arachnoiditis

Introduction

Inflammation of the arachnoid membrane often with involvement of the subarachnoid space.

Etiology

• irritation from chemicals
• infection from bacteria or viruses
• direct injury to the spine
  • chronic compression of spinal nerves
  • complications from spinal surgery or other invasive spinal procedures

Pathology

• inflammation can result in formation of scar tissue & adhesions which cause spinal nerves to adhere to each other

Clinical manifestations

• no consistent pattern of symptoms
• numbness, paresthesias &/or burning pain in the lower back or legs

Management

• most treatments focused on
  • pain relief
  • improvement of symptoms that impair daily function
  • physiotherapy, exercise, & psychotherapy often recommended
• glucocorticoid injections (need clinical trials)
• transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (need clinical trials)
• surgical intervention is controversial outcomes are generally poor & provide only short-term relief
• prognosis
  • chronic pain disorder that is not progressive
  • does not improve significantly with treatment
  • long-term outcomes are unpredictable

More general terms

• meningitis

More specific terms

• lumbar adhesive arachnoiditis

Patient information

arachnoditis patient information