The key difference between arachnoiditis and adhesive arachnoiditis is that arachnoiditis is a progressive painful disorder that causes the inflammation of the arachnoid membrane, while adhesive arachnoiditis is the most severe type of arachnoiditis that leads to the formation of scar tissue and makes the spinal nerves stick together and malfunction.
Arachnoiditis is a progressive disorder that involves the brain and spinal cord. Arachnoiditis and adhesive arachnoiditis are two associated medical conditions. There are different types of arachnoiditis, such as adhesive arachnoiditis, arachnoiditis ossificans, cerebral arachnoiditis, hereditary arachnoiditis, and neoplastic arachnoiditis. Moreover, adhesive arachnoiditis is the most severe type of arachnoiditis.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Arachnoiditis
3. What is Adhesive Arachnoiditis
4. Similarities – Arachnoiditis and Adhesive Arachnoiditis
5. Arachnoiditis vs. Adhesive Arachnoiditis in Tabular Form
6. FAQ – Arachnoiditis and Adhesive Arachnoiditis
7. Summary – Arachnoiditis vs. Adhesive Arachnoiditis
What is Arachnoiditis?
Arachnoiditis is a rare, painful disorder that causes inflammation or swelling of the arachnoid. It is one of the membranes that surrounds and protects the nerves of the spinal cord. The symptoms of this condition may include headaches, severe shooting pain, tingling, numbness in the legs, sensations that may feel like insects crawling on the skin, difficulty sitting for a long time, muscle cramps, neurogenic bladder, bowel dysfunction, and sexual dysfunction. Arachnoiditis can be caused by complications from spinal surgery or multiple lumbar punctures, direct injury to the spine, infection from bacteria or viruses, and chronic compression of spinal nerves.
Figure 01: Arachnoiditis
Arachnoiditis can be diagnosed through physical evaluation, MRI, CT myelogram, lumbar puncture, and electromyogram (EMG). Furthermore, treatment options for arachnoiditis may include medications like NSAIDs, physical therapy, stretching and range of motion exercises, psychotherapy, adaptive equipment, and spinal cord stimulation.
What is Adhesive Arachnoiditis?
Adhesive arachnoiditis occurs due to complications from the inflammation of the arachnoid that causes spinal nerves to malfunction due to extensive scar tissue being formed. It is the most common type of arachnoiditis. The symptoms of adhesive arachnoiditis may include localized pain in the lower back, pain in the perineum, pain in the legs and feet, and uncomfortable tingling sensations. Adhesive arachnoiditis is caused by the progression of arachnoiditis.
Adhesive arachnoiditis can be diagnosed through family and medical history, physical symptoms evaluation, MRI scan, electromyogram (EMG), and lumbar puncture or myelogram. Furthermore, treatment options for adhesive arachnoiditis may include pain relief medicine, steroid medication, anti-inflammatory drugs, regular physiotherapy, exercise, psychological therapy, an anti-inflammatory and high protein diet, surgery, alternative therapies like hydrotherapy, and massage or gentle stretching such as yoga.
What are the Similarities Between Arachnoiditis and Adhesive Arachnoiditis?
- Arachnoiditis and adhesive arachnoiditis are two associated medical conditions.
- Adhesive arachnoiditis is the most severe type of arachnoiditis.
- Both can be diagnosed through physical symptom evaluation and imaging scans.
- They can be treated through specific medications, therapies, and surgery.
What is the Difference Between Arachnoiditis and Adhesive Arachnoiditis?
Arachnoiditis is a progressive painful disorder that causes the inflammation of the arachnoid membrane, while adhesive arachnoiditis is the most severe type of arachnoiditis that leads to the formation of scar tissue and causes the spinal nerves to stick together and malfunction. Thus, this is the key difference between arachnoiditis and adhesive arachnoiditis. Furthermore, arachnoiditis can be caused by complications from spinal surgery or multiple lumber punctures, direct injury to the spine, infection from bacteria or viruses, and chronic compression of spinal nerves. On the other hand, adhesive arachnoiditis is caused by the progression of arachnoiditis.
The infographic below presents the differences between arachnoiditis and adhesive arachnoiditis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
FAQ: Arachnoiditis and Adhesive Arachnoiditis
What is type 3 arachnoiditis?
Type I (nerve roots are clumped together and distorted), type II (nerve roots are adherent to the theca, resulting in an empty thecal sac sign), and type III (nerve roots and theca are clumped together into a single soft tissue mass centrally within the spinal canal) are the three types of arachnoiditis.
Can arachnoiditis be cured?
Arachnoiditis can be managed, but there is no treatment that permanently cures this condition.
How painful is adhesive arachnoiditis?
Severe stinging, “burning” pain and neurological problems are caused by arachnoiditis. Hence, it is painful.
Summary – Arachnoiditis vs. Adhesive Arachnoiditis
There are different types of arachnoiditis. Adhesive arachnoiditis is the most severe type of arachnoiditis. Arachnoiditis causes inflammation or swelling of the arachnoid, while adhesive arachnoiditis leads to the formation of scar tissue and causes the spinal nerves to stick together and malfunction. Moreover, arachnoiditis can be caused by complications from spinal surgery or multiple lumber punctures, direct injury to the spine, infection from bacteria or viruses, and chronic compression of spinal nerves, whereas adhesive arachnoiditis is caused by the progression of arachnoiditis. So, this summarizes the difference between arachnoiditis and adhesive arachnoiditis.
Reference:
1. “Arachnoiditis: Symptoms, Types, Causes, and Treatment.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International.
2. Jurga, Szymon, et al. “Spinal Adhesive Arachnoiditis: Three Case Reports and Review of Literature.” Acta Neurologica Belgica, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Diastematomyelie 80jw – MR T2ax – 010” By Hellerhoff – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia