability of MRI scans \u2014 the tests used to diagnose the condition \u2014 is preventing many from getting a diagnosis.\u00a0<\/p>\n He explained that a patient he saw that week had been diagnosed with the condition after suffering severe headaches.<\/p>\n ‘It made me wonder how many people are missed, not being diagnosed after having headaches,’ he said.<\/p>\n Chiari malformations are mostly present at birth, and caused by DNA mutations that make the brain too large for the skull.<\/p>\n Most cases aren’t detected until adulthood.\u00a0<\/p>\n Charlie Rolstone has suffered a series of strange symptoms since childhood, but only got a diagnosis of chiari malformation at the age of 41.<\/p>\n \u00a0Seizures triggered by the condition could also be life-threatening, as they often occur without warning, risking serious injury.\u00a0<\/p>\n There is also one ‘very rare and potentially dangerous complication’ of the condition, Dr Elbary added.<\/p>\n Known medically as\u00a0syringomyelia \u2014\u00a0where a fluid-filled cavity called a syrinx develops in the spinal cord \u2014\u00a0 it\u00a0can damage the spinal cord if not treated promptly, the NHS<\/a> says.\u00a0<\/p>\n Those with the complication may also experience problems using their hands, difficulty walking, pain, and problems with bladder or bowel control.\u00a0<\/p>\n Syringomyelia treatment often focuses on managing symptoms, preventing further spinal cord damage.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dr Elbary added: ‘Chiari malformation on its own is not life threatening and if the symptoms aren’t that bad, generally they can be managed with medication.\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘However, in some cases surgery is needed.\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘I just think it is difficult to get the diagnosis especially in England, when getting an MRI scan or even me as a GP, referring for an MRI scan is proving more and more difficult.\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘Any new headaches or new symptoms need to get investigated.’\u00a0<\/p>\n Ms Rolstone recalled suffering ‘blackouts’ as a teenager, which she dismissed – but doctors later informed her she’d been experiencing seizures.<\/p>\n It comes as a growing number of Brits have recently told how they were diagnosed with\u00a0Chiari malformation, after\u00a0spending most of their lives battling mysterious symptoms.<\/p>\n![\"Charlie](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/93427329-14568409-Charlie_Rolstone_has_suffered_a_series_of_strange_symptoms_since-m-17_174377173324.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Ms](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/93427335-14568409-Ms_Rolstone_recalled_suffering_blackouts_as_a_teenager_which_she-m-18_174377174003.jpeg\")
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