Arachnoiditis diagnosis progessive?

10 yrs ago I had a discectomey l5/s1 and contracted an infection(I contracted aa at this time). Things healed and I retured to my active life. For the last 4 months I've had nerve pain down my left leg i.e. numbness in toes, tingling, deep aching pain. I received an MRI with contrast and it did not indicate any bulges or herniations. It did however diagnos severe AA. There is scare tissue with the s1 nerve root running right through it and nerve bunching. At this point I'm being very careful trying not to agrivate the condition. I will see a neurosurgeon next week. My questions are: Is it possible that the aa is not cuasing this problem due to the 10yrs since contracting it? if so any hints. If it is the aa is it progressive? How do I know if it is progressive? Will it stabalize? How much Physical activity is acceptable? Should I due a regiment of prednason? Is there anything I can due to prevent it from getting worse?
        Thank you for time: Bob

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW]

There is likely to be some scarring from the initial infection 10 years ago. This does not change over time however, so your new symptoms need to be evaluated carefully - forinstance is there evidence of recurrent infection or another cause of inflammation. The MRI and/or a spinal tap could suggest this. Over time our disc and vertbral joints so get wear and tear which can produce these symptoms of itself, having less space there already from prior arachnoiditis could make this more liekly also. Treatment, unless there is a progressive neurological deficit or bowel/bladder symptoms is conservative. Before embarking treatment with prednisone etc have you and your scan evaluated for the above reasons

[bearsgranny]

A related discussion, Multiple Sclerosis and Arachnoiditis was started.