At least half of all AA patients experience spinal fluid complications. Tarlov cysts and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome also frequently occur alongside Adhesive Arachnoiditis. This article explains the connections, the symptoms, and what Dr. Tennant recommended for each.

My story with Adhesive Arachnoiditis didn't start with a diagnosis. It started with pain… and not being believed. After two failed spinal surgeries, 17 years without answers, two CSF leaks, and moments where I nearly didn't survive — I finally found my diagnosis buried in a Medicare file. This is what I learned, what helped, and why there is still room for hope.

Adhesive Arachnoiditis is a serious inflammatory condition of the spinal cord. While common treatments like Epidural Steroid Injections (ESIs) are often suggested, they carry an FDA-required safety warning and can cause permanent disease progression. Learn to recognize the "red flag" symptoms, understand why MRI is the diagnostic gold standard, and download our Patient Advocacy Sheet to protect your spine at your next appointment.

Spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks, the cause of Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension (SIH), share many symptoms with Arachnoiditis and are often misunderstood or misdiagnosed. The hallmark sign is a positional headache that worsens when standing and eases when lying down, but symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and nausea are also common. Awareness is essential for faster diagnosis and effective treatment options such as bedrest, epidural blood patches, or surgery.