Arachnoiditis Lawsuits

Arachnoiditis is a chronic incurable spinal condition which causes severe pain and various other problems. It gets its name from the description of what it is: inflammation of the arachnoid layer of the meninges, which are protective layers around the spinal cord and brain.

Arachnoiditis is a sort of chronic meningitis of the middle layer. The name stems from the scientific term for spider because the layer resembles a spider's web in appearance. This web becomes tangled when it is chronically inflamed, with Scar tissue binding the nerve roots together, causing pain and numbness/tingling in the parts of the body supplied by these roots.

A chronic condition has the potential to turn your life upside down and put you in a difficult position with regard to living your life they way you want to. If you feel as though your Arachnoiditis is the result of medical malpractice, or stems from unnatural means, then you may be eligible to receive compensation for this negligence in the form of damages through a lawsuit.

Being knowledgeable on the disease itself while having capable legal counsel by your side to guide your decision making on this subject can put you in a favorable position to sue for damages and be compensated for your pain and suffering.

Arachnoiditis Causes

The causes of this debilitating condition are most commonly iatrogenic, which means due to medical intervention.

A leading expert has suggested that Arachnoiditis accounts for about 11% of what is termed "Failed Back Surgery Syndrome," which is persistent back or leg pain following spinal surgery. Furthermore, it is common for doctors to misdiagnose this diseases as well (either accidentally or intentionally). Sometimes a doctor may conclude that your affliction is Arachnoiditis, when it is in fact a disease called Cauda Equina. No matter what the case though, you may be able to receive compensation either way.

Surgery is by no means the only cause of Arachnoiditis. In fact, the most common causes nowadays include:

• Epidural steroid injections, (which ironically are used to treat Failed Back Surgery Syndrome. The preservatives in these preparations are toxic to nerves).
• Myelograms - procedure where dye is injected into the spinal fluid to help image any compromise to the spinal cord. The dye itself, specifically Myodil, has been known to cause Arachnoiditis.
• Water-soluble dyes such as Conray and Dimer-X. Even the newer dyes such as Omnipaque can cause problems.
• Epidural anesthetics (such as those used in childbirth).
• Meningitis.
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage (a type of stroke).

Arachnoiditis Symptoms

Arachnoiditis causes a wide variety of symptoms. The pain is the predominant feature. It is persistent, always there. Other possible symptoms include:

• intense burning,
• intermittent electric shock sensations,
• muscle spasms
• burning feet or a feeling of walking on broken glass.
• problems with bladder control,
• sexual dysfunction,
• loss of bowel control,
• excessive sweating, and/or
• intolerance of heat.

Having a strong understanding of the symptoms and causes of this rare and debilitating disease will allow you to approach a legal situation in the most effective manner possible. A solid comprehension coupled with the help of a qualified Florida medical malpractice lawyer will ensure that you are doing everything you can to regain what has been lost.


Article Source: Mark A Glassman