Arachoiditis, Help Needed:

    
      Re: Arachoiditis, Help Needed:
    


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Neurology Forum ] [ FAQ ]



Posted by ccfNeurology MD on June 11, 1997 at 10:46:16:

In Reply to: Arachoiditis, Help Needed: posted by Shirlene on June 05, 1997 at 15:09:16:

: I am a 37 yr. old mother of 3 and have been diagnoised with Arachnoiditis and Spinal Stenosis along with DDD in the LumbarL4L5 area.  I am in desperate need of answers.  I have gone to a Neuro. and Orthopedic  Doc. for 3 years. Only 3 mon. ago after having a myelogram I was DX with Arachnoiditis.  My Doc. has stated to me that he is not comfortable with treating this problem.  He feels that a fusion with hardware for the Lumbar DDD would be a good step for me to take.  I have been told by so many that I should have NO surgeries.  I was sent to another Doc. for a sec. opinion and he too was not comfortable treating my condition.  Seem to me that they know little about Arach. and was anxious to hear about all of the Research that I am doing on Arach.  I have now decided to wait on surgery.  However, I teach school and was hopeing to get some kind of relief  before I have to go back to work in Aug.  I have so much pain that I can hardly do the things that I must do just to get by.  I cannot stand the thought of going back to work in the same condition that I left.  I would spend many afternoons laying flat on the floor, just to get SOME relief.I cannot stand, sit or walk for any period of time without severe pain.  It seems that my Doctors are really dragging their feet on my condition at my expense.  I have ask to be sent to a pain management clinic which my Doc. hesitatedly made an appointment but not until the end of Aug.  I cannot go back to work in this conditon.  I presently take Vicoden (which I have to beg for], Darvicet, Naprosyn, Flexeril, Elivil and Prozac.  None which gives me any great relief.  I have in the past tried Theropy consisting of exercise, traction, message etc.  I have tried a brace and a TENS unit which were no help either. My Doc. does not want to  implanted a  stimulator or pump until he does a fusion and sees weather this will work first.  I don't know how I got Arach. I have had none of the usual reasons to have gotten Arach. other than trauma to the back several different times.  Also have been told that a dics or spur could have made an impression into the spine causing bleeding and leadding to Arach.  I need to get relief that I can at least deal with on a daily basis. I need help and I really do need it soon.  Please, Anyone with info. that could be of help please answer my message.  Thank You for your time.    Shirlene
=========================================================================================================
Dear Shirlene, it sounds like you have had a very tough time with your back.   The brain and spinal cord is covered by 3 different membranes (called