Symptoms of Arachnoiditis

What is arachnoiditis?

Arachnoiditis is an incurable and dangerous condition wherein inflammation happens inside or around a spinal cord, possibly damaging the nerve roots. This condition is characterized by a severe stinging and burning pain and some neurological problems.

What are the symptoms of arachnoiditis?

Arachnoiditis, strangely, has no permanent and consistent symptom patterns. However, most people experiencing the condition of arachnoiditis state that it affects the nerves connecting to the lower back and the legs. Meaning to say, pain is always felt in the affected area and it can also cause a tingling, numbness or weakness in the legs. Patients also feel like there are insects crawling on their skin or feels like there is water trickling down the leg. Muscle cramps, spasms and uncontrollable twitching are also some of the probable effect of arachnoiditis. As the condition persists, these symptoms may become even worse and severe and worst of all, if not immediately treated, they become permanent. As a result, patients who suffer from such condition are no longer able to work and they also suffer some disabilities since they are in constant pain.

Diagnosis of Arachnoiditis

Diagnosing arachnoiditis may be very difficult. However, with the help of the advancement of our technology nowadays, diagnosing the condition may become possible. Tests like Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) scan or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can be of great help in the diagnosis. If you want to know the severity of your condition, a test called electromyogram (EMG) may be of great assistance to you. Here, you can assess, with the help of your doctor, the ongoing damage to the affected nerve roots by using electrical impulses to check the functions of your nerves.

Treatment for Arachnoiditis

As stated in the definition of arachnoiditis in the first part of this article, arachnoiditis is incurable. Meaning to say, there is no cure for arachnoiditis. The treatments appropriate for such conditions are almost of similarity for other chronic pain diseases. The only focus is to relieve the pain and improve the symptoms which impair daily activities of the patients. Some recommendations like a program for pain management, physiotherapy, exercise and psychotherapy are mostly advised by doctors. Arachnoiditis patients can also less depend on surgery for their condition since the result can be very poor, providing only a short - term relief to the patient and does not totally cure the condition.