Arachnoiditis Often Misdiagnosed as Chronic Back Pain

JUNE 13, 2016 / DR. MUHAMMAD MIRZA

An arachnoid is a membrane that covers and helps protect the nerves of the spinal cord. When these membranes becomes inflamed it can lead to pain, burning, tingling, and even neurological problems. Long-term sufferers experience bowel dysfunction, autoimmune disorders, and even lower-extremity paralysis. Until now, there have been no common symptoms used to diagnose this condition. Clinicians did know that it usually affects the nerves of the legs and back. But now a new report finds that many of those suffering from arachnoiditis are often misdiagnosed with mere chronic back pain.

Those who have leg tremors or experience intense pain after standing for too long are now thought to have this condition. Forest Tennant, MD was the lead author in this study. He is a pain specialist from the Veract Intractable Pain Clinic in West Covina, Calif. Dr. Tennant said that those patients who come in complaining of severe back pain, and have an inability to stand for long periods without having to sit or lie on the floor, could have arachnoiditis.

Tennant conducted this study to help better understand and identify the symptoms of this worrisome condition. He recruited 26 patients who were diagnosed with the spinal cord disease via an MRI. Next, he examined what specific symptoms they reported. Patients all talked about tremors in the legs, and having to sit or lie down after standing for too long. Most patients also had difficulty defecating and urinating, felt increased episodes of intense heat and sweating, and occasionally experienced blurred vision. Never before has consistent symptoms for arachnoiditis been isolated like this.

There are many causes to the condition including compressed nerves in the spine, back injury, infection, exposure to certain chemicals, and more. Researchers say though uncommon, the condition very often goes undiagnosed. Spinal manipulations, epidurals, and spinal taps have increased over the last decade, and Dr. Tennant wonders if these are contributing to the increase in arachnoiditis cases. If you suffer from chronic back pain be sure to visit a doctor or specialist. You never know what may be causing it, how serious it is, and to what extent you are in need of medical intervention.