Does chiropractic help the pain of Adhesive Arachnoiditis?

by A Reed
(Oshkosh, Wi., USA)

I have a diagnosis of Adhesive Arachnoiditis from a neurosurgeon at a major university. The diagnosis was based on a CT Myelogram performed at an hospital. I have pain with walking and standing which is helped with a walker and pain medication but the pain is still bad enough that I can't take care of my apartment or myself. I still walk with a walker, but standing still with a walker, walking more than 1/10 of a mile, grocery or any shopping will cause pain if not immediately by the next day. I am incontinent, have problems with my body regulating it's temperature (break out in a sweat), Raynaud's, RA, etc.. Do you think chiropractic will help me?


I take it you've had surgery to your lower back; it's an inflammation that is set up deep in the nerve roots.

Frankly it's a difficult situation for any doctor, chiropractor or surgeon, and I can't promise you that chiropractic would help. If you can find someone very experienced and you are patient then there's a good chance some gentle treatment would help. Often there a complicating fixation in the sacroiliac joint that if carefully released can help the whole situation resolve.

I would use an icepack on your back twice a day followed by a hot shower or hotwater bottle. Don't get in the bath.

And do some gentle lower back exercises before getting out of bed, and several times a day. Even every hour. You'll find them in the navigation bar at Chiropractic Help. Lie down for short periods after the exercises.

I wish I could be more promising; if you can find the right person you have a reasonable chance of relief from pain, but not a 'cure'.

Avoid the vacuum cleaner.

Good luck, and let me know how you get on.

Dr B

Click here to post comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Chiropractic help Questions (Low back pain).





Did you find this page useful? Then perhaps forward it to a suffering friend. Better still, Tweet or Face Book it.