ANGIE
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                        
                        
                        DEBBIE,  YES, SURGERY IS REQUIRED TO FIX THE PROBLEM.  I HAD THE SURGERY IN 12/98 AND I DID FINE.  I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS BUT THEY ARE NOT RELATED TO THE CHIARI MALFORMATION.  DO YOU HAVE A SYRINX WITH YOURS?  A SYRINX IS A CAVITY OF FLUID IN THE SPINE.  I JUST HAD SURGERY FOR MY SYRINX IN 11/99.  THE WENT IN AND DRAINED THE FLUID AND BUT A SHUNT IN MY CERVICAL SPINE.  I STILL HAVE NUMBNESS AND WEAKNESS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BODY.  I WILL BE GOING TO MUSC ON 03/01 TO SEE THE PROFESSOR OF NEUROLOGY.  I WISH YOU THE BEST.