Newly Diagnosed

I had a bit of a rough couple of years. I would say that I had subtle signs as a teenager to my early 20s. I had headaches, vision, nerve and leg problems but by the time I turned 24, my symptoms got bad. I’ve been using a cane since last year. My doctor ran tests to rule out autoimmune diseases, prediabetes, if something was wrong with my liver, things like that. The only thing found was that I had high cholesterol so I was put on medication for that.

I avoided the doctor’s office since I was like 19. I do not have health insurance and the only reason I went back is because I got livedo reticularis on my lower right leg back in October 2025. That is why all of those tests were done. I still have to see a cardiologist for that.

I started physical therapy last month because I had a hard time with moving and bending my right toes since November 2025 (still do) but that made things worse. My doctor wanted to rule out MS and saw that I was still depend on my cane so she ordered a MRI on my brain and I went earlier this week. I figured the radiologist found something because he was curious about how long I had problems with my legs. Well my doctor called the day after my MRI to confirm that I have chiari malformation.

This was my first time hearing about it so now im just searching around, trying to wrap my head around this. It is scary for me but at least I have a name to what’s been happening for all these years. Now im just waiting to get a call from a neurosurgeon to schedule an appointment for the next step.