Arachnoiditis is a nonspecific inflammatory process, usually caused by invasion into the dural sac by bacteria, blood, or injections of various irritating substances, which provoke a range of pathological changes occurring on the arachnoid membrane of the brain. The inflammatory reaction that arises ultimately spreads to other intrathecal nerve elements, leading to fibrosis and adhesions that affect nerve roots, the arachnoid membrane, the spinal cord, and the dura mater. This progression leads to persistent disability characterized by severe pain, neurological deficits, and other accompanying symptoms. The Israeli Ichilov Clinic offers modern treatment for arachnoiditis, allowing patients to be relieved of severe pain or improve their overall condition.
Despite the fact that arachnoiditis is a bacterial infection, there are other causes for its development. One of the most common causes is direct mechanical trauma during a medical procedure, such as during epidural anesthesia or another minimally invasive procedure. A common cause is epidural disc prolapse, as well as injections of contrast dye into the spinal cord and intrathecal administration of toxic fluids into the dural sac during spinal surgery. In general, any trauma to the spinal cord, brain, or nerve root can cause arachnoiditis. Meningitis, whether viral, fungal, or bacterial, can also cause this condition.
Treatment Methods for Arachnoiditis
Treatment options for arachnoiditis aim to relieve pain and include medication, physiotherapy, and the implantation of special devices that help reduce pain sensations.
Medication Treatment
Pain relievers such as NSAIDs, corticosteroids (orally or intravenously), muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants (to relieve burning pain), and, in some cases, narcotic analgesics are used in the treatment of arachnoiditis. Some of these medications are administered through an intrathecal pump, which, when implanted under the skin, delivers the medication directly to the spinal cord.
Physiotherapy Treatment
The treatment regimen typically includes physiotherapeutic methods that aid in recovery and strengthening the body. Promising effects are achieved with the use of electrophoresis with iodine. The method of spinal cord stimulation is also used. Spinal cord stimulators allow patients to send electrical impulses using a remote control when they feel pain, thereby alleviating it. The latest devices are implanted by surgeons with specialized training in interventional pain management under X-ray and/or ultrasound guidance.
Implantation of a Stimulator
Implantation may take about 1-2 hours and is usually performed on an outpatient basis. After local anesthesia is administered, your surgeon makes a small incision (in the buttock area) to hold the generator and another incision (along the spine) to insert permanent electrodes. Fluoroscopy is used to determine the placement of the electrodes. Once the electrodes and generator are connected and activated, the surgeon closes the incisions.
In some cases, decompression surgery and foraminoplasty may be performed. If there is an arachnoid cyst compressing the spinal cord, the doctor may recommend draining the cyst.
The prognosis varies depending on the severity of the condition. Thanks to the variety of available methods, patients can often achieve a sufficiently good and acceptable level of well-being.
Diagnostic Methods for Arachnoiditis
The Ichilov Clinic collaborates with leading neurologists, neurosurgeons, and specialists in the treatment of diseases of the spine, brain, and spinal cord. Diagnostics at Ichilov is always characterized by accuracy, and the entire process usually takes no more than three days.
On the first day, the attending physician conducts an examination, clarifies the symptoms and signs of the disease, medical history, and results of preliminary studies. The patient can benefit from the opinions of several neurologists to gain a more detailed understanding of their condition. To clarify the distinctive features of the condition, doctors prescribe additional tests.
The diagnosis is based on the patient's history, clinical manifestations, and the causal event. An MRI study with contrast is prescribed for confirmation.
When MRI is not possible, a myelogram followed by a CT scan is indicated.
The following types of diagnostic tests may also be prescribed:
- audiometry
- echoencephalography
- electroencephalography
- lumbar puncture
This day of diagnostics is dedicated to discussing the clinical case by experts who will participate in the treatment. The discussion takes place within the framework of a medical council. Collectively, the doctors will choose the most relevant treatment plan. The patient may attend the discussion, ask questions, and express wishes.
Comprehensive Telemedicine
The patient can receive treatment recommendations during a remote consultation. For analysis, the consulting specialist will require information about the results of examinations conducted at the patient's place of residence. Detailed information about which medical documents are needed for a remote consultation will be provided by our consultant, who can be contacted using any of the online forms on this website or by requesting a callback.
How Much Does Arachnoiditis Treatment Cost
The cost of treating arachnoiditis in Israel depends on the nature of the disease's progression, the type of necessary diagnostics, and therapy. The final price becomes known after comprehensive diagnostics and the selection of a treatment plan and may vary from case to case.
The approximate cost is communicated by the foreign patient manager during the preparation stage for the treatment trip. The patient can request a comparative analysis of price offers from several clinics to make an informed decision. In any case, Israeli clinics always offer patients more favorable financial conditions compared to competing clinics in Germany and the USA, while the quality of treatment always meets the highest medical standards.
Advantages of Treatment at Ichilov
- Leading doctors in the treatment of pain caused by neurological diseases of the spinal and brain.
- Availability of modern methods aimed at alleviating chronic pain and symptoms that negatively affect daily activities.
- Equipment that allows for precise diagnostic procedures and therapeutic interventions.
- Support from the clinic's international department in organizing the treatment trip and ensuring a comfortable stay at the clinic.
- Financial accessibility of treatment, no advance payments, and the possibility to pay for procedures after receiving them.
- Patient reviews from those who have already undergone treatment at Ichilov highlight not only the professionalism of the doctors but also the comfortable psychological atmosphere and attentive care.