In 1977, the man was administered 10 injections of hyaluronidase. He received five injections in the lumbar region and five injections in the cistern at intervals of three days. After the hyaluronidase injections, improvement was dramatic. The atrophy of the lower extremities improved, although full reversal has not returned. The bedsores healed within one month and sensation returned. Muscular strength improved. The man developed spasticity, but this subsided as voluntary movement in the legs increased. Physical therapy has permitted him to walk with a cane.

In a comment added to his report, Dr. Gegalian wrote that he felt hyaluronidase might be a possible application in the treatment of syringomyelic cysts.

A Commonly Asked Question: Should myelography be outlawed? According to Burton, Long and other experts, the procedure still has its place in diagnostic medicine. Although all water-soluble myelographic contrast media may cause arachnoiditis, the newer ones are less toxic than the dyes used in the past.

Myelography is still the most comprehensive method used to diagnose patients who have had spinal fusion using instrumentation, especially if a lesion is suspected. Burton feels myelography should be used only under the most exceptional of circumstances. (4) Researchers are investigating new fusion materials that are MRI-able, but too many spines still contain metals that make this impossible.

A Final Note: It is evident that research on arachnoiditis is sorely needed. The only research on iophendylate (Pantopaque; Myodil; Ethiodan) was performed on animals. People worldwide have contacted BPAA to obtain and share information and to tell me about their experiences. Organizations and people, including doctors from all over the world, are seeking the same information. What is arachnoiditis and what can be done to treat it??

Too many people have been told that arachnoiditis really doesn’t exist or that it is a “made-up” disease. People are being told that nothing can be done to help them. Even more frightening, people are being advised not to have surgery, These are cases when surgery is needed. In one case, a member had an arachnoid cyst that was causing pressure on the brain. The member’s doctor said surgery was imperative, but the member was told by someone to never have surgery. If this advice had been heeded, the member might have died of stroke. In another case, a person with arachnoiditis had shrinking down of the vertebrae around the spinal cord in the thoracic area.

This person had heard that surgery should never be performed.

If surgery had not been performed to open up the area around the spinal cord, quadriplegia would have occurred.

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