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Arachnoiditis
Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Arachnoiditis is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
Synonyms
- arachnitis
- spinal arachnoiditis
Disorder Subdivisions
- adhesive arachnoiditis
- arachnoiditis ossificans
- hereditary arachnoiditis
- neoplastic arachnoiditis
- optochiasmatic arachnoiditis
- postmyelographic arachnoiditis
- rhinosinusogenic cerebral arachnoiditis
- cerebral arachnoiditis
General Discussion
Arachnoiditis is a disease characterized by an acute inflammatory stage that occurs in the dura (exterior) and the arachnoid (interior), two of the three membranes that cover and protect the brain, the spinal cord and the nerve roots. The arachnoid contains the cerebrospinal fluid which circulates from the brain to the sacral area, about every two hours; it filters any invasion and usually responds first by inflammation and follows with a chronic stage life-lasting phase characterized by scarring and fibrosis. As a result, abnormal adhesion of nerve roots to the dural sac or to each other (clumping) occurs in a variety of configurations that alter significantly the function of the roots and the spinal cord. This causes a variety of neurological deficits and severe chronic neuropathic pain usually located in the area affected. In the pre-antibiotic era, severe cases of tuberculosis or syphilis invaded the spine causing arachnoiditis; currently these infections are rare, but it is important to mention that arachnoiditis will result in most patients affected by fungal meningitis from attempted epidural injections of tainted steroids.
Resources
American Chronic Pain Association
P.O. Box 850
Rocklin, CA 95677
USA
Tel: (916)632-0922
Fax: (916)652-8190
Tel: (800)533-3231
Email: ACPA@theacpa.org
Internet: http://www.theacpa.org
BackCare, the Charity for Healthier Backs
16 Elmtree Road
Teddington, TW11 8ST
United Kingdom
Tel: 02089775474
Fax: 02089435318
Tel: 08451302704
Email: info@backcare.org.uk
Internet: http://www.backcare.org.uk
National Spinal Cord Injury Association
75-20 Astoria Blvd
Jackson Heights, NY 11370
USA
Tel: (718)803-3782
Tel: (800)962-9629
Email: info@spinalcord.org
Internet: http://www.spinalcord.org
NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda, MD 20824
Tel: (301)496-5751
Fax: (301)402-2186
Tel: (800)352-9424
TDD: (301)468-5981
Internet: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
American Pain Society
4700 West Lake Avenue
Glenview, IL 60025
Tel: (847)375-4715
Fax: (866)574-2654
Email: info@ampainsoc.org
Internet: http://www.ampainsoc.org
Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
TDD: (888)205-3223
Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/
National Pain Foundation
300 E. Hampden Ave.
Suite 100
Englewood, CO 80113
USA
Tel: (303)783-8899
Fax: (303)692-8414
Tel: (866)590-7246
Email: npf@nationalpainfoundation.org
Internet: http://www.nationalpainfoundation.org
For a Complete Report:
This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be downloaded free from the NORD website for registered users. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational therapies (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, go to www.rarediseases.org and click on Rare Disease Database under "Rare Disease Information".
The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org
Last Updated: 1/14/2013
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