Last October I asked another Chiari Warrior to recount her story of finding the Institute of Chiari in Barcelona which I posted to my Instagram, Cheyenne Moorhouse was elated to provide more feedback of how her healing journey has been and wrote a more updated version. Here is her testimony to how she has been progressing, I want to personally thank Cheyenne for her advocacy and sharing her story with everyone and wish her continued healing and pain relief!
Hi, my name is Cheyenne Moorhouse.
I was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation, Syringomyelia & Cervical kyphosis in 2019 but like most struggled with symptoms for years before being diagnosed. If it wasn’t for seeing Michelle’s post(s) on a support chiari group i wouldn’t have come to learn about the Chiari Syringomyelia & Scoliosis institute in Barcelona Spain or filum sectioning surgery.
In May 2024, I traveled to Spain to have Extradural Filum sectioning surgery! I am now just past one year post op!
From the very first email, I have had the most wonderful experience with the institute. The staff & Doctors are truly amazing. For me, Elena was amazing answering all my questions before & once there in person I was made to feel so comfortable during my time there. It was remarkable to experience being heard, seen & understood by the staff & My Dr., something that will never be lost on me. Everything was so detailed from the consultation to the reports you take home post op. The language barrier (English to Spanish) was so easily accommodated in both the institute & CIMA Hospital setting. I am so grateful for this experience. They truly understand the disease pathologies & get to know each individual patient at the institute. This is such a big decision that at times it can feel scary, overwhelming & for a lot of people can be a big financial commitment, the institute really facilitates everything & puts its patients at ease during the whole process.
Since my early twenties I started having daily headaches from there symptoms, pain & the loss of range of motion in my neck continued year after year to pile on. I’ve been hospitalized different times over the years for spinal fluid leaks & related neurological symptoms. I’ve collected too many hospital bracelets for appointments, tests & ER visits. Chiari & Syringomyelia have been stealing my ability to work, drive, socialize normally, complete tasks around the house & honestly just feel “good” in my body. I will be forever grateful to have had the opportunity & support from my husband & family to choose to do this for myself.
Since my surgery with Dr. Fallios I have been so fortunate to have had symptom improvements with several different things like no more daily headaches, the amount of migraines I have experienced since surgery has been in the 3-4 range where as before I could experience that in one month. Nausea, tinnitus, dizziness & head pressure is are seldom occurrence now & they never last long when they happen. I feel my nervous system healing, I see myself out doing more than before surgery & at my one year post op I was told that the actual curvature in my thoracic spine has actually changed & is now considered normal!
I still experience neck issues with herniated disks, pain & lack of movement but I continue to navigate this in physical therapy & am hopeful for more improvements & healing in time.
Here’s to halting disease progression & symptom relief!
