Arachnoiditis or?

[bdm92]

Let me start by saying I was recently diagnosed with Fibro, but now that I have been doing some reading I think I might be misdiagnosed, can anyone give me there opinion?
Symptoms are
fatigue, muscle pain, brain fog, mem loss, can't concentrate, can not get much sleep at all, some rib pain that comes and goes, shortness of breath with any physical exertion. tingling sensation across the back
microdiscectomy in Feb 07, cervical fusion in march of 08

In Aug of 07 had a myelogram that went bad, the needle was placed too high and it hit my spinal cord, I did not walk for days, but did get "some" better, still to this day I have pain and numbness down one leg and foot.
The test could not be completed due to the instant pain that I was in, I thought I had been hit by lightening!!

I have read that this arachnoiditis can maybe be caused by myelograms, and that the pain can later spread, could this be what is happening to me

I also read that it is thought to be associated with autoimmune diseases, and I did have a pos ana test but no other blood work has been pos, and I read that fibro diag can go along with the arachnoiditis.
I have had a ton of blood work done and only the ana is pos, nothing else

Could the myelogram have caused this to happen to my nerves?  It all seemed to make sense to me when I was reading it.
Please let me know any thoughts you might have.

I am in my early 30's, not overweight, and do not smoke or use illegal drugs.

Thanks bdm92

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

MRI is the study of choice for diagnosis of arachnoiditis.  MRI will show absent cord outline due to elevation of CSF protein and formation of adhesions.
CSF loculation, clumped nerve roots and obliteration of arachnoid space will also be seen.

[bdm92]

Thanks for your response.  I agree some good sleep would benefit me, I already take ambien cr, flexeril, celebrex, tramadol, and lortab, but still do not get any good rest.

Would a mri of the area that the needle was inserted, indicate anything if it is arachnoiditis?

I did have an mri on the same day of the myelogram while at the ER, it showed some fluid or blood at the sight of the injection.

would a more recent mri show anything different than that one if it is arachnoidits?

Thanks bdm92

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

How are you?
Arachnoiditis can cause some of the symptoms that you have like muscle weakness, tingling numbness and fatigue due to muscle cramps. Myelograms have been implicated as a causative factor for arachnoiditis.
Arachnoiditis does not cause memory loss or brain fog.
A positive ANA test cannot by itself diagnose an autoimmune disease. Positive test is seen in lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, and polymyositis. Further specific testing is required to make a definitive diagnosis.
The symptoms of memory loss and fatigue can be due to lack of sleep. Please discuss with your doctor if you can take a sleep aid. Good restful sleep will help you. Take care!

[bdm92]

I also forgot to mention that I have been having ringing in my ears

bdm92