Arachnoiditis

What is arachnoiditis?

Arachnoiditis is the inflammation of the arachnoid lining — one of three linings to protect the brain and spinal cord. The condition causes intense burning pain and stinging sensations, coupled with neurological problems. It also causes the nerve roots and blood vessels to clump together, which becomes painful and debilitating.

What causes arachnoiditis?

The condition can sometimes be a rare complication of spinal surgery. Trauma to the spine can also be a factor, and viral infections such meningitis or tuberculosis can also be factors.

What are they symptoms of arachnoiditis?

Arachnoiditis causes consistent pain in the lower back and legs.  In severe cases, it causes debilitating pain throughout the whole body. If left untreated, the symptoms can get worse and can cause permanent disability.

Symptoms include:

  • tingling, numbness, or weakness in the legs
  • a crawling sensation on the skin
  • severe shooting pain
  • muscle cramps, spasms, and uncontrollable twitching
  • bladder, bowel and possible sexual dysfunction

How is arachnoiditis diagnosed?

Arachnoiditis can be hard to diagnose – at first glance, the symptoms can seem similar to nerve compression. Neurological symptoms can also lead to the wrong diagnosis. If the consultant suspects someone has the condition, they will recommend a combination of CT scans and MRI scans. The consultant will look for nerve damage and check whether the nerve roots have clumped together.

What are possible treatments for arachnoiditis?

There is no cure for arachnoiditis. Most treatments focus on relieving pain and improving symptoms to restore quality of life.

Often, consultants will recommend physiotherapy and exercise.  People will be encouraged to join support groups and have counselling to relieve the mental stress of the condition.

Surgical procedures are sometimes recommended. These include decompression surgery and foraminoplasty.  This treatment, carried out in the gaps between the vertebrae, allows the nerve to be released, relieving trapped nerves.  Reference

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Arachnoiditis