Arachnopathy

The Arachnopathie is a very rare disease of the spine . This causes scars to form in the spinal cord , which lead to massive restrictions on movement.

Symptoms

Arachnopathy causes chronic and persistent pain in the lower back. The legs can also be affected, and in severe cases even the whole body. Typical symptoms are tingling, numbness, or weakness in the legs. Sometimes muscle spasms or bladder and bowel disorders occur. Why this happens is still not sufficiently clear.

To get a better idea of ​​this ailment, it is worth taking a look at the anatomy : The spine consists of 24 vertebral bodies with their 23 intervertebral discs. The spinal cord, roughly as thick as a finger, runs through the spinal canal from the skull to the lumbar vertebra . And through this in turn runs a tube - the dura mater - in which the spinal cord fluid - the cerebrospinal fluid - is located, which acts like a lubricating fluid . It keeps the vertebrae supple so that we can bend and turn our bodies during everyday work. In addition, the dura mater also contains the spider tissue, which experts call the arachnoid . When the liquor builds up in the spinal canal, a pressure is created that eventually becomes so great that the fluid paves its way to the right and left of the spine. It looks like a cobweb. The result is arachnopathy, an inflammation that ultimately even leads to scarring and severely restricts the ability to move.

Unfortunately, since the same symptoms also occur with a herniated disc , a misdiagnosis is unfortunately quite common. With the help of magnetic resonance tomography , in which millimeter-precise slice images of the body are made, the disease can be easily recognized.

treatment

The most promising treatment method is called thecaloscopy . This is a minimally invasive procedure. Neurosurgeons use a flexible endoscope to inspect the affected area, the so-called subarachnoid space, through a small incision. With the help of other special instruments, the doctors can repair the damage. Most patients are pain-free again after the procedure.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Arachnopathy, a very rare disease in the spinal cord ( memento of the original from September 21, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. accessed September 20, 2013. 

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !