i was diagnosed with a congenital malformation of the brain and skull. an injury exacerbated the malformation that i wasnt aware i had. I have chiari 1 malformation and syringomyelia. basically my brain is to big for my skull and it was being forced out the foramen magnum,( the hole at base of the skull at which the spinal chord enters) i had complete obsctruction, my cerebellar tonsils were over over and inch of descent (protruding from foramne magnum) the chiari caused a syrinx, for lack of technical explanation it is a cyst within the spinal chord which causes all the nerves around to become compressed within the vertebrea. the symtoms were awful. when i learned all the symptoms i has been symptomatic since a young child. the symptoms for both

blurred or double vision
tinitis (rining in the ear)
balance trouble, vertigo
loss of hearing
loss of sensation in extremities
loss of sensation to hot and cold (i get burned a lot, my own fault)
problems swallow
speach problems (slurred like a drunken idiot sometimes)
gagging
breathiing
sleep problems
severe apnea
change in voice
atrophy ( i suffered it more on my left side along with loss of sensation)
exagerate pain response, felt pain when there was none and didnt feel pain when i should
bowel and bladder issues
severe headache and neck pain
involuntary eye or body movements
loss of use of limbs

theres a few more but you get the point. I had what is called posterior fosa decompression and C1 lamenectomy and 2 vertebrea were fused in my neck. which basically is brain, spinal and neck surgery to correct it.

so here is where my journey began, before the surgery i couldnt really walk anymore, i couldnt really hold silver wear effectively or even write my own name anymore, this is a very misunderstood disease among the neuro community. so i was treated very dismissively. after more than 2 years of a down ward spiral i found a specialist and had my surgery. prior to the military and my health decline, i weighed in at a whopping 226lbs around 8% body fat, (i remember my abs were vascular) when i DEP'd in to the USMC obviously at 5'10" (i got shorted from scoliosis) i was to heavy for my height based on the height weight ratio and my neck was just hair shy of getting the pass. so after surgery i began my comeback, i weighed around 130-135 pounds, i started training again slowly. so after a year and some good solid weight back on i was still suffering some pain, the more active i got and more in shape i got the better i felt overall. so i began my first cycle after about 3 years i think, just a simple test c 250mg for 12 weeks, it was amazing at how much it improved me. seems like pain disapated, i began walking correctly again, because i had a lip and leg drag, with the added muscle i was more stable and had less balance issues. it even improved my sensory issues. from here out it was just about getting better. cycling now is about health, competition, and MMA. i was cleared by a neurologist and sports medicine doc to fight again, my license needed renewed and i just found out i have a small break in my cheek bone. i didnt even know it, so im on 6 month suspension or cleared.

ask away.. anything, ive cycled for just about everything there is to cycle for, i dont have the vets experience but i can at least give you my personal journies experience and how to approach some things.