Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
Arachnoiditis
A debilitating condition where inflammation to the brain lining (arachnoid) causes nerve pain and neurological problems.
What is arachnoiditis?
Arachnoiditis is the inflammation of the arachnoid lining — one of three linings to protect the brain and spinal cord. The condition causes intense burning pain and stinging sensations, coupled with neurological problems. It also causes the nerve roots and blood vessels to clump together, which becomes painful and debilitating.
Need to know
Arachnoiditis causes consistent pain in the lower back and legs. In severe cases, it causes debilitating pain throughout the whole body. If left untreated, the symptoms can get worse and can cause permanent disability.
Symptoms include:
- tingling, numbness, or weakness in the legs
- a crawling sensation on the skin
- severe shooting pain
- muscle cramps, spasms, and uncontrollable twitching
- bladder, bowel and possible sexual dysfunction
The condition can sometimes be a rare complication of spinal surgery. Trauma to the spine can also be a factor, and viral infections such meningitis or tuberculosis can also be factors.
Arachnoiditis can be hard to diagnose - at first glance, the symptoms can seem similar to nerve compression. Neurological symptoms can also lead to the wrong diagnosis. If the consultant suspects someone has the condition, they will recommend a combination of CT scans and MRI scans. The consultant will look for nerve damage and check whether the nerve roots have clumped together.
There is no cure for arachnoiditis. Most treatments focus on relieving pain and improving symptoms to restore quality of life. Often, consultants will recommend physiotherapy and exercise.
As arachnoiditis can cause serious disability and chronic pain, people will be encouraged to join support groups and have counselling to relieve the mental stress of the condition. Surgical procedures are sometimes recommended. These include decompression surgery and foraminoplasty.
This treatment, carried out in the gaps between the vertebrae, allows the nerve to be released, relieving trapped nerves.
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.