Have you ever heard of Arachnoiditis?

[Sprout]

Under the list of possible causes it lists: -

"Viral, Fungal and Bacterial Infections (Such as Meningitis, Tuberculosis, HIV)"

I just 'fell' across this on FB, read the details and I now think I need to chat to my doctor again!

[StrawberryCream]

The arachnoid mater is one of the three meninges, the protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. The itis bit of the word means inflammation. So yes arachnoiditis is a different way of explaining inflammation of the meninges which could be meningitis etc. It would have to be confirmed by lumber puncture for a meningitis diagnosis to be made.

[Sprout in reply to StrawberryCream]

Where I am going with this is after having BM in 1990 I have had health issues ever since that appear to match up with Arachnoiditis, yet with 27 years of pain of 'unknown origin' I have never come across the term.

[StrawberryCream in reply to Sprout]

Wouldn't it more likely be nerve damage that has caused e.g. Ongoing headaches or migraines because otherwise with ongoing inflammation and infection you would be ill like when you had the meningitis. For some of us we are left with long term/ongoing after effects.

[kelpie25]

Yes, i have heard of it. Many cases eere as a result of myelogram with myodil and there was a big class action in the early 1990s. There was a selfhelp group but it folded a long time ago. The Walton Centre in LLiverpool was recognised as being the place where experts were.

[kelpie25]

Diagnosis was in the 1990s by MRI scan, not a lumber puncture - which in itseld could cause arachnoiditis.