ADHESIVE ARACHNOIDITIS Bulletin 7 Feb 2020 – MYTHS ABOUT ADHESIVE ARACHNOIDITIS (AA)
Arachnoiditis is a pain disorder caused by the inflammation of the arachnoid, one of the membranes that surrounds and protects the nerves of the spinal cord. It is characterized by severe stinging, burning pain, and neurological problems.
Arachnoiditis has no consistent pattern of symptoms, but in many people it affects the nerves connecting to the lower back and legs. The most common symptom is pain many people describe the pain as severe shooting pain that can be similar to an electric shock sensation. Other types of pain from arachnoiditis have been described as tingling, numbness, weakness in the legs, muscle cramps, spasms, uncontrollable twitching, bladder, bowel and sensations that may feel like insects crawling on the skin or water trickling down the leg.
As the disease progresses, symptoms may become more severe or even permanent. Many people with arachnoiditis are unable to work and suffer significant disability because they are in constant pain.
MYTH NO. 1: It’s a rare disease.
Fact 1: At one time it was true. Today as many as 2 to 7 million American adults have it.
MYTH NO. 2: There is no treatment (“Live with it!”)
Fact 2: There may not be a specific drug labeled for it, but AA is an inflammatory disease of the spinal canal, and it can almost always be controlled with physiologic measures, and anti-neuroinflammatory and nerve tissue regenerative drugs.
MYTH NO. 3: Simple psychological counseling (cognitive-behavioral therapy) or a single medical treatment (epidural) will cure the pain of AA.
Fact 3: The pain of AA requires a program of physiologic measures, anti-inflammation and nerve regrowth medications, and pain-relieving drugs.
Posted per request of The Tennant Foundation
