Arachnoiditis symptoms can be managed with different types of medication and physical therapy.
What Causes Arachnoiditis?
(The other two are theouter dura materandinner pia mater.)
BSIP / UIG / Universal Images Group / Getty Images
Symptoms of arachnoiditis can vary.
In some cases, the condition may be mild and barely noticeable, while other cases cause severe disability.
Symptoms may only appear months or years after an injury or infection.
Even so, arachnoiditis is rarely life-threatening.
This can lead to a rare complication known asarachnoiditis ossificans.
A physical exam will include an evaluation of yourreflexesas well as therange of motionof your legs.
Lab Tests
Arachnoiditis is characterized by chronic inflammation of the central nervous system.
This can be detected with blood tests that detect generalized inflammation, such as.
Together, these tests cannot diagnose arachnoiditis but may help support a diagnosis.
How Is Arachnoiditis Treated?
There is no cure for arachnoiditis.
Treatment is focused on the control and alleviation of chronic nerve pain.
Psychotherapy may also be recommended to teach you how to cope with chronic pain.
This may involvemindfulness-based stress reductionand medications that help treat acute anxiety or depression.
Mobility devices may also be considered.
Standing wheelchairs and Segways are especially useful as they help you remain upright.
However, both are costly and rarely covered by health insurance.
A spinal cord stimulator is an implanted machine that sends electrical impulses to the spinal cord.
Within a month, no other treatments were needed.Further research is needed.
Summary
Arachnoiditis is inflammation of a membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord, called the arachnoid.
Symptoms include chronic nerve pain, headaches, pins-and-needles sensations, and vision problems.
Severe cases can cause a loss of bladder or bowel control and even paralysis of the lower extremities.
The diagnosis involves a physical exam, blood tests, and imaging studies.
Treatment is typically treated with medications and other forms of chronic pain management.
2015;9:13-20. doi:10.2174/1874440001509010013
Forrest T.Arachnoiditis: diagnosis and treatment.
In: Practical Pain Management.
2017;209(3):648-55. doi:10.2214/AJR.16.16704
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Arachnoiditis information page.
Sdrulla AD, Guan Y, Raja SN.Spinal cord stimulation: Clinical efficacy and potential mechanisms.Pain Pract.
2015;16(4):S71.
2015 Oct:18(7):603-9. doi:10.1111/ner.12312
