Few and Far Between : Arachnoiditis

Theme: Mental Disorders and Mental Conditions

Topic: Arachnoiditis

Arachnoiditis is a neurological disease that causes distress in the back, perineum, legs, arms and feet when the tissues that protect the brain, nerves, and spinal cord are damaged, usually by a traumatic injury. It could also impact the vision, hearing, and mobility of a person.

In this article, we will address the causes, varieties of arachnoiditis, treatments and how broadly it is distributed or practised .

What is arachnoiditis?

When the arachnoid is impaired, arachnoiditis occurs. The arachnoid includes a set of membranes that cushion the nerves of the brain and spinal cord. The middle tissue of the meninges is known as arachnoid mater. When this cushioning is impaired, nerves can not operate effectively.

Swelling and inflammation can cause serious damage to the arachnoid mother. This swelling will cause nerves to stick together in the spine, changing the function of the nerves and causing severe pain. Most oftenly, arachnoiditis is caused by a trauma or injury.

There are some records of inherited arachnoiditis, but because of an injury to the spine, most individuals with arachnoiditis experience the disease.

Arachnoiditis is a chronic condition, meaning that if not treated, it continues to get worse over time. It can be crippling for certain individuals.

What are the Symptoms?

The symptoms of arachnoiditis differ and can vary over time from person – to – person. Some people with arachnoiditis falsely feel that they have a muscle or joint injury, but the cause of the pain is neurological, so the symptoms can not be eased by massage and similar techniques.

Most common symptoms: 

• changes in vision
• joint or muscle pain
• nerve pain
• unusual sensations, such as burning or tingling
• ringing in the ears
• muscle weakness
• changes in hearing
• meningitis, or swelling of the meninges

Less common symptoms 

• hydrocephalus
• inability to sweat
• unusual or uncontrollable body movements
• urinary problems
• chronic fatigue
• migraines

What are different types of arachnoiditis?

1. Adhesive arachnoiditis
2. Arachnoiditis ossificans
3. Cerebral arachnoiditis
4. Hereditary arachnoiditis
5. Neoplastic arachnoiditis
6. Optochiasmatic arachnoiditis

What are the causes?

• Injury during spinal surgery, (about 60 percent of cases)
• Myelography
• Exposure to chemicals
• Injections into the spine
• Lumbar Puncture
• Viral and Bacterial infections of the spine
• Physical trauma to the spine
• Cancer in or around the spine
• Very small numbers of arachnoiditis cases are genetic.

How to diagnose arachnoiditis?

Arachnoiditis is rare, so it may require many tests and take some time to diagnose. There is no standard test for arachnoiditis, but imaging tests may be used.

These include:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Computerised axial tomography (CAT) scan
• Electromyogram (EMG) (determine the severity of the damage)

What is the treatment?

It can be tricky to treat arachnoiditis. There is a delicate environment around the spinal cord, and even slight injury can have devastating impacts. Surgery is feasible but not always recommended.

Most practitioners or doctors prefer to treat symptoms using a number of techniques.

These include:

• Physical Therapy
• Pain Medications
• Nerve Stimulation
• Acupuncture, diet and lifestyle changes, or homeopathic medicine

I would like to talk about this technique in brief

• Psychological Support; It can be complicated to live with chronic pain. By finding better ways people think about pain and providing emotional support, counselling can help some people cope. For those with chronic pain or rare conditions, some individuals also receive aid from support groups. These groups may help people in pain find new support, share helpful solutions for their lifestyle, and feel less socially isolated.

How prevalent is Arachnoiditis in the present time?

Arachnoiditis was known to be a rare illness in the past, but this is no longer the case. A review of several, widely accessible, scientific epidemiological studies of people with back pain indicates that arachnoiditis can presumably occur in 1.75 million to 7 million adults. The most serious and progressive type of arachnoiditis is adhesive arachnoiditis.

Regardless of the specific number, it is now clear that in every population and healthcare provider in the modern world, adhesive arachnoiditis is found. Consequently, every primary care and pain provider has become responsible for being able to recognise patients with AA and actively engage in the care of these individuals.

Seeing as AA has become one, though not the most, popular explanation why individuals experience extreme intransigent back and spine pain, the researchers have set up a research and education project to study AA and develop first-generation medical practitioner diagnostic and treatment guidelines.

Conclusion

Arachnoiditis is a medical disorder that is frustrating and potentially debilitating. A number of effective treatments can help while it is manageable but not curable. Discussing any and all symptoms with a doctor provides the greatest chance of relieving those symptoms. People with arachnoiditis deserve to live their lives as comfortably as possible. Doing so will assist them in seeking the best care possible.